The Timoric languages are a group of Austronesian languages (belonging to the Central–Eastern subgroup) spoken on the islands of Timor, neighboring Wetar, and (depending on the classification) Southwest Maluku to the east.
| Timoric | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Indonesia East Timor |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Timoric |
| Subdivisions | (disputed) |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
Within the group, the languages with the most speakers are Uab Meto of West Timor, Indonesia and Tetum of East Timor, each with about half a million speakers, though in addition Tetum is an official language and a lingua franca among non-Tetum East Timorese.
Languages
Hull (1998) & van Engelenhoven (2009)
Geoffrey Hull (1998) proposes a Timoric group as follows:
- Timoric
- Timoric A ("Extra-Ramelaic", Fabronic; whatever is not Ramelaic)
- West: Dawan (Uab Meto)–Amarasi, Helong, Roti (Bilba, Dengka, Lole, Ringgou, Dela-Oenale, Termanu, Tii)
- Central: Tetun, Bekais, Habu
- North: Wetar, Galoli
- East: Kairui, Waimaha, Midiki, Naueti
- Timoric B ("Ramelaic", near the Ramelau range)
- West: Kemak, Tukudede
- Central: Mambai
- East (Idalaka): Idaté, Isní, Lakalei, Lolein
- Timoric A ("Extra-Ramelaic", Fabronic; whatever is not Ramelaic)
Van Engelenhoven (2009) accepts Hull's classification, but further includes Makuva and the Luangic–Kisaric languages (Kisar, Romang, Luang, Wetan, Leti) in the Eastern branch of Timoric A.
Taber (1993)
In a lexicostatistical classification of the languages of Southwest Maluku, Taber (1993:396) posits a "Southwest Maluku" branch of the Timoric languages, that comprises all languages of the area, except for West Damar and the Babar languages.
- Timoric
- (other branches on Timor)
- Southwest Maluku
- East Damar
- Wetar: Talur, Wetar cluster (Aputai, Perai, Tugun, Iliun)
- Kisar-Roma: Kisar, Roma
- Luang: Leti, Luang, Wetan
- TNS (Teun-Nila-Serua): Teun, Nila-Serua (Nila, Serua)
- (other branches of CMP, including Babar languages and West Damar)
Edwards (2021)
Edwards (2021) divides the languages of Timor and Southwest Maluku into two main branches, Central Timor and Timor–Babar:
- Central Timor: Kemak, Tokodede, Mambae, Welaun
- Timor–Babar
- Helong
- Rote-Meto
- West Rote-Meto
- Dela, Oenale
- Dengka-Meto
- Dengka, Lelain
- Meto
- Nuclear Rote
- Tii, Lole
- Termanu, Ba'a, Korbafo, Bokai, Talae, Keka
- Bilbaa, Diu, Lelenuk
- Rikou, Landu, Oepao
- West Rote-Meto
- Lakalei–Idate: Lakalei, Idate
- Eastern Timor (Kawaimina): Kairui, Waimaha, Midiki, Naueti
- Wetar–Atauro: Atauran, Galoli, Wetarese
- Southwest Maluku: Kisar, Roma, Leti, Luang, Wetan, Teun, Nila, Serua, East Damar
- Babar languages
References
- van Engelenhoven, Aone (2009). "The position of Makuva among the Austronesian languages in East Timor and Southwest Maluku". In Adelaar, K. Alexander; Pawley, Andrew (eds.). Austronesian historical linguistics and culture history: a festschrift for Robert Blust. Canberra: Australian National University. pp. 425–442.
- Edwards O (2020). Metathesis and unmetathesis in Amarasi (pdf). Berlin: Language Science Press. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3700413. ISBN 978-3-96110-223-5.
- Edwards, Owen (2021). Rote-Meto Comparative Dictionary. Canberra: ANU Press.
- Hull, Geoffrey. 1998. "The basic lexical affinities of Timor's Austronesian languages: a preliminary investigation." Studies in Languages and Cultures of East Timor 1:97–202.
- Taber, Mark (1993). "Toward a Better Understanding of the Indigenous Languages of Southwestern Maluku." Oceanic Linguistics, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Winter, 1993), pp. 389–441. University of Hawai'i.
