| Tukangbesi South (Tukang-Besi, Wakatobi) 130,000 including 100,000 in Maluku (1995 SIL). Southern islands of Tukangbesi archipelago, (Binongko and Tomea islands) off the southeast Sulawesi; Taliabu, Mongole, Sulabesi, Buru, Seram, Ambon, and Alor islands in Maluku; Bonerate dialect in Bonerate, Madu, Kalaotoa, and Karompa islands in Selayar District, South Sulawesi; numerous settlements throughout western Irian Jaya. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sulawesi, Muna-Buton, Tukangbesi-Bonerate. Dialects: Binongko, Tomea (Tomia). Binongko has 85% lexical similarity, with Tomea 81% with Bonerate, Tomea 79% with Bonerate. 70% to 75% with Tukangbesi North, 48% with Cia-Cia, 49% with Lasalimu, average of 35% with other nearby languages. Muslim. |
