36,455,000 (1995). 7 provinces. Data accuracy estimate: B, C. The number of languages listed for Indonesia, Sumatra is 52.
ABUNG [ABL] 500,000 (1976 D. Walker). South. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Abung. Dialects: JABUNG, MENGGALA (NORTHEAST LAMPUNG), KOTA BUMI (NORTHWEST LAMPUNG). Many differences in vocabulary and phonology with Pesisir. Dialects have 77% lexical similarity, some phonological differences. Menggala has 72% lexical similarity with Kalianda, a dialect of Southern Pesisir. Muslim. Survey needed.
ACEH (ATJEH, ATJEHNESE, ACHINESE, ACHEHNESE) [ATJ] 3,000,000; 1.6% of the population (1995 WA). Northern, Aceh Province, northern and southern coasts around the tip of Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Achinese. Dialects: BANDA ACEH, BARUH, BUENG, DAJA, PASE, PIDIE (PEDIR, TIMU), TUNONG. Typology: SVO. Coastal. Muslim, Christian. NT in press (1996). Bible portions 1973.
BATAK ALAS-KLUET (ALAS-KLUET BATAK) [BTZ] 80,000 (1989). Northern, northeast of Tapaktuan and around Kutacane. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Northern. Dialect: ALAS. Muslim. Survey needed.
BATAK ANGKOLA (ANAKOLA, ANGKOLA) [AKB] 750,000 (1991 UBS). North central, Sipirok area. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Southern. Closely related to Toba Batak. Muslim, Christian. Bible 1991. NT 1879-1902. Bible portions 1872-1889.
BATAK DAIRI (DAIRI, PAKPAK, PAKPAK DAIRI) [BTD] 1,200,000 (1991 UBS). Northern, southwest of Lake Toba around Sidikalang. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Northern. Christian. Bible in press (1995). NT 1983.
BATAK KARO (KARO BATAK) [BTX] 600,000 (1991 UBS). Central and northern, west and northwest of Lake Toba. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Northern. Dialect: SINGKIL. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1987-1995. NT 1928-1979. Bible portions 1910-1951.
BATAK MANDAILING (MANDAILING BATAK, BATTA) [BTM] 400,000 (1989). Northern. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Southern. A general form of Batak common to a wider area than Angkola. May be intelligible with Angkola. Survey needed.
BATAK SIMALUNGUN (TIMUR, SIMELUNGAN) [BTS] 800,000 (1977 Hayes). Northern, northeast of Lake Toba. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Simalungan. Bible 1976. NT 1953. Bible portions 1939.
BATAK TOBA (TOBA BATAK, BATTA) [BBC] 2,000,000 (1991 UBS). Samosir Island and east, south, and west of Toba Lake in north Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Batak, Southern. Closely related to Angkola Batak. Traditional Batak script. Christian. Bible 1894-1989. NT 1878-1885. Bible portions 1859-1885.
BENGKULU (BENKULAN, BENCOOLEN) [BKE] 55,000 (1989). Small area around Benkulu city, western end of southern Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
ENGGANO (ENGGANESE) [ENO] 1,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Enganno Island, southwest of Sumatra and on four smaller nearby islands. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Enggano. Not closely related to other languages. Survey needed.
ENIM [ENI] 70,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, south of Muaraenim, east and southeast of Lahat. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
GAYO (GAJO) [GYO] 180,000 (1989). Mountain region of north Sumatra around Takengon, Genteng, and Lokon. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Gayo. Dialects: DOROT, BOBASAN, SERBODJADI, TAMPUR. Not closely related to other languages. Muslim, traditional religion.
KAUR (KA'UR) [VKK] 50,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
KAYU AGUNG [VKY] 45,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, around Kayuagung. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
KERINCI (KERINCHI, KERINTJI, KINCHAI) [KVR] 300,000 (1989). Western mountains around Sungaipenuh and north and west. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Dialects: ULU, MAMAQ, AKIT, TALANG, SAKEI. Distinct from Kerinci-Minangkabau dialect of Minangkabau. Traditional script. Muslim. Survey needed.
