Indonesia is a linguistically diverse country home to hundreds of different regional languages, many of which are spoken by small communities and are often overlooked. Below are some of these unusual and little known languages.
1. Baduy / Kanekes – Spoken by the Baduy people, a conservative ethnic group isolated in the highlands of West Java, these languages are barely influenced by the outside world. With a total population of only approximately 10,000 people, the Baduy preserve their ancient ways of life and languages, which are not written but passed down orally.
2. Manggarai – This language is spoken by a minority group residing primarily in the western part of Flores island in East Nusatenggara Province. Manggarai language is a member of the Austronesian language family and has unique phonological characteristics, such as vowel harmony.
3. Batak languages – There are a number of Batak languages in Sumatra, each belonging to a specific subgroup. These include Toba, Karo, Simalungun, Mandailing, Pakpak, Angkola, and several others, each having its own linguistic peculiarities.
4. Kajang Language – Spoken by the Kajang tribe of Bulukumba Regency in South Sulawesi, the language was declared a cultural heritage by the Indonesian government. With the population just over 5000, the Kajang language remains not widely known by others.
5. Padoe – Another language from Sulawesi, the Padoe language is the native tongue of the Tolaki people living in the southeastern region. Sadly, with less than 5,000 people still speaking the language, it is now considered endangered.
6. Mehri – Though primarily spoken in Yemen and Oman, Mehri is also spoken in small parts of eastern Indonesia, specifically on the island of Flores. The community who speaks this language is the descendants of sailors and traders from the Arabian Peninsula who have settled on the island.
7. Retta – This is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in Nusa Tenggara Timur in East Indonesia. It is significant for having evolved unique morphological and phonological systems.
8. Gayo – This language is spoken by the Gayo people of Aceh, specifically in the central highland region of the island of Sumatra.
9. Lampungese – Spoken by the Lampung ethnic group in the southern part of Sumatra island, the language has several dialects, including Api, Nyo, and Abung.
10. Kenyah Language – Spoken by the Kenyah tribes inhabiting the areas of East Kalimantan, particularly in the highlands near the border of Sarawak, Malaysia.
While these languages may not be well-known, they certainly contribute to the rich linguistic tapestry of Indonesia.