Discussion

Because of reported vigorous language use (Friberg and Laskowske 1989:14; Donohue 1999:8), we rate Bonerate as 5/Safe. 

What Others Have Written

Friberg and Laskowske (1989:14)

Bonerate represents a vigorous language. ... Bonerate is also spoken in the three easternmost inhabited islands of the district, Madu, Kalaotoa and Karompa. … Whereas Madu is fully populated by Bonerate speakers, Kalaotoa is populated by several languages, Selayar, having come since Indonesian independence, Bajau, Konjo (from Bontotiro subdistrict of Bulukumba district) while Karompa is populated by Bonerate speakers and Bajau speakers as well as a few recent immigrants from Batuatas island in the Buton area.

Broch (1981:48)

According to my informants four different languages are spoken in the area. This does not mean, however, that the inhabitants of different islands are always unable to communicate. Firstly several individuals master more than one of the local languages, and secondly a significant number of the islanders have some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia. Generally more men than women understand and are able to speak Bahasa Indonesia. This is probably due to the greater mobility of men, who often visit distant islands as sailors or otherwise. Intermarriages between the different islands are common, thus exposing women as well as men to other languages than their mother tongues.

The four languages spoken on these islands in the sea of Flores are as they are named by my informants : 1) Selayar : spoken on Tanah Jampea, Kayuadi and Kalao Toa, 2) Bonerate : spoken on Bonerate, Karompa and Madu. 3) Lambego [= Kalao] : spoken on Lambego only. 4) Bajo : spoken by the Bajo people on Pasi Tallu. Since people are skilled sailors, do some travelling as peddlers or fishermen and because of common interisland marriages, one will normally find individuals with any of the four languages as first language on all the eight islands.

Broch (1990:38)

The major language mastered by all adults [in the village of Miang Tuu, on Bonerate Island] is the Bonerate language. However, other languages such as Bugis, Bajau, Selayar, and bahasa Indonesia (the Indonesian national language) are also in use. These are not merely dialects, as they are not mutually understandable. Most villagers are bilingual, some trilingual, and a few polylingual. In some households more than one language is spoken daily. The language of the marketplace is the Bonerate language. Civil and military authorities stationed in the ibu kota speak Bugis and bahasa Indonesia; the latter is also the language used for all instruction in the Bonerate schools.

References

Broch, Harald B. 1981. Cultural variation on the islands in the Sea of Flores. Archipel 22:43–53. [Reproduced online. URL: http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/arch_0044-8613_1981_num_22_1_1668 (accessed January 14, 2014).]

Broch, Harald Beyer. 1990. Growing up agreeably: Bonerate childhood observed. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Donohue, Mark. 1999. A grammar of Tukang Besi. (Mouton Grammar Library, 20.) Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

Friberg, Timothy; and Thomas V. Laskowske. 1989. South Sulawesi languages, 1989. Studies in Sulawesi linguistics, part 1 (NUSA: Linguistic Studies of Indonesian and Other Languages in Indonesia, 31), edited by James N. Sneddon, 1–17. Jakarta: Badan Penyelenggara Seri Nusa, Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya. [Reproduced online. URL: http://sealang.net/archives/nusa/pdf/nusa-v31-p1-18.pdf (accessed January 13, 2014).]