KOMERING (KOMERIN, NJO) [KGE] 700,000 (1989) including 20,000 in Jakarta (1992). Southeastern Sumatra, Martapura, Kangkung, nearly to Kayuagung, and east to the coast. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Pesisir. 70% lexical similarity with Kalianda, 74% with Sungkai (closest). Called Njo together with Krui. Lowland swamps. Agriculturalists: wet rice. Shafi Sunni Muslim. Work in progress.
KRUI (KROE, KRU'I, WESTERN LAMPUNG, NJO) [KRQ] 20,000 to 30,000 (GEKISUS 1985). Southern, south Benkulu Province around Krui, Sanggi, Kotajawa, and possibly into Lampung Province. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Pesisir. Related to Komering. Called Njo together with Komering. Vocabulary differences with other Pesisir languages. 84% lexical similarity between Krui and Ranau. Muslim. Survey needed.
KUBU [KVB] 10,000 (1989). Spread across Jambi, Riau in south Sumatra, eastern swamp region. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Dialects: LALANG, BAJAT, ULU LAKO, TUNGKAL, TUNGKAL ILIR, DAWAS, SUPAT, DJAMBI, RIDAN, NOMADIC KUBU. Forest dwellers. Related to Lubu. Swamp forest. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian. Survey needed.
LAMPUNG (API, LAMPONG) [LJP] 1,500,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Southern Sumatra, entire province of Lampung. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Pesisir. The majority can speak some Indonesian, which is used in schools, and increasingly in the city as first language by Lampung people. Outside of the city Lampung is used daily in home and village. Teachers must use Lampung to communicate with children, especially in lower grades. Roman script for modern use, Lampung script, developed from devanagari, is used traditionally. Muslim. Work in progress.
LEMATANG (LEMANTANG) [LMT] 150,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, around Muaraenim and another pocket southeast of Sarolangun. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
LEMBAK (LINGGAU) [LIW] 50,000 (1989). Interior south Sumatra around Lubuklinggau and east of Bengkulu; 2 areas. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Dialects: LEMBAK BLITI (BLITI), LEMBAK SINDANG. May be intelligible with other Malay dialects or languages. Muslim. Survey needed.
LINTANG [LNT] 70,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, between Lahat and Kapahiang. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
LOM (BELOM, MAPOR, MAPORESE) [MFB] 50 (?). Sumatra, northeast Bangka Island, Belinyu District. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Lom. Possibly extinct. Not closely related to other languages. Survey needed.
LONCONG (LONTJONG, LONCHONG, ORANG LAUT) [LCE] East coast on both sides of the mouths of the Kampat and Inderagiri rivers, nearby islands, and coasts of Bangka and Belitung islands. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. It may be two languages. Other languages have been called Orang Laut: Lawta of Myanmar and Indonesian Bajau (see Sulawesi). Survey needed.
LUBU [LCF] 30,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Central region of east Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Lubu people consider the name 'Kerinci' an insult. Related to Kubu. Muslim. Survey needed.
