Malayo-Polynesian languages

The Malayo-Polynesian languages are by far the most important and most widely spoken subgroup of the Austronesian languages. They comprise about 1100 languages with nearly 300 million speakers. They are widely spoken across the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with only a few members of this language family spoken on the Asian mainland. Malagasy, spoken on Madagascar, is geographically remote from the rest, and the language of Easter Island (Rapanui) represents the eastern extreme. Malayo-Polynesian divides into two main groups, West Malayo-Polynesian and Central-East Malayo-Polynesian. Here, only the latter branch represents a subgroup defined by commonly inherited innovations, whereas the West branch most likely consists of several subgroups of equal rank, thus being paraphyletic.

Characteristic of Malayo-Polynesian languages are the tendency to productive reduplication (repetition of parts of words or whole words), the absence of consonant clustering, and the small number of vowels in the phoneme system (usually five).

The more than 1100 Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken by some 300 million speakers in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Oceania, and Madagascar. They fall into two main branches:

  • West Malayo-Polynesian: 445 languages, 284 million speakers; Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar and
  • Central East Malayo-Polynesian: 680 languages, 7.5 million speakers; Moluccas, Timor, Flores, spoken in New Guinea and Oceania - It breaks down into two main branches:
    • Central Malayo-Polynesian: 151 languages, 4.5 million speakers; spoken in the Moluccas, Timor, Flores, Sumba, and West New Guinea. Tetum is an official language of East Timor. Other languages are national languages of East Timor and
    • Eastern Malayo-Polynesian: 527 languages, 2.8 million speakers spoken in New Guinea, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

For the migration of speakers of Malayo-Polynesian languages to their present areas of settlement, see Austronesian languages.

Classification and distribution areas of the Malayo-Polynesian languages

In this section, the internal structure (classification) of Malayo-Polynesian is presented in detail. In addition, the number of languages, current speaker numbers and the distribution areas of the individual branches and sub-branches are given.

