Discussion
The present rating of 5/Safe is supplied by Susan Shore, who has conducted field research in the neighboring Behoa language since the mid 1990s. Many Bada live in an isolated area, which possibly helps them maintain vigorous use of their language. Previous reports that the Bada language is extinct (e.g. Moseley 2010, s.v. “Tobada'”) mistakenly referred to a small group of ethnic Bada who, having left the homeland area, did indeed give up their language; see the brief report about these émigrés in Valkama (1987:107).
What Others Have Written
Roger Hanna (2011:pers.comm.)
In each of these four language groups [Bada, Rampi, Sedoa and Napu], there is a high level of bilingualism, but local language use is still vigorous. Written local language materials are being used by parts of the community, although literacy is not yet sustainable. Various books and trial editions are being published in each of these languages on a quarterly basis. The GKST [Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah] church is promoting local language Scripture use on the fourth Sunday of each month. Each language team has produced Scripture books and some song and liturgy books (or trial editions) which are being used in church services.
Wurm (2007:543)
There was one speaker of it [Tobada'] in 1985, but it is now extinct. The ethnic group of 1,000–2,000 has switched to the neighboring Topoiyo language. Extinct.
References
Moseley, Christopher (ed.) 2010. Atlas of the world’s languages in danger, 3rd ed., entirely revised, enlarged and updated. (Memory of Peoples Series.) Paris: UNESCO Publishing. [Online version available. URL:
http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas (accessed February 18, 2012).]
Valkama, Kari. 1987. Kabupaten Mamuju. UNHAS-SIL South Sulawesi sociolinguistic surveys, 1983–1987 (Workpapers in Indonesian Languages and Cultures, 5), edited by Timothy Friberg, 99–117. Ujung Pandang: Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Wurm, Stephen A. 2007. Australasia and the Pacific. Encyclopedia of the world’s endangered languages, edited by Christopher Moseley, 425–577. New York: Routledge.
