Tukang Besi North
PrintA language of Indonesia
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Buton, Wakatobi
Population
120,000 in Indonesia (1995 SIL). 60,000 in Maluku.
Location
South East Sulawesi Province,Tukang Besi archipelago north, Kaledupa and Wangiwangi islands; also, Runduma islands, to east. Maluku, Bacan, Taliabu, Mongole, Buru, Sulabesi, Seram, and Ambon islands. Also, Baubau and Sumbawa cities. Also in Singapore.
Language Maps
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Dialects
Kaledupa (Kahedupa), Wanci (Wangi- Wangi, Wanje, Wanji, Wantji). Lexical similarity: 80% with Kaledupa and Wanci, and may be separate languages. 70%–75% with Tukang Besi South [bhq], 48% with Lasalimu [llm], 47% with Cia-Cia [cia], 40% with Kamaru [kgx], an average of 35% with other nearby languages.
Language Use
Vigorous. All ages, even in communities away from the main islands.
Language Development
Grammar.
Language Resources
Most in Nusa Tenggara and Maluku are mixed with Tukang Besi South. Muslim.