  1. West Malayo Polynesian
    1. Philippines (132 languages, 68 million speakers; Philippines, Sangir, North Sulawesi)
      1. Northern Philippines (45 languages, 13 million speakers; Bashi, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Northern Mindoro)
      2. Meso-Philippines (46 languages, 49 million speakers; Central Philippines, Southern Mangyan, Palawan, Kalamian)
      3. Southern Philippines (21 languages, 2.6 million speakers; Manobo, Danao, Subanun)
      4. Southern Mindanao (4 languages, 4,000 speakers; Southern Mindanao)
      5. Sangir languages (6 languages, 600,000 speakers; North Sulawesi)
      6. Minahasa languages (3 languages, 250,000 speakers; North Sulawesi)
      7. Gorontalo-Mongondow languages (7 languages, 2.2 million speakers; North and Northeast Sulawesi): Gorontalo, Mongondow
    2. Chamorro, Palauan (one language each, combined 100,000 speakers; Guam, Palau)
    3. Sama-Bajaw (8 languages, 500,000 speakers; Sulu, Sulawesi and Flores)
    4. Malayo-Sumbawa (77 languages, 107 million speakers; Malaysia, Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Madura, Bali, etc.)
      1. Malay (60 languages, 60 million speakers; Malaysia, Indonesia)
      2. Aceh-Chamish (8 languages, 3.9 million speakers; China: Hainan; Vietnam, Cambodia / Indonesia: North Sumatra)
      3. Embaloh-Taman (2 languages, 15,000 speakers; Central Borneo (Kalimantan))
      4. Sundanese (2 languages, 27 million speakers; Sunda)
      5. Madurese (2 languages, 10 million speakers; Madura)
      6. Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa languages (3 languages, 6.3 million speakers; Balinese, Sasak, Sumbawa)
    5. Javanese (3 languages, 76 million speakers; Java)
    6. Northwest Sumatra (11 languages, 6.7 million speakers; Northwest Sumatra, Barrier Islands)
      1. Barrier Islands (5 languages, 670,000 speakers; Simeulue, Nias, Mentawai, Enggano)
      2. Batak (5 languages, 5.9 million speakers; Northwest Sumatra: Batak country)
      3. Gayo (1 language, 180,000 speakers; North Sumatra (Takengon, Genteng, Lokon))
    7. Lampung (7 languages, 3.5 million speakers; southern tip of Sumatra)
    8. Rejang (1 language, 1 million speakers; southwest Sumatra)
    9. Moken-Moklen (2 languages, 9,000 speakers; southern Burma, southern Thailand (west coast, islands))
    10. North Borneo (60 languages, 600,000 speakers; Northwest Borneo: Sabah, North Sarawak)
      1. Sabah (36 languages, 500,000 speakers; Northwest Borneo: Sabah)
      2. North Sarawak (24 languages, 100,000 speakers; Northwest Borneo: North Sarawak)
    11. Kayan-Murik (16 languages, 40,000 speakers; Central Borneo: Kalimantan, also Sarawak)
    12. Land-Dayak languages (12 languages, 450,000 speakers; South Sarawak)
    13. East Barito-Malagasy (7 languages, 14.3 million speakers; southeastern tip of Borneo / Madagascar)
    14. Barito-Mahakam (18 languages, 170,000 speakers; southeast Borneo (Kalimantan) (northern East Barito))
    15. West Barito (6 languages, 520,000 speakers; central South Borneo (Kalimantan)): Ngaju
    16. Muna-Buton languages (11 languages, 530,000 speakers; Southeast Sulawesi: Cia-Cia, Muna, Tukangbesi)
    17. Wotu-Wolio languages (5 languages, 45,000 speakers; Southeast Sulawesi: Wolio, Wotu)
    18. Bungku-Tolaki languages (16 languages, 420,000 speakers; Southeast Sulawesi): Tolaki, Bungku
    19. Saluan-Banggai languages (5 languages, 200,000 speakers; east central Sulawesi, Banggai, Saluan)
    20. Tomini-Tolitoli languages (6 languages, 180,000 speakers; western North Sulawesi): Tomini, Tolitoli
    21. Kaili-Pamona languages (12 languages, 460,000 speakers; northwestern Central Sulawesi: Kaili, Pamona)
    22. South Sulawesi (27 languages, 7 million speakers; South and West Central Sulawesi)
  2. Central East Malayo Polynesian
    1. Central Malayo-Polynesian
      1. North Bomberai (four languages, 2,000 speakers; Irian Jaya: north Bomberai Peninsula)
      2. Southern Bomberai (one language, 600 speakers; Irian Jaya: Southern Bomberai Peninsula)
      3. Central Moluccas (52 languages, 330,000 speakers; Banda, Seram, Ambon, Sula)
      4. Teor-Kur (two languages, 4,000 speakers; Teor, Kur)
      5. Aru (13 languages, 50,000 speakers; Aru Islands)
      6. Southeast Moluccas (5 languages, 180,000 speakers; Kai, Fordata, Yamdena, Tanimbar)
      7. Babar (9 languages, 10,000 speakers; Babar)
      8. Timor-Flores (41 languages, 2 million speakers; Timor, Roti, Alor, Wetar, Flores): Tetum, Uab Meto, Manggarai, Kambera, Lewotobi and others.
      9. Bima-Sumba (24 languages, 1.9 million speakers; Sumba, Sumbawa): Bima
    2. East Malayo Polynesian
      1. South Halmahera West New Guinea (SHWNG group) (39 languages, 135,000 speakers; South Halmahera, West New Guinea)
        1. South Halmahera (6 languages, 50,000 speakers; South Halmahera)
        2. West New Guinea (33 languages, 85,000 speakers; West New Guinea)
      2. Oceanic (489 languages, 2.7 million speakers; Oceania: Micronesian, Melanesian, Polynesian)
        1. Admiralty Islands (32 languages including Yapean, 30,000 speakers; Admiralty Islands, Yap)
        2. Western Oceanic (231 languages, 770,000 speakers; North, East and Central New Guinea, Meso-Melanesia)
          1. Northern New Guinea (102 languages, 210,000 speakers; Northern New Guinea)
          2. East Central Papua New Guinea (62 languages, 240,000 speakers)
          3. Meso-Melanesian (67 languages, 320,000 speakers; Meso-Melanesia: Vitu, Unea, New Britain, New Ireland, Northwest Solomon Islands)
        3. Central East Oceanic (226 languages, 2 million speakers)
          1. Southeast Solomon Islands (26 languages, 220,000 speakers)
          2. Santa Cruz (6 languages, 1,200 speakers)
          3. North Central Vanuatu (90 languages, 80,000 speakers)
          4. South Vanuatu (8 languages, 18,000 speakers)
          5. New Caledonia (30 languages, 33,000 speakers)
          6. Loyalty Islands (3 languages, 23,000 speakers)
          7. Micronesian (20 languages, 220,000 speakers; Micronesia: Ikiribati, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Ponape, Chuuk, Nauru)
          8. Central Pacific (43 languages, 1.3 million speakers; Fiji, Polynesia)
            1. West Fiji-Rotuma (3 languages, 70,000 speakers; West Fiji, Rotuma)
            2. East Fiji (4 languages, 365,000 speakers)
            3. Polynesian (36 languages, 900,000 speakers)
              1. Tonga-Niue (2 languages, 130,000 speakers; Tonga, Niue)
              2. Nuclear Polynesian
                1. Samoa group (22 languages, 500,000 speakers; Samoa, Wallis, Tuvalu, Futuna, Pukapuka, Tokelau)
                2. East Polynesian (12 languages, 270,000 speakers; Hawaii, Mangareva, Marquesas, Tahiti, Rarotonga, Tuamotu, Rakahanga, New Zealand (Maori), Easter Island (Rapanui), etc.)
The Western Malayo-Polynesian languages and their subgroupsZoom
The Western Malayo-Polynesian languages and their subgroups

