Discussion

When the Merrifields surveyed the whole of North Sulawesi circa 1990, they noted the pronounced shift toward Manado Malay that was already taking place in the Minahasan area, and only among the Tontemboan did they observe relatively strong use of the vernacular (Merrifield 1991:79–80). Today the picture is mixed; while there are areas where Tontemboan is maintained, there are also areas where the language is in decline (Ron Whisler 2008:pers.comm.). Current estimates of the number of fluent Tontemboan speakers (and their ages) relative to the total ethnic population are not available. We conservatively rate Tontemboan as 4/Vulnerable, at the same time noting the need for more detailed information from the field.

What Others Have Written

Merrifield (1991:79–80)

The Tontemboan language is widely used. It is commonly spoken in nonformal situations, such as in the homes, at the market, on the road, with good friends, in public announcements, and in singing… Even in the most formal situations such as in government offices or at government meetings Tontemboan is often heard. It is primarily the language of the old people, though young people can also speak it. Children can only understand it. Children learn Tontemboan after they are already speaking Melayu Manado, so they often respond to the old people in Melayu Manado, even if they are addressed in Tontemboan… It seems that some of the young people are embarrassed to speak Tontemboan and don't want to learn it, but once they are married they make a concerted effort to speak it.

Wolff (2010:299)

All the Minahasan languages are endangered. The languages are still spoken by young people in rural areas, but the majority of the population, most especially the elite, has been switching to the Manado dialect of Malay. This process began more than a century ago, and has been proceeding with ever-increasing speed since.

References

Merrifield, Judi. [1991.] Life in North Sulawesi. Unpublished typescript, vii, 107 pp.

Wolff, John U. 2010. Proto-Austronesian phonology with glossary. 2 vols. Ithaca: Southeast Asia Program Publications, Cornell University.