Alune

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
alp
Alternate Names
Patasiwa Alfoeren, Sapalewa
Population

17,200 (2000). Largest language in west Seram.

Location

Maluku Province. West Seram island, Seram Barat district, Kairatu, Taniwel districts, 27 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Central Maluku, East, Seram, Nunusaku, Three Rivers, Amalumute, Northwest Seram, Ulat Inai
Dialects

Central East Alune (Buriah-Weth-Laturake), Central West Alune (Niniari-Piru-Riring-Lumoli), Kairatu, North Coastal Alune (Nikulkan-Murnaten-Wakolo), South Alune (Rambatu-Manussa-Rumberu). Rambatu dialect reportedly prestigious. Kawe [kgb] may be a dialect. Related to Naka’ela [nae] and Lisabata-Nuniali [lcs]. Lexical similarity: 77%–91% among dialects, 64% with Lisabata-Nuniali [lcs], 63% with Hulung [huk] and Naka’ela [nae].

Language Use

People in the interior, the majority, use it daily. Coastal village usage less vigorous. Southern dialect in Kairatu village has no remaining speakers.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 50%–65%. Literacy rate in L2: 40%–55%. NT: 2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Alune
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian.