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 ( id, Sulawesi Tenggara) 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 Wawonii (formerly c ...
province, Indonesia, and in neighboring parts of
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and
South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi ( id, Sulawesi Selatan) is a province in the southern peninsula of Sulawesi. The Selayar Islands archipelago to the south of Sulawesi is also part of the province. The capital is Makassar. The province is bordered by Central Sula ...
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
Bungku is a town and the administrative centre of the Regency of Morowali, in Central Sulawesi Province of Indonesia.
Bungku was originally not the capital of Morowali Regency. In 1999, the capital of Morowali Regency was Kolonodale. In 2004, t ...
,
Bahonsuai, Kulisusu (
Koroni
Koroni or Corone ( el, Κορώνη) is a town and a former Communities and Municipalities of Greece, municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos ...
,
Kulisusu,
Taloki),
Wawonii,
Mori Bawah
*Western
**Interior:
Mori Atas,
Padoe
Padoe is an Austronesian language of the Celebic branch. It was traditionally spoken in the rolling plains south of Lake Matano in South Sulawesi province. In the 1950s, a portion of the Padoe-speaking population fled to Central Sulawesi
...
,
Tomadino
**West Coast:
Tolaki,
Rahambuu,
Kodeoha,
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
In its broad sense, Mori is a cover term used to refer collectively to two languages of Central Sulawesi: Mori Bawah and Mori Atas. Sometimes a third language, Padoe
Padoe is an Austronesian language of the Celebic branch. It was traditi ...
.
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