Sula (Sanana) is a

Malayo-Polynesian language 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 peoples outside of Taiwan, in the island nations of Southeast ...

of the Central Maluku branch. It is related to the

Buru language Buru or Buruese (Buru: ) is a Malayo-Polynesian language of the Central Maluku branch. In 1991 it was spoken by approximately 45,000 Buru people who live on the Indonesian island of Buru (). It is also preserved in the Buru communities on Amb ...

. Sula is spoken mainly on the Sulabesi, with the

Sanana Sanana is a town and administrative center of Sula Islands Regency, North Maluku, Indonesia. This town is located on Sulabesi Island (formerly called Sanana Island). Villages Sanana consists of 11 Villages of Indonesia, villages (all classed as r ...

as its center. It is definitely endangered, currently under pressure from the local variety of Malay, known as Sula Malay. Sula has borrowed many lexical items from

Ambonese Malay Ambonese Malay or simply Ambonese is a Malay-based creole language spoken on Ambon Island in the Maluku Islands of Eastern Indonesia. It was first brought by traders from Western Indonesia, then developed when the Dutch Empire colonised the M ...

, as well as

Ternate Ternate (), also known as the City of Ternate (; ), is the List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city with the largest population in the province of North Maluku and an island in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia. It was the ''de facto'' provi ...

, a more dominant language of

North Maluku North Maluku (; ) is a province of Indonesia. It covers the northern part of the Maluku Islands, bordering the Pacific Ocean to the north, the Halmahera Sea to the east, the Molucca Sea to the west, and the Seram Sea to the south. It shares marit ...

. Dutch loans have entered the language too, perhaps through Malay and Ternate. Standard Indonesian has also been influential.

Mangole Mangoli or Mangole (Xulla Mangola - earlier name.) is a large island in the Sula Islands, which are part of North Maluku province in Indonesia. It is located at , east of Taliabu Island and north of Sanana Island. It has an area of 2,142.48 km ...

is sometimes listed as a distinct language.

Phonology

Consonants

Voiced consonant sounds may also be heard as devoiced in word-final position.

Vowels

can also be heard as in lax form.

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

References

Further reading