Saluan language

Last updated
Saluan
Loinang
Region Sulawesi, Indonesia
Native speakers
(76,000 cited 1978) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 loe
Glottolog salu1253
ELP Saluan

Saluan, also known as Loinang after one of its dialects, is the main language spoken on the eastern peninsula of the island of Sulawesi.

Phonology

Consonants [2]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless p t k ʔ
voiced b d ɡ
Fricative s h
Rhotic r
Lateral l
Approximant w j

In some dialects, the distinction between /l/, /r/ and /n/ is neutralized to /n/ in word-final position, as in putan 'rope' (pronounced putal in most dialects). [3]

Vowels [2]
Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e ( ə ) o
Open a

The central vowel [ə] is restricted to certain dialects.

In final position, there is a phonemic distinction between long and short vowels, as in /ikuː/ 'tail' vs. /siku/ 'elbow'. [3]

References

  1. Saluan at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 Pamolango, Valantino (2012). Geografi Dialek Bahasa Saluan. Manado: Universitas Sam Ratulangi.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  3. 1 2 Mead, David and Edy Pasanda (2015). An Initial Appreciation of the Dialect Situation in Saluan and Batui (Eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia). SIL Electronic Survey Reports 2015-013. SIL International.