Sama, Central

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A language of Philippines

ISO 639-3
sml
Alternate Names
“Bajaw” (pej.), Central Sinama, Orang Laut, Sama Dilaut, Samal, Siasi Sama, Sinama
Population

90,000 (2000). 30,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 105,000.

Location

Muslim Mindinao autonomous region, Sulu andTawi-Tawi provinces, Siasi, Tabawan, Bonggao Sitangkai, Cagayan de Sulu island; Basilan island, Maluso, Malamawi, Bohe’ Lobbong; Zamboanga del Sur Province, Rio Hondo, Batuan Lumbayaw, Taluk Sangay, Sanggali; Zamboanga del Norte Province, Olutangga; Davao City, Isla Verde, and Sasa; Cagayan de Oro; Visayas, Cebu and Tagbilaran; Palawan, Puerto Princesa; Batangas.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

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

Sama Deya, Sama Dilaut, Sama Laminusa, Sama Siasi, Sama Tabawan. Intelligibility of Bangingih Sama [sse] 79%. Lexical similarity: 47% with Inabaknon [abx], 62% with Yakan [yka], 76% with Pangutaran Sama [slm], 77% with Balangingi [sse], 72–78% with Southern Sama [ssb], 59% with West Coast Bajau [bdr], 66% with Mapun [sjm], 48–51% with Indonesian Bajau [bdl], 25% with Cebuano [ceb], 45% with Tausug [tsg] (Pallesen 1985).

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Malay [zlm], Tausug [tsg], Cebuano [ceb], Tagalog [tgl], Chavacano [cbk], and other Sama languages, acquired through school, market, interaction with wider community, DVDs, and television; they are used at school, community, market; functional bilingualism with whatever language is spoken in the local context.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 15%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%. Taught in primary schools, as a language of instruction, but only in Davao and Zamboanga in a few classes run by non-governmental organizations. New media. Films. Videos. NT: 1987–2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sama, Central
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Muslim, traditional religion, Christian.