Buru
PrintA language of Indonesia
33,000 in Indonesia (1989 SIL). 6,620 Wae Sama, 9,600 Masarete, 14,300 Rana, 500 Fogi, and 2,000 in Ambon.
Maluku Province, all of Buru island, except northeast corner, 70 villages. Some on Ambon island, in Jakarta. Also in Netherlands.
6a (Vigorous).
Central Buru (Rana, Wae Geren, Wae Kabo), Fogi (Li Emteban, Tomahu), Masarete (South Buru), Wae Sama (Waesama). Li Garan is a special taboo dialect spoken by the Rana people (3,000 to 5,000 users). Ethnic population Fogi dialect: 500, but no remaining speakers. Lexical similarity: 90% between Masarete and Wae Sama dialects, 88% between Masarete and Rana, 80% between Wae Sama and Rana, 68% between Lisela [lcl] and Masarete, 48% between Leliali dialect of Kayeli [kzl] and Masarete, 45% between Kayeli [kzl] and Masarete, 44% between Ambelau [amv] and Masarete, 27%–33% between Buru dialects and Sula [szn].
SVO; prepositions; genitives before nouns; predominantly head marking; CV, CVC, V, VC; nontonal
Vigorous in most areas. Fogi dialect speakers apparently shifted to Ambonese Malay [abs]. All domains. All ages.
There are word taboos and complex intermarriage patterns on the island. Exogamous. 10 clans. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.