MALAY (MELAYU, MALAYU, MELAJU, BAHASA MELAYU, BAHASA MALAYU, STANDARD MALAY) [MLI] 10,000,000 in Indonesia (1981 Wurm and Hattori) including 2,000,000 in Riau, 40,000 in Bangka, 170,000 in Belitung; 17,600,000 or more in all countries. Also in Kalimantan, Java, Maluku, Sulawesi, Irian Jaya. Also in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, USA, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, a few in Thailand. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Dialects: RIAU (RIOUW-LINGGA, JOHOR), JAKARTA, SAMBAS, DELI, MELAYU PASAR (BAZAAR MALAY, PASIR), BORNEO (SINTANG), KOTA-WARINGIN, SUKADANA, MAKAKAU, IRIANESE, MAKASSARESE, MENADONESE, LABU (LEBU, LABU BASAP), RITOK (SIANTAN, PONTIANAK), BALIKPAPAN, SAMPIT, BAKUMPAI, WEST BORNEO COAST MALAY, BELIDE, LENGKAYAP, AJI, DAYA, MULAK, BANGKA, BELITUNG, LARANTUKA (ENDE MALAY), BASA KUPANG (KUPANG), PERANAKAN. Over 80% cognate with Indonesian (J. Echols). See separate entries for Kalimantan: Kutai Malay, Berau Malay, Bukit; Maluku: Ambonese Malay, Bacan Malay, North Moluccan Malay; Nusa Tenggara: Basa Kupang; Sumatra: Enim, Kaur, Kayu Agung, Lematang, Lembak, Jambi Malay, Lintang, Penesak, Rawas, Sindang Kelingi. Some listed as dialects are probably not inherently intelligible with Standard Malay or Indonesian. Kupang Malay and Larantuka Malay in Nusa Tenggara are very similar to each other. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1733-1993. NT 1668-1938. Bible portions 1629-1932.
MALAY, JAMBI [JAX] 800,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
MENTAWAI (MENTAWEI, MENTAWI) [MWV] 50,000 (1992 UBS). Mentawai Islands off the west coast of Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Mentawai. Dialects: SIMALEGI, SAKALAGAN, SILABU, TAIKAKU, SAUMANGANJA, NORTH SIBERUT, SOUTH SIBERUT, SIPURA, PAGAI. Christian, traditional religion. NT 1987, in press (1996). Bible portions 1911-1955.
MINANGKABAU (MINANG, PADANG) [MPU] 6,500,000 including 500,000 in Jakarta; 3.3% of the population (1981 Moussay). West central Sumatra around Padang, and throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Nearly half live outside of central Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Para-Malay. Dialects: AGAM, PAJOKUMBUH, TANAH, SI JUNJUNG, BATU SANGKAR-PARIANGAN, SINGKARAK, ORANG MAMAK, ULU, KERINCI-MINANGKABAU. Not intelligible with Indonesian. There is a Minang newspaper and a radio station in Jakarta. There is instruction in Minang in 1st and 2nd grade, although texts are in Indonesian. There is a literature. Muko-Muko and Pekal may be intelligible with Minang. Typology: SVO. Sunni Muslim. NT in press (1995). Bible portions 1980-1990.
MUKO-MUKO (MOKOMOKO) [VMO] 30,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, west coast around Mukomuko. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Para-Malay. Related to Minangkabau with strong influences from Rejang. Muslim. Survey needed.
MUSI [MUI] 150,000 (1989). Interior south Sumatra, both sides of the Musi River northwest of Sekayu and to the Palembang language. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. May be intelligible with other Malay varieties. Muslim. Survey needed.
NIAS (BATU) [NIP] 480,000 (1989). Nias and Batu Islands off the west coast of Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Northern. Dialects: NIAS, BATU. May be intelligible with Sikule. Christian. Bible 1911, in press (1995). NT 1892. Bible portions 1874-1937. Work in progress.
OGAN [OGN] 300,000 (1989). South Sumatra around Baturaja, Pagerdewa, and north and west of Kayuagung. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. May be intelligible with Pasemah, Serawai, Palembang, or other Malay varieties. Muslim. Survey needed.
PALEMBANG [PLM] 500,000 (1989). Southeast Sumatra, Palembang area. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. May be intelligible with other Malay varieties. Swamp. Coast. Muslim. Survey needed.
PASEMAH (BESEMAH) [PSE] 400,000 (1989). Central Bukit Barisan highlands. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. May be intelligible with Serawai or other Malay varieties. Mountain slope. Muslim. Survey needed.
