Moronene

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
mqn
Alternate Names
Maronene
Population

37,000 (2000 D. Andersen), increasing. 5% are monolingual. Wita Ea 23,000, Tokotu’a 14,000. Includes about 3,500 living in cities. Second or third generations in cities no longer speak Moronene.

Location

Southeast Sulawesi Province, Bombana regency. Southeast mainland, Rumbia mountains area. Kabaena island, Tokotu’a village; on the mainland portion opposite Kabaena; Wita Ea village. Wita Ea dialect: Rumbia, Poleang, and Poleang Timur subdistricts. Also Kolaka regency, Watubangga subdistrict.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Celebic, Eastern, Southeastern, Bungku-Tolaki, Eastern, Southwest
Dialects

Tokotu’a (Kabaena), Wita Ea (Poleang, Rumbia). Lexical similarity: Wita Ea dialect 80% with Tokotu’a dialect; 68% with Menui dialect of Wawonii [wow], 66% with Kulisusu [vkl], 65% with Taloki [tlk], Koroni [xkq], Tulambatu dialect of Bungku [bkz], 64% with Bungku [bkz], and 57% with Tolaki [lbw].

Language Use

Vigorous in many villages. Occasional oral use in church, letter writing. All ages. Positive attitudes. In Poleang many also use Bugis [bug]. In some villages, some parents speak Indonesian [ind] to their children, some children are not proficient in Moronene.

Language Development
Taught as an oral and written subject in both elementary and secondary schools. Radio programs. Bible portions: 2003.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Moronene
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Formerly a kingdom. Muslim, Christian.