Page Type: languageTukang Besi South | Ethnologue

BHQ ISO 639-3

Tukang Besi South

A language of Indonesia

ISO 639
bhq
Alternate Names
Buton, Tukang-Besi, Wakatobi
Population
130,000 (1995 SIL), increasing. 100,000 in Maluku.
Location:
South Sulawesi province: Selayar regency, Bonerate, Kalaotoa, Karompa, and Madu islands; Alor, Ambon, Buru, Maluku, Mongole, Seram, Sulawesi, and Taliabu islands; Southeast Sulawesi province: Tukang Besi archipelago, south islands, and northern Binongko and Tomea islands; Papua province: western areas.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Celebic, Eastern, Southeastern, Muna-Buton, Tukangbesi-Bonerate
Dialects
Binongko, Bonerate, Tomea (Tomia). Lexical similarity: 70%–75% with Tukang Besi North [khc], 48% with Cia-Cia [cia], 49% with Lasalimu [llm], average of 35% with other nearby languages. Lexical similarity 85% with Binongko and Tomea, 81% with Bonerate, 79% with Tomea and Bonerate.
Typology
Pronominal indexing; grammatical status of subject; morphological case; causative; Philippine and Oceanic type language features.
Language Use
Vigorous. Used by all, even in communities away from the main islands. Also use Cia-Cia [cia]. Also use Indonesian [ind]. Also use Indonesian Bajau [bdl]. Also use Kamaru [kgx]. Also use Lasalimu [llm]. Used as L2 by Indonesian Bajau [bdl], Kumbewaha [xks].
Language Development
Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tukang Besi South
Writing
Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: South Sulawesi province: Selayar regency, Bonerate, Kalaotoa, Karompa, and Madu islands; Alor, Ambon, Buru, Maluku, Mongole, Seram, Sulawesi, and Taliabu islands; Southeast Sulawesi province: Tukang Besi archipelago, south islands, and northern Binongko and Tomea islands; Papua province: western areas.