PEKAL [PEL] 30,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, west coast from north of Ipuh to Tembesi River, to near Argamakmur in the south. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Para-Malay. Related to Minangkabau with strong Rejang influences. Muslim. Survey needed.
PENESAK (PENASAK) [PEN] 20,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, around Prabumulih. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
PESISIR, SOUTHERN [PEC] 400,000 (1976 D. Walker). South Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Pesisir. Dialects: KOTA AGUNG (SOUTHWEST LAMPUNG), WAY LIMA, KALIANDA (SOUTHEAST LAMPUNG), TELUKBETUNG, TALANG PADANG. 79% lexical similarity between Kota Agung and Kalianda, 70% between Kalianda and Komering, 78% between Kota Agung and Pubian, 78% between Kota Agung and Krui, 78% between Way Lima and Kalianda, 72% between Kalianda and Menggala (Abung). Muslim. Survey needed.
PUBIAN [PUN] 400,000 (1976 D. Walker). South Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Pesisir. 76% to 81% lexical similarity with other Pesisir languages. Survey needed.
RANAU [RAE] 60,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, south of Muaradua, near headwaters of Kanan River. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. 84% lexical similarity with Krui; may not be functionally intelligible with Krui or Malay varieties. Distinct from Ranau dialect of Central Dusun in Sabah, Malaysia. Muslim. Survey needed.
RAWAS [RAJ] 150,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, around Ambacang and along Musi River. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. May be intelligible with other Malay varieties. Muslim. Survey needed.
REJANG (REDJANG, REJANG-LEBONG, JANG, DJANG, DJANG BELE TEBO) [REJ] 1,000,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Southwest highlands, north Bengkulu Province, around Argamakmur, Muaraaman, Curuo, and Kapahiang. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Para-Malay. Dialect: LEBONG (DJANG LEBONG). Subgroups: Jang Lebong, Jang Musai, Jang Lai, Jang Bekulau, Abeus. 85% live in remote rural areas. Very different from Serawai. Traditional script. 45% literate. Different from Rejang-Baram group of languages on Borneo. Muslim. Survey needed.
SEKAYU [SYU] 400,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Unclassified. Muslim. Survey needed.
SEMANG, LOWLAND (ORANG BENUA, SAKAI) [ORB] 10,000 (1989). Bintan Island, in the Riau Islands southeast of Singapore. Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Aslian, North Aslian, Western. Dialect: ORANG BENUA (NEWBOLD'S SEMANG). There seem to be 2 or 3 groups in different locations which share this name, and one is Malayic. Muslim. Survey needed.
SEMENDO [SMN] 105,000 (1989). Interior south Sumatra; two areas: west of Baturaja and south of Pajarbulan. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. It may be intelligible with other Malay varieties. Muslim. Survey needed.
SERAWAI (SERAWAJ, SERAWI) [SRJ] 150,000 (1989). South Bengkulu coast. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. The two dialects may not be very different. Related to Pasemah. Muslim, traditional religion, Christian. NT 1995. Bible portions 1990.
SIKULE (SICHULE, WALI BANUAH, SIKHULE) [SKH] 20,000. Central Simeulue Island. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Northern. Dialects: LEKON, TAPAH. Closely related to Nias. Survey needed.
SIMEULUE (SIMALUR, SIMULUL, SIMEULOË, LONG BANO) [SMR] 100,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). West and east ends of Simeulue Island, Babi and Banjak islands. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Sumatra, Northern. Related to Sikule and Nias. Muslim. Survey needed.
SINDANG KELINGI (KELINGI) [SDI] 50,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra, around Muaraklingi, south, east, and north. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. Muslim. Survey needed.
SUKU BATIN [SBV] 70,000 (1989). Southern Sumatra. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Unclassified. Muslim. Survey needed.
SUNGKAI [SUU] South Sumatra, northeast of Krui, west of Abung. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Lampungic, Pesisir. 76% lexical similarity with Pubian (closest), 74% with Komering. Survey needed.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F. Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All rights reserved.
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