| Sama–Bajaw | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: |
Sulu Archipelago and Biliran, between the Philippines and Borneo |
| Linguistic classification: | Austronesian
|
| Subdivisions: |
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The Sama–Bajaw languages are a well established group of languages spoken by the Bajau ('Sea Gypsies') and Sama (Sinama) peoples of the Philippines and Malaysia, on Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago between Borneo and Mindanao.
A 2008 analysis of the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database[1] supported the unity of the Sama–Bajaw languages, and the primary divergence of Abaknon. To a 73% confidence level, it next split Mapun Bajaw from Bajaw, Samal, and Yakan, the last generally accepted as a Bornean language. It also suggested with 74% confidence that Sama–Bajaw forms an exclusive family with the Philippine languages. Blust (2006),[2] however, states that lexical evidence indicates that Sama–Bajaw originated in the Barito region of southeast Borneo, though not from any established group of Barito languages. Ethnologue has followed, calling the resulting group 'Greater Barito'.