 | This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{lang}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. (January 2023) |
| Nuaulu | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Indonesia (Maluku Islands) |
| Region | Seram |
Native speakers | (2,000 cited 1990–1995)[1] |
Austronesian
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:nxl – Southnni – North |
| Glottolog | nuau1240 |
Nuaulu is a language indigenous to the island of Seram Island in Indonesia, and it is spoken by the Nuaulu people. The language is split into two dialects, a northern and a southern dialect, between which there a communication barrier. The dialect of Nuaulu referred to on this page is the southern dialect, as described in Bolton 1991.[2]
In 1991, a survey of a few coastal villages of Southern Seram showed that there were then around 1000 speakers of the Southern dialect.[3]
Religion plays an important part in the language statistics. Those who stick to the native religious practices tend to use the native language more, whereas those who have converted to another religion tend to use Ambonese Malay, a language necessary for educational purposes, more often. This is due to religious segregation, separating the traditional local religion from others by sending its practitioners to a secluded section of the village. This minimizes the usage of Nuaulu in the separated section of the main village.[4]
- ^ South at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
North at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) - ^ Bolton (1990:3)
- ^ Bolton (1990:2)
- ^ Florey & Bolton (1997:29)