External links
- LexiRumah (part of the Lesser Sunda linguistic databases)
- Reconstructing the past through languages of the present: the Lesser Sunda Islands
- The Languages of East Timor: Some Basic Facts (Revised 24.8.2004) Geoffrey Hull
The Timoric languages are a group of Austronesian languages belonging to the Central Eastern subgroup spoken on the islands of Timor neighboring Wetar and depending on the classification Southwest Maluku to the east TimoricGeographic distributionIndonesia East TimorLinguistic classificationAustronesianMalayo PolynesianCentral EasternTimoricProto languageProto TimoricSubdivisions disputed Language codesISO 639 3 Within the group the languages with the most speakers are Uab Meto of West Timor Indonesia and Tetum of East Timor each with about half a million speakers though in addition Tetum is an official language and a lingua franca among non Tetum East Timorese LanguagesHull 1998 amp van Engelenhoven 2009 Geoffrey Hull 1998 proposes a Timoric group as follows Timoric Timoric A Extra Ramelaic Fabronic whatever is not Ramelaic West Dawan Uab Meto Amarasi Helong Roti Bilba Dengka Lole Ringgou Dela Oenale Termanu Tii Central Tetun Bekais Habu North Wetar Galoli East Kairui Waimaha Midiki Naueti Timoric B Ramelaic near the Ramelau range West Kemak Tukudede Central Mambai East Idalaka Idate Isni Lakalei Lolein Van Engelenhoven 2009 accepts Hull s classification but further includes Makuva and the Luangic Kisaric languages Kisar Romang Luang Wetan Leti in the Eastern branch of Timoric A Taber 1993 Languages of Timor Island In a lexicostatistical classification of the languages of Southwest Maluku Taber 1993 396 posits a Southwest Maluku branch of the Timoric languages that comprises all languages of the area except for West Damar and the Babar languages Timoric other branches on Timor Southwest Maluku East Damar Wetar Talur Wetar cluster Aputai Perai Tugun Iliun Kisar Roma Kisar Roma Luang Leti Luang Wetan TNS Teun Nila Serua Teun Nila Serua Nila Serua other branches of CMP including Babar languages and West Damar Edwards 2021 Timor languages according to Edwards 2020 Map of the Meto language cluster Edwards 2021 divides the languages of Timor and Southwest Maluku into two main branches Central Timor and Timor Babar Central Timor Kemak Tokodede Mambae Welaun Timor Babar Helong Rote Meto West Rote Meto Dela Oenale Dengka Meto Dengka Lelain Meto Nuclear Rote Tii Lole Termanu Ba a Korbafo Bokai Talae Keka Bilbaa Diu Lelenuk Rikou Landu Oepao Lakalei Idate Lakalei Idate Eastern Timor Kawaimina Kairui Waimaha Midiki Naueti Wetar Atauro Atauran Galoli Wetarese Southwest Maluku Kisar Roma Leti Luang Wetan Teun Nila Serua East Damar Babar languagesReferencesvan Engelenhoven Aone 2009 The position of Makuva among the Austronesian languages in East Timor and Southwest Maluku In Adelaar K Alexander Pawley Andrew eds Austronesian historical linguistics and culture history a festschrift for Robert Blust Canberra Australian National University pp 425 442 Edwards O 2020 Metathesis and unmetathesis in Amarasi pdf Berlin Language Science Press doi 10 5281 zenodo 3700413 ISBN 978 3 96110 223 5 Edwards Owen 2021 Rote Meto Comparative Dictionary Canberra ANU Press Hull Geoffrey 1998 The basic lexical affinities of Timor s Austronesian languages a preliminary investigation Studies in Languages and Cultures of East Timor 1 97 202 Taber Mark 1993 Toward a Better Understanding of the Indigenous Languages of Southwestern Maluku Oceanic Linguistics Vol 32 No 2 Winter 1993 pp 389 441 University of Hawai i External linksLexiRumah part of the Lesser Sunda linguistic databases Reconstructing the past through languages of the present the Lesser Sunda Islands The Languages of East Timor Some Basic Facts Revised 24 8 2004 Geoffrey Hull
