The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. The Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken by the Austronesian people of the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean, with a smaller number in continental Asia, going well into the Malay peninsula. Cambodia and Vietnam serve as the northwest geographic outlier. On the northernmost geographical outlier does not pass beyond the north of Pattani, which is located in southern Thailand. Malagasy is spoken in the island of Madagascar located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Part of the language family shows a strong influence of Sanskrit and particularly Arabic as the Western part of the region has been a stronghold of Hinduism, Buddhism and, since the 10th century, Islam.
The Nuclear Malayo-Polynesian languages are a putative branch of the Austronesian family, proposed by Zobel (2002), that are thought to have dispersed from a possible homeland in Sulawesi. They are called nuclear because they are the conceptual core of the Malayo-Polynesian family, including both Malay and Polynesian. Nuclear Malayo-Polynesian is found throughout Indonesia, and into Melanesia and the Pacific.
More than 700 living languages are spoken in Indonesia. A major part of them belong to the Austronesian language family, while over 270 Papuan (non-Austronesian) languages are spoken in eastern Indonesia.. The official language is Indonesian, a standardized form of Malay, which serves as the lingua franca of the archipelago. The vocabulary of Indonesian borrows heavily from regional languages of Indonesia, such as Javanese, Sundanese and Minangkabau, as well as from Dutch, Sanskrit and Arabic.
Today, the languages of Papua New Guinea number over 850. These languages are spoken by the inhabited tribal groups of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. In 2006, Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare stated that "Papua New Guinea has 832 living languages " making it the most linguistically diverse place on earth. Its official languages are Tok Pisin, English, Hiri Motu and Papua New Guinean Sign Language. Tok Pisin, an English-based creole, is the most widely spoken, serving as the country's lingua franca. Papua New Guinean Sign Language became the fourth official language in May 2015, and is used by the deaf population throughout the country.
The Sangiric languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages spoken in North Sulawesi, Indonesia and several small islands to the north which belong to the Philippines. They are classified as a branch of the Philippine subgroup.
The South Sulawesi languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian language family. They are spoken by the Bugis and related ethnic groups native to the Indonesian provinces South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi.
The Hawu also known as Havu language, historically Sawu and known to outsiders as Savu or Sabu, is the language of Savu Island in Indonesia and of Raijua Island off the western tip of Savu. Traditionally classified as a Sumba language in the Austronesian family, it may be a non-Austronesian (Papuan) language. Dhao, once considered a dialect, is not mutually intelligible with Hawu.
Seko Padang is an Austronesian language spoken in the North Luwu Regency of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Together with Seko Tengah, Panasuan and Budong-Budong, it belongs to the Seko branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup.
Seko Tengah is an Austronesian language spoken in the North Luwu Regency of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Together with Seko Padang, Panasuan and Budong-Budong, it belongs to the Seko branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup.
Enrekang is an Austronesian language spoken on Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs to the Northern branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup, and is closely related to Duri and Maiwa.
Coastal Konjo is an Austronesian language of Sulawesi, Indonesia, which belongs to the Makassaric branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup. It is spoken along the coast in the southeastern corner of South Sulawesi in the regencies of Sinjai, Bulukumba and Bantaeng. It is closely related to, but distinct from Highland Konjo, which also belongs to the Makassaric languages.
Highland Konjo is an Austronesian language of Sulawesi, Indonesia, which belongs to the Makassaric branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup. It is spoken in the interior parts of Bone, Bulukumba, Gowa, and Sinjai regencies of South Sulawesi province, in the area to the northwest of Mount Lompobatang. It is closely related to, but distinct from Coastal Konjo, which also belongs to the Makassaric languages.
Napu is an Austronesian language spoken in the North Lore district of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Together with Bada and Behoa, it belongs to the Badaic subgroup.
Bada (Badaʼ) is an Austronesian language spoken in the South Lore district of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Together with Napu and Behoa, it belongs to the Badaic subgroup.
Maiwa is an Austronesian language spoken by around 50,000 people in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs to the Northern branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup, and is closely related to Duri and Enrekang.
Panasuan is an Austronesian language spoken in the border area of West Sulawesi and South Sulawesi provinces, Indonesia. Together with Seko Padang, Seko Tengah and Budong-Budong, it belongs to the Seko branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup.
Budong-Budong is an Austronesian language of Sulawesi, Indonesia, spoken in the village of Tongkou, Budong-Budong Subdistrict, Central Mamuju Regency. Together with Seko Padang, Seko Tengah and Panasuan, it belongs to the Seko branch of the South Sulawesi subgroup.
The Makassaric languages are a group of languages spoken in the southern part of South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, and make up one of the branches of the South Sulawesi subgroup in the Austronesian language family. The most prominent member of this group is Makassarese, with over two million speakers in the city of Makassar and neighboring areas.
