Kaili, Ledo

Language Group

Overview

ISO 639-3:

lew

Alternate Names:

Ledo, Palu, Paloesch, Kayele, Kayeli

Dialects:

Ado (Pakuli, Sibalaya); Doi (Kayu Malue, Mamboro); Edo (Sidondo); Ija (Sigi); Ledo (Palu); Rai (Sindue-Tawaili, Tawaili-Sindue); Raio (Kori); Ta’a (Dolago-Sausu, Sausu); Taa (Palolo); Tara (Parigi)

Population:

350000 (2000)

Microgroup:

Province:

Central Sulawesi

Overall Vitality:

5/Safe

Kaili Varieties

In terms of size and prestige, Kaili must be regarded as one of the principal languages of Central Sulawesi. The Kaili area, centered around the city of Palu and the broad Palu valley, comprises some sixteen or more distinct varieties, and researchers have differed as to how many languages should be recognized among them. We follow the Ethnologue, 16th edition (Lewsi 2009) in recognizing four languages—Baras, Da’a, Ledo and Unde—but this division should not be accepted uncritically. In particular, Ledo Kaili embraces considerable variety, more so than the other three. The following table lists the four recognized Kaili languages and the varieties which are subsumed under each. (The names Ende, Da’a, Inde, etc. are taken from the local word for ‘no’ in that variety, thus ende, da’a, inde, etc.)

Baras	Da'a Kaili	Unde Kaili	Ledo Kaili
Ende	Da’a, Inde	Unde, Ndepuu	Tado, Ado, Edo, Ledo, Doi, Ija, Rai, Raio, Taa, Ta’a, Tara

For other ways that Kaili varieties have been classified over the decades see Mead (2014).

Population

Census data for the year 2000 place the total number of Kaili (all varieties) at around 440,000. In lieu of firm data, a ‘best guess’ breakdown of this total is Da’a Kaili 55,000; Unde Kaili 25,000; and Ledo Kaili (as per the above table) 360,000. The Baras number at most a scant few hundred in West Sulawesi. Of the different varieties subsumed under Ledo Kaili, the Ledo dialect is the largest and mostly widely understood, and was formerly also an important lingua franca of the area. The number of mother-tongue speakers of the Ledo dialect may exceed 175,000 (Donna Evans 2007:pers.comm.).

References

Lewis, M. Paul (ed.) 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the world, 16th edition. Dallas: SIL International.

Mead, David. 2014. How do you slice the pie? Ways of looking at the Kaili language area of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, version 2. Sulang Language Data and Working Papers: Survey Reports, 1. Sulawesi Language Alliance. Online. URL: http://sulang.org/resources/survey-reports/001.

Vitality

Summary

Discussion

We rate Ledo Kaili as 5/Safe because of reported vigorous language use, including government recognition and support at the provincial and local level. The prestige Ledo variety has also begun to be taught in schools (Donna Evans 2014:pers.comm.). Whether all varieties subsumed under Ledo Kaili deserve this same rating is an open question, although at least one variety, Kori, appears to be endangered (Karsana 2013:23).

What Others Have Written

Donna Evans (2011:pers.comm.)

More and more there are public signs in Ledo (names of public buildings, clinics, names of festivals, even slogans on some political posters, etc), and there has been some effort to produce Ledo booklets for school use. There is a column in a local paper that is written in a kind of 'mixed' Ledo, and some Ledo comments on local radio. Many politicians try to include a few sentences in Ledo/Kaili during political speeches. The provincial legislature has expressed a desire, and passed a few regulations, to promote ‘Kaili’ locally. Rural folk still use Ledo at home, and it has become fashionable among young people to use Ledo.

Donna Evans (2014:pers.comm.)

With the growth of the city of Palu it has become harder to estimate the number of Kaili speakers. Many Kaili (especially Ledo) people now live in Palu city, and Palu in turn has swallowed up many neighboring Ledo villages ove the years. People will of necessity be under pressure to switch to Indonesian in the urban environment. New migrants to Palu from other areas (South Sulawesi, Java, Chinese) no longer learn Ledo as a second language. They appear to use Indonesian exclusively as a trade/vehicular language.

Karsana (2013:23)

Bahasa Kori (BK) merupakan bahasa yang digunakan dan dimiliki oleh suku Kori. BK sampai saat ini masih digunakan sebagai alat komunikasi oleh penuturnya. Akan tetapi, keberadaan BK semaikn merosot penggunaannya. Desakan bahasa lain yang lebih dominan, yaitu bahasa Kaili dialek Rai dan bahasa Indonesia, membuat keberadaan BK makin terdesak. Selain itu, jumlah penutur yang kian menyusut, sekitar 696 orang (data BPS, 2008) menjadikan perlunya perhatian yang mendalam bagi semua kalangan. Hal ini perlu sebagai upaya pelestarian BK.

References

Karsana, Deni. 2013. Fonologi bahasa Kori: Suatu kajian fonologi generatif. Fonologi bahasa daerah di pulau Sulawesi bagian selatan, edited by Masao Yamaguchi, Adri and Cho Tae Young, 23–48. Kyoto: Hokuto Publishing.

Documentation

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Links

Ethnologue : Kaili, Ledo: A language of Indonesia
http://www.ethnologue.com/language/lew

Glottolog : Ledo Kaili
http://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/ledo1238

Open Language Archives Community : OLAC resources in and about the Ledo Kaili language
http://www.language-archives.org/language/lew

Wikipedia (English) : Ledo Kaili language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledo_Kaili_language

World Atlas of Language Structures (WALS) Online : Kaili
http://wals.info/languoid/lect/wals_code_kli

Sulawesi Language Alliance

Championing Local Languages in the Heart of Indonesia

Language Group

Kaili Varieties

Population

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What Others Have Written

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Language Group

Kaili Varieties

Population

References

Summary

Discussion

What Others Have Written

References