Pamona

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
pmf
Alternate Names
Baree, Bare’e, Poso
Population

137,000 (Lauder et al. 2000).

Location

Central and South Sulawesi provinces, total 193 villages. Central Sulawesi Province, Poso regency, Poso Kota, Poso Pesisir, Parigi, Lage, Pamona Utara, Pamona Selatan, Tojo, Ulubongko, Ampana Kota, Ampanatete, Una-Una, Mori Atas, Petasia, Bungku Utara, and Bungku Tengah subdistricts; South Sulawesi Province, Luwu Utara district, Mangkutana, north Wotu, and Bone-Bone subdistricts.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Celebic, Kaili-Pamona, Northern, Pamona
Dialects

Laiwonu (Iba), Pamona, Rapangkaka (Aria), Taa (Topotaa, Wana), Tobau (Bare’e, Tobalo, Tobao), Tokondindi, Tomoni, Topada. Related to Tombelala [ttp]. Laiwonu and Rapangkaka dialects may be separate languages. Lexical similarity: 76% (Taa)–90% among dialects, except for Tombelala [ttp], which has 66%–76% with other Bungku Tengah dialects, and is considered a separate language.

Language Use

Also use Indonesian [ind].

Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1933–1992.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pamona
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Pamona speakers in Bungku Utara recognize 5 ethnic groups with minor dialect differences: Pusangke, Kajumorangka, Tokasiala, Burangas, and Topotaa. The first 4 are interior mountain dwellers; the Topotaa are coastal. Bungku Tengah recognize 5 varieties: Topotaa (same as Taa), Tobau, Tokondindi, and Topada. Christian.