Alternate Names: Balanta, Kosian
Dialects: None known. Lexical similarity: 66% with Andio ,, 51% with Saluan ,, 39% with Bobongko ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 30,000 (2000 SIL), increasing. 3,000 monolinguals. L2 users: Speakers of other area languages use Balantak as L2.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Positive attitudes. Also use Indonesian [ind].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%. 3,000 can read, 300 can write. Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2010.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Indonesia
Other Comments: Muslim, Christian.