Luhu language explained

Luhu
Nativename:Piru
States:Indonesia
Region:Seram Island, Maluku
Ref:e18
Familycolor:Austronesian
Fam2:Malayo-Polynesian
Fam3:Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Fam4:Central Maluku ?
Fam5:East Central Maluku
Fam6:Seram ?
Fam7:Nunusaku
Fam8:Piru Bay
Fam9:West
Fam10:Hoamoal
Dia1:Piru
Iso3:lcq
Glotto:luhu1243
Glottorefname:Luhu-Piru
Elp:2773
Elpname:Piru
Extinct:by 2024

Luhu is an extinct Austronesian language spoken in the west of Seram Island in eastern Indonesia. It was spoken in Luhu village on Hoamoal Peninsula at the western end of Seram, and in Boano and Kelang islands, off the western tip of Seram Island.[1]

The northernmost dialect, Piru, was separated from the rest of the language through colonial depopulation, and was influenced by neighboring languages as it became moribund. In 1989, there were an estimated 3,500 native speakers, but by 2024, the language had gone extinct.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ethnologue 15 report for Indonesia (Maluku) . 2013-05-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140226211052/http://archive.ethnologue.com/15/show_country.asp?name=IDM . 2014-02-26 . dead .
  2. Web site: 8 March 2024 . 11 Indigenous Languages Declared Extinct: Education Ministry . 10 September 2024 . Jakarta Globe.