Sama, Southern

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A language of Philippines

ISO 639-3
ssb
Alternate Names
Sama Tawi-Tawi, Southern Sinama
Population

200,000 in Philippines (2007 SIL), increasing. 20,000 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 215,000.

Location

Muslim Mindanao autonomous region, southern Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Island Province, Tawi-Tawi, Simunul, Sibutu, and other major islands. Also in Malaysia.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Inner Sulu Sama
Dialects

Balimbing, Bongao, Languyan, Obian, Sama Sibutu, Sapa-Sapa, Sibutu’ (Sibutu), Simunul, Sitangkai, Tandubas. Sibutu intelligibility of Sama Central [sml] 77%, of the Simunul dialect 89%. Simunul intelligibility of Sama Central [sml] 77%, of the Sibutu dialect 80%.

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, neighborhood, local level official functions, religious services, commerce, and labor relations. Positive attitudes. Moderate bilingualism in Tausug [tsg]. About 10,000 intermarried and use Malay [zlm], Mapun [sjm], Pangutaran Sama [slm], Central Sama [sml], or Filipino [fil].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 65%–70%. Literacy rate in L2: 40% in Tausug [tsg], 40% in Filipino [fil], 30% in Malay [zlm], 10% in English [eng]. 130,000 can read, 100,000 can write. Literature may not be acceptable to other dialect speakers due to marginal intelligibility and strong regional loyalties. Taught in primary schools, as language of instruction. Radio programs. Bible portions: 1979–2009.
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Simunul is central, prestige dialect. Bongao dialect from political, economic center of Southern Sama. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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