Page Type: languageSama, Southern | Ethnologue

SSB ISO 639-3

Sama, Southern

Sinama, Sinama Tawi-Tawi Autonym

A language of Philippines

ISO 639
ssb
Alternate Names
Sama, Sama Tawi-Tawi, Southern Sinama, Tawi-Tawi Sinama
Autonym
Sinama, Sinama Tawi-Tawi
Population
200,000 in Philippines (2007 SIL), increasing. 20,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 260,000.
Location:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Tawi-Tawi province, Tawi-Tawi, Simunul, and Sibutu municipalities; other major islands.
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Inner Sulu Sama
Dialects
Sibutu’ (Sibutu), Simunul, Tandubas, Obian, Balimbing, Bongao, Sitangkai, Languyan, Sapa-Sapa, Sama Sibutu. 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. Also use Central Sama [sml]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Filipino [fil]. Also use Malay [zlm]. Also use Mapun [sjm]. Also use Molbog [pwm]. Also use Pangutaran Sama [slm]. Also use Tausug [tsg].
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. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1979–2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sama, Southern
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Simunul is central, prestige dialect. Bongao dialect from political, economic center of Southern Sama. Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Sama, Southern
User Population
60,000 in Malaysia (2015 S. Hinayat, M. Miller), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 119,000 (2000 SIL). 61,000 Bajau Kubang (or Bajau Semporna), 15,000 Bajau Laut, 14,500 Bajau Simunul, 13,000 Bajau Ubian, 9,000 Sibutu, 6,000 Sikubung, 700 Bajau Banaran.
Location
Sabah: some coastal regions of Kota Belud district; Kota Kinabalu district, including Gaya island; Kuala Penyu district; Kudat district, Banggi and Mantanani islands; Sandakan and Semporna districts.
Dialects
Bajau Banaran (Benadan, Binadan), Bajau Darat, Bajau Laut (Mandelaut, Pala’au, “Pala’u” (pej.), Sama Dilaut, Sama Laut, Sama Mandelaut, Sama Pala’au, Sea Bajau, Sea Gypsies), Bajau Semporna (Bajau Asli, Bajau Kubang, Kubang, Sama Kubang), Laminusa (Laminusa Sinama), Sibutu (Sama Sibutu, Samah Lumbuh, Samah-Samah, Sibutuq), Simunul (Bajau Simunul, Sama Simunul), Sikubung (Kubung, Sama Kubung), Sama (A’a Sama, Sama’, Samah, Samal, Samar), Ubian (Bajau Ubian, Obian, Sama Ubian, Tau Ubian), Denawan. Lexical similarity: Binadan and Denawan dialects are 89% lexically similar; 80%–82% with Balangingih Sama [sse] (1999 SIL).
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Malaysia

Map

Location: Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Tawi-Tawi province, Tawi-Tawi, Simunul, and Sibutu municipalities; other major islands.