Sula language

For the Malay-based creole language used in Sula Islands, see Sula Malay.
Sula
Sanana
Li Sua
Native toIndonesia, Maluku
RegionSula Islands
EthnicitySula
Native speakers
(20,000 cited 1983)[1]
Dialects
  • Facei
  • Fagudu
  • Falahu
Language codes
ISO 639-3szn
Glottologsula1245

Sula (Sanana) is a Malayo-Polynesian language of the Central Maluku branch. It is related to the Buru language. Sula is spoken mainly on the Sulabesi, with the Sanana as its center.

It is definitely endangered, currently under pressure from the local variety of Malay, known as Sula Malay.[2]

Sula has borrowed many lexical items from Ambonese Malay, as well as Ternate, a more dominant language of North Maluku.[2]: 141, 342–535  Dutch loans have entered the language too, perhaps through Malay and Ternate. Standard Indonesian has also been influential.[2]: 141 

Mangole is sometimes listed as a distinct language.[2]: 50 

  1. ^ Sula at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).