Central Maluku languages

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, 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.

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
          • West Littoral
          • 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.