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Sama, Southern

A language of Philippines

ISO 639-3: ssb

Population	200,000 in Philippines (2007 SIL), increasing. 5,000 to 10,000 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 319,000.
Region	Archipelago northeast of Borneo, southern Sulu. Tawi-Tawi Island group includes Tawi-Tawi, Simunul, Sibutu, and other major islands. Also in Malaysia (Sabah).
Language map	Southern Philippines, reference number 117
Alternate names	Sama Sibutu’, Sama Tawi-Tawi
Dialects	Sibutu’ (Sibutu), Simunul, Tandubas, Obian, Balimbing, Bongao, Sitangkai, Languyan, Sapa-Sapa. Sibutu intelligibility of Sama Central [sml] 77%, of the Simunul dialect 89%. Simunul intelligibility of Sama Central [sml] 77%, of the Sibutu dialect 80%.
Classification	Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Inner Sulu Sama
Language use	Vigorous. Home, local level official functions, religious services, commerce, and labor relations. Literature may not be acceptable to other dialect speakers because of marginal intelligibility. Proud of their language. Also use Tausug [tsg], Malay [zlm], Mapun [sjm], Pangutaran Sama [slm], Central Sama [sml], or Filipino [fil].
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 65%–70% 65,000 can read, 50,000 can write. Literacy rate in L2: 65%–70%. 65,000 can read it, 50,000 can write it. Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Bible portions: 1979–2000.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	Simunul is central, prestige dialect. Bongao dialect from political, economic center of Southern Sama. Agriculturalists; seaweed; fishermen; copra production; tourist guides. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Malaysia (Sabah)

Language name	Sama, Southern
Population	119,000 in Malaysia (2000). Virtually no monolinguals. 6,000 Sikubung, 15,000 Bajau Laut, 13,000, Bajau Ubian, 700 Bajau Banaran, 9,000 Sibutu, 14,500 Bajau Simunul, 61,000 Bajau Kubang (or Bajau Semporna).
Region	East, north, and west coasts; Banggi, Kota Belud, Gaya Island, Kuala Penyu.
Language map	Malaysia - Sabah, reference number 96
Alternate names	Sama Sibutu’, Southern Bajau
Dialects	Bajau Banaran, Bajau Darat, Bajau Laut (Mandelaut, Pala’au, Sama Laut, Sama Mandelaut, Sama Pala’au, Sea Bajau, Sea Gypsies), Bajau Semporna (Bajau Asli, Kubang, Sama Kubang), Laminusa (Laminusa Sinama), Sibutu (Sibutuq, Sama Sibutu, Samah-Samah, Samah Lumbuh), Simunul (Sama Simunul), Sikubung (Kubung, Sama Kubung), Sama (A’a Sama, Sama’, Samah, Samal, Samar), Ubian (Obian, Sama Ubian, Tau Ubian).
Language use	Also use Malay [zlm], Tausug [tsg], or other Sama variety.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

ALLISON, E. Joseph, author. 1977. "Discourse analysis of a southern Samal text: Abunawas and the beautiful widow."  

ALLISON, E. Joseph, author. 1979. "The phonology of Sibutu Sama: a language of the southern Philippines."  

ALLISON, Karen J., author. 1984. A View from the Islands: The Samal of Tawi-Tawi.  

TRICK, Douglas, author. 2006. "Ergative control of syntactic processes in Sama Southern."  

TRICK, Douglas, author. 2008. "Ergative control of syntactic processes in Southern Sinama."