Tukang Besi South

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
bhq
Alternate Names
Buton, Tukang-Besi, Wakatobi
Population

130,000 (1995 SIL), increasing. 100,000 in Maluku.

Location

South East Sulawesi Province. Tukang Besi archipelago, south islands; northern Binongko and Tomea islands; South Sulawesi Province, Selayar regency, Madu, Kalaotoa, Bonerate, and Karompa islands. Maluku, Taliabu, Mongole, Sulabesi, Buru, Seram, Ambon, and Alor islands. Settlements throughout western Papua Province.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Celebic, Eastern, Southeastern, Muna-Buton, Tukangbesi-Bonerate
Dialects

Binongko, Bonerate, Tomea (Tomia). Lexical similarity: 70%–75% with Tukang Besi North [khc], 48% with Cia-Cia [cia], 49% with Lasalimu [llm], average of 35% with other nearby languages. Lexical similarity 85% with Binongko and Tomea, 81% with Bonerate, 79% with Tomea and Bonerate.

Typology

Pronominal indexing; grammatical status of subject; morphological case; causative; Philippine and Oceanic type language features

Language Use

Vigorous. All ages, even in communities away from the main islands. Also use Wolio [wlo].

Language Development
Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tukang Besi South
Other Comments

Muslim.