The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It has been superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).
SIL code: BTJ
ISO 639-2: map
| Population | 2,500 mother tongue speakers (1991 H. Shelden SIL). Over 1,000 in Labuha (1987 J. Collins). |
| Region | North Maluku, Bacan Island west of southern Halmahera. Centered around the site of the former palace in Labuha, 1 village within about 5 km. walking distance from Labuha, another 1 hour by dugout (Indomut), and half the population of Waya and Lele villages on Mandioli Island. |
| Alternate names | BACAN, BATJAN |
| Classification | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayan, Local Malay. |
| Comments | No second language speakers. No evidence of an earlier indigenous language (J. Collins). The Portuguese cut off Bacan from other Malay in 1515. No historic connection with Borneo since. Junior high school in Labuha. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. Agriculturalists (rural speakers). Muslim. |
