Page Type: languageSama, Central | Ethnologue

SML ISO 639-3

Sama, Central

Sinama Autonym

A language of Philippines

ISO 639
sml
Alternate Names
Central Sinama, Orang Laut, Sama, Samal, “Bajaw” (pej.)
Autonym
Sinama
Population
90,000 in Philippines (2000). 30,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 105,000.
Location:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan province, Basilan island, Maluso municipality, Malamawi island; Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, Cagayan de Sulu island, Siasi and Sitangkai municipalities, Bonggao and Tabawan; CALABARZON region: Batangas province; Central Visayas region: Bohol province, Tagbilaran; Cebu province; Negros Occidental province, Sasa; MIMAROPA region: Palawan province, Puerto Princesa; Northern Mindanao region: Misamis Oriental province, Cagayan de Oro; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga del Norte province, Olutangga; Zamboanga del Sur province, Batuan Lumbayaw; Rio Hondo, Sangali, and Taluk Sangay areas in Zamboanga City; Davao City, Isla Verde.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Inner Sulu Sama
Dialects
Sama Deya, Sama Dilaut, Sama Siasi (Siasi Sama), Sama Laminusa, 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).
Typology
17 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes, which occur as geminate clusters word-medially. Vowel harmony between front and back vowels in bisyllabic roots (Pallesen and Soderberg 2012:355–357).
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Cebuano [ceb]. Also use Chavacano [cbk]. Also use Malay [zlm]. Also use Tagalog [tgl]. Also use Tausug [tsg]. Used as L2 by Southern Sama [ssb].
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. Literature. Videos. Texts. NT: 1987–2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sama, Central
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim, Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Sama, Central
User Population
15,000 in Malaysia (2000 C. Soderberg).
Location
Sabah: Kunak and Semporna districts, Bebeng, Bohe’an, Gaya, Karindingan, and Kallo’ islands; Halo, Hidayat, Mastra, Panji, Salamat, Siriyaman villages; Ampalling, Balimbing, Bangaw-Bangaw, Batu Ruwa, Danawan, Kabogang, Labuan Hadji, Mabul, Manam Pellit, Mataking Island, Tampe’-Tampe’, Timbun Mata, Tubu’-Tubu’, and Umaral settlements.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Malaysia

Map

Location: Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan province, Basilan island, Maluso municipality, Malamawi island; Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces, Cagayan de Sulu island, Siasi and Sitangkai municipalities, Bonggao and Tabawan; CALABARZON region: Batangas province; Central Visayas region: Bohol province, Tagbilaran; Cebu province; Negros Occidental province, Sasa; MIMAROPA region: Palawan province, Puerto Princesa; Northern Mindanao region: Misamis Oriental province, Cagayan de Oro; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga del Norte province, Olutangga; Zamboanga del Sur province, Batuan Lumbayaw; Rio Hondo, Sangali, and Taluk Sangay areas in Zamboanga City; Davao City, Isla Verde.