Piru Bay languages

The Piru Bay languages are a group of twenty Malayo-Polynesian languages, spoken on Ambon Island and around Piru Bay on the island of Seram, Indonesia. None of the languages have more than about twenty thousand speakers, and several are endangered with extinction.

Classification

The languages are as follows:

Piru Bay
- West Piru Bay (Seram and Ambon islands)
  - Asilulu
  - Hoamoal: Luhu (Piru), Manipa; Larike-Wakasihu, Boano
- East Piru Bay
  - Sepa, Teluti
  - Solehua
    - Paulohi
    - Seram Straits
      - Kaibobo
      - Ambon: Hitu, Tulehu; Laha, Seit-Kaitetu
      - Uliase (Lease Islands)
        Kamarian
        Hatuhaha
        Haruku
        Saparuan
        Elpaputi: Amahai, Nusa Laut
        Saparua: Saparua, Latu

Many of the Piru Bay languages form a dialect continuum. The Ambon branch should not to be confused with distantly related Ambonese Malay, which is also often simply known as Ambonese.

Piru Bay languages

Classification

References