The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
SIL code: ALO
ISO 639-2: map
| Population | 12,557 (1987 SIL). |
| Region | Larike, Wakasihu, Tapi, Allang, and Lai villages, southwest Hitu Peninsula, Ambon Island. |
| Dialects | ALLANG, WAKASIHU, LARIKE. |
| Classification | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Central Malayo-Polynesian, Central Maluku, East, Seram, Nunusaku, Piru Bay, West, Hoamoal, East. |
| Comments | Wakasihu may need separate literature from Larike. The western end of the Ambon dialect chain. 81% lexical similarity between Allang and Larike and Wakasihu, 92% between Larike and Wakasihu. 68% to 71% with Asilulu, 67% to 72% with Negeri Lima. Vigorous use in Larike and Wakasihu, weak in Allang. Only older people in Allang, Allang Asaude, Uraur, and Urusana still speak Allang, but apparently do not use it. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Wakasihu. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. Muslim (Larike, Wakasihu), Christian (Allang). |
