Page Type: languageTausug | Ethnologue

TSG ISO 639-3

Tausug

Bahasa Sūg, بَهَسَ سُوگ‎ (Bahasa Sūg) Autonym

A language of Philippines

ISO 639
tsg
Alternate Names
Jolohano, Moro Joloano, Sinug, Sinug Tausug, Sulu, Suluk, Tausog, Taw Sug
Autonym
Bahasa Sūg, بَهَسَ سُوگ‎ (Bahasa Sūg)
Population
784,000 in Philippines (2005 UNSD), increasing. 250,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,230,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 946,000.
Location:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Sulu province, Jolo, in Sulu archipelago; Basilan province, Basilan island; MIMAROPA region: Palawan province on Palawan island; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga city and environs.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). De facto language of provincial identity in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces.
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Bisayan, South, Butuan-Tausug
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Kalagan [kqe]. Used as L2 by Balangingih Sama [sse], Central Sama [sml], Chavacano [cbk], Mapun [sjm], Pangutaran Sama [slm], Southern Sama [ssb], Yakan [yka].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Taught in primary schools, in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1985–2002. Agency: Anak-Sug Association.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tausug
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Tausug
User Population
12,000 in Indonesia (Wurm and Hattori 1981).
Location
North Kalimantan province: scattered coastal settlements; immigrants from Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Muslim.
View other languages of Indonesia
Language Name
Suluk
User Population
150,000 in Malaysia (2000 SIL), increasing. No monolinguals (2015 N. Dino).
Location
Sabah state: Beluran, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Semporna, and Tawau districts’ coasts; Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, and Papar coasts.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. While some have lived in North Borneo for hundreds of years, many are recent immigrants from the southern Philippines seeking work and fleeing conflict. Muslim.
View other languages of Malaysia

Map

Location: Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Sulu province, Jolo, in Sulu archipelago; Basilan province, Basilan island; MIMAROPA region: Palawan province on Palawan island; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga city and environs.