The Bungku–Tolaki languages (also known as Bungku–Mori in older literature) are a group of languages spoken primarily in
South East Sulawesi
Southeast Sulawesi (, ; often abbreviated to Sultra, ), is a province on the island of Sulawesi, forming the southeastern peninsula of that island, together with a number of substantial offshore islands such as Buton, Muna, Kabaena and Wawoni ...
province, Indonesia, and in neighboring parts of
Central and
South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province in the South Peninsula, Sulawesi, southern peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Selayar Islands archipelago to the south of Sulawesi is also part of the province. The capital and largest ci ...
provinces.
Languages
Mead (1998:117) presents the following tree-model classification for Bungku–Tolaki. This classification is based on the
historical-comparative method in linguistics.
[Mead, David. 1998. ''Proto–Bungku-Tolaki: Reconstruction of its phonology and aspects of its morphosyntax ''. PhD dissertation. Houston: Rice University. ]
*Eastern
**
Moronene
**East Coast:
Bungku,
Bahonsuai, Kulisusu (
Koroni
Koroni or Corone () is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos-Nestor, of which it is a municipal unit. Known as ''Corone'' by the Venetians a ...
,
Kulisusu,
Taloki),
Wawonii,
Mori Bawah
*Western
**Interior:
Mori Atas (spoken in Mori Atas district of
North Morowali Regency
North Morowali Regency is a regency in the province of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The regency was established on 12 April 2013, partitioned from the northwestern districts of Morowali Regency (forming almost two-thirds of the regency at that ...
),
Padoe (spoken in area near Sorowako in Nuha district of
East Luwu Regency),
Tomadino
**West Coast:
Tolaki
Tolaki (To'olaki) is the major language of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is an Austronesian language
The Austronesian languages ( ) are a language family widely spoken throughout Maritime Southeast Asia, parts of Mainland Southeast Asia, ...
,
Rahambuu,
Kodeoha (spoken in Kodeoha district in
North Kolaka Regency),
Waru
This classification supersedes Mead (1999), an earlier classification proposed by Mead in 1994. Based on a lexicostatistical comparison, his earlier classification proposed 'Bungku,' 'Mori,' and 'Tolaki' as primary subdivisions under Bungku–Tolaki. In view of more recent evidence from shared sound change and innovations in pronoun sets, the unity of the proposed Mori group (comprising Bahonsuai, Mori Bawah, Mori Atas, Padoe and Tomadino) could not be maintained. Additional information can be found at
Mori language.
Phonology
The sound system of all Bungku–Tolaki is characterized by a simple five-vowel system and the complete lack of final consonants.
Reconstruction
Proto-Bungku–Tolaki has been reconstructed by Mead (1998).[
]
References
Celebic languages
{{celebic-lang-stub