Rukai

A language of Taiwan

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Banga, Bantalang, Bantaurang, Drukai, Drukay, Dukai, Dyokay, Kadas, Rutkai, Sarisen, Taloma, Tsalisen, Tsarisen

Population

10,500 (CIP-EY 2002). Some monolingual older adults. Ethnic population: 10,500.

Location

South central mountains, Ping Tung area, 11 villages; Taitung area, 2 or 3 villages; west of the Puyuma [pyu].

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Dialects

Budai, Labuan, Maga, Mantauran, Tanan, Tona. Mantauran, Tona, and Maga dialects are divergent.

Typology

VSO

Language Use

All domains. Some also use Puyuma [pyu]. Some older adults also use Japanese [jpn]. Budai people speak Taiwanese [nan].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2001.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script.

Other Comments

Some linguists classify it as Paiwanic. Paiwanic influence.