The Central Maluku languages are a proposed subgroup of the Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family which comprises around fifty 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) and (1986).[1][2]

• West Central Maluku
  • Ambelau
  • Buru–Sula–Taliabo
    • Buru: Buru, Lisela, Palumata (extinct), Moksela (extinct)
    • Sula: Sula, Mangole
    • Taliabo (Kadai, Padang/Samala, Mananga, Mangei/Soboyo)

• East Central Maluku (around Seram and Aru)
  • Banda–Geser
    • Banda
    • Geser: Bati, Geser, Watubela
  • East Seram
    • Bobot–Masiwang
    • Setic: Hoti, Benggoi, Salas, Liana-Seti
  • Nunusaku
    • Kayeli
    • Patakai–Manusela
      • Nuaulu
      • Huaulu, Manusela
    • Three Rivers
      • Wemale
      • Amalumute
        • Yalahatan
        • Northwest Seram: Hulung, Saleman, Loun, Ulat Inai (Alune, Naka'ela), Lisabata-Nuniali
    • Piru Bay languages (20 languages)

References