Twenty dialects in C. Sulawesi

Twenty dialects in C. Sulawesi

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Researchers here have recently
discovered 20 widely spoken dialects in five districts in the
province.

Head of the six-month research project, Abdillah Abdul Rahim,
said here yesterday that the dialects are spoken mostly in the
districts of Donggala, Buol Toli-toli, Poso, Banggai and Palu.

As reported by Antara, Donggala is among several districts
that have at least nine dialects, including the widely used
Kaili, Balaesang and Tomini.

Poso district has five dialects, namely the Pamona, Mori,
Bungku, Bada and Nupu, while Buol Toli-toli has three, namely
Buol, Totoli and Dondo.

Banggai district has three: Balantak, Saluan, and Banggai.
Palu generally uses Kaili.

According to Rahim, researchers found that many of the younger
generation in the area no longer speak these dialects since many
families now use Indonesian.

Rahim suggested that these dialects be included in the local
school curriculum so they can be preserved.