Malayo-Polynesian Million Languages

There are about 30 Malayo-Polynesian languages with at least one million speakers, of which 10 are spoken in the Philippines, 18 in Malaysia and Indonesia, and one in Madagascar. In the following table, in addition to the number of speakers (native speakers), the subfamily of Malayo-Polynesian to which the language belongs is given, and additionally the area of distribution if it is not clear from the name of the subgroup. The figure "S2" includes the number of native speakers and second speakers of that language. The table is arranged geographically.

Language

Number of speakers

Subgroup (distribution area)

Ilokano

8 million

Northern Philippines

Pangasinán

1.2 million

Northern Philippines

Pampangan

2 million

Northern Philippines

Filipino / Tagalog

28 million, S2 45 million

Meso Philippines

Cebuano

10 million, S2 18 million.

Meso Philippines

Bikol

2.5 million

Meso Philippines

Waray-Waray (Samar-Leyte)

2.5 million

Meso Philippines

Hiligaynon

7 million

Meso Philippines

Magindanao

1 million

South Philippines

Mongondow

1 million

Gorontalo-Mongondow (North Sulawesi)

Gorontalo

1 million

Gorantalo-Mongondow (North Sulawesi)

Makassar language

1.6 million

South Sulawesi

Buginese

3.6 million

South Sulawesi

Bahasa Malaysia

10 million, S2 20 million.

Malay (Malaysia)

Bahasa Indonesia

30 million, S2 170 million.

Malay (Indonesia)

Pattani (Thai Malay)

3 million

Malay (Thailand)

Banjarese (Borneo Malay)

3 million

Malay (Borneo)

Sulawesi Malay

1-2 million

Malay (Sulawesi)

Minangkabau

6.5 million

Para-Malay (Sumatra)

Achinese

3 million

Cham-Achin (Sumatra)

Sundanese

27 million

Sunda

Madurese

10 million

Madura

Balinese

4 million

Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa (Bali - Lombok)

Sasak

2 million

Bali-Sasak-Sumbawa (Lombok)

Javanese

75 million

Java

Batak Toba

3.2 million

Batak (Northwest Sumatra)

Batak Dairi

1.2 million

Batak (Northwest Sumatra)

Malagasy

14 million

East Barito (Madagascar)

Tetum

950,000, S2 1.6 million.

Timor (East Timor and Indonesia)

All other Malayo-Polynesian languages have less than one million speakers. Especially the Oceanic languages are often very "small" and have less than 1000 speakers. A complete overview of all Austronesian languages with their classification within Austronesian can also be found at Ernst Kausen.


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