Saparua

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A language of Indonesia

ISO 639-3
spr
Population

10,200 (1989 SIL). 4,520 in Iha.

Location

Maluku Province, Kulur, Iha, Siri-Sori, Iha, Kulur, Latu, Hualoy, Tomalehu, and Kairatu villages. Saparua, nearby Seram islands.

Language Maps
Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Central Maluku, East, Seram, Nunusaku, Piru Bay, East, Seram Straits, Uliase, Hatuhaha, Saparua
Dialects

Iha-Saparua, Iha-Seram, Kulur, Siri-Sori. Each village has its own dialect. Lexical similarity: 86%–89% among dialects; 82%–84% with Latu [ltu], 69% with Amahai [amq], 67% with Kamarian [kzk], 68%–71% with Haruku [hrk], 65% with Kaibobo [kzb], 62%–66% with Tulehu [tlu], 49% with Luhu [ppr], 54% with Naka’ela [nae].

Language Use

Shifting to Ambon Malay [abs] (2007).

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%.
Other Comments

Spoken by hundreds of Latu [ltu] people in Kairatu village. Muslim, Christian.