Central Maluku languages

Central Maluku
Geographic distribution:	Maluku Islands (Indonesia)
Linguistic classification:	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian (MP) Nuclear MP (Central–Eastern) Central Maluku
Subdivisions:	Sula–Buru languages East Central Maluku ? Ambelau

The Central Maluku languages are a putative group of fifty Austronesian languages (geographically Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages) spoken principally on the Seram, Buru, Ambon, Kei, Aru, and the Sula Islands. None of the languages have as many as fifty thousand speakers, and several are extinct.

Classification

The traditional components of Central Maluku are the Sula, Buru, and East Central Maluku languages, plus the Ambelau isolate.

A 2008 analysis of the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database fully supported the unity of East Central Maluku (with the addition of Aru), and supported the unity of Sula and Buru at a 90% confidence level. However, the East Central Maluku and Sula languague were only linked with 54% confidence. The Ambelau language was not considered.

Collins (1983)

The following classification of the Central Maluku languages below is from Collins (1983:20, 22). See Sula–Buru languages and East Central Maluku languages for links to individual languages.

• West Central Maluku
  • Buru–Sula–Taliabo
    • Buru
    • Sula–Taliabo
  • Ambelau
• East Central Maluku = East Seram = Nunusaku
  • Kayeli
  • Patakai–Manusela
  • Seti
  • Three Rivers
    • Wemale
    • Amalumute
      • Northwest Seram
        • Sawai
        • Hulung
        • Loun
        • Iha
        • Ulat inai
          • Naka'ela
          • Alune
  • Piru Bay
    • West Piru Bay
      • Asilulu
      • Hoamoal
        • East Hoamoal
          • Boano
          • Wakasihu
        • West Hoamoal
          • Manipa
          • Luhu
    • East Piru Bay
      • East Littoral
      • Solehua
        • Paulohi
        • Seram Straits
          • Paulohi
          • Ambon
            • Central Ambon
            • Northeast Ambon
          • Uliase
            • Kamarian
            • Hatuhaha
              • Haruku
              • Saparua
                • Saparua
                • East Elpaputi
                  • Nusalaut
                  • Amahai

References

• Collins, James T. 1983. The historical relationships of the languages of Central Maluku, Indonesia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.