Gayo
PrintA language of Indonesia
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Gajo
Population
300,000 (2000 census).
Location
Sumatra, Aceh Province, Central Aceh, East Aceh, Gayo Lues, and Southeast Aceh regencies. North Sumatra highland region near Mount Sembuang.
Language Maps
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Dialects
Deret, Lues, Lut, Serbejadi-Lukup. Not closely related to other languages. Some Gayo people consider Alas [btz] a distant Gayo dialect.
Language Use
Home, neighborhood, clinic, market, ceremonies, village meetings. All ages. Positive attitudes.
Language Development
Taught in primary schools 2 hours a week called local instruction. Poetry. Newspapers. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script.
Muslim, traditional religion.