Alternate Names: Siyama
Dialects: None known. Intelligibility of Central Sama , 65%.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 35,200 (2000).
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Oral use in education for explanations. Market. Some written use in communications. Positive attitudes. 20% also use Filipino [fil]. Some who have been to Malaysia also speak Malay [zlm]. 80% also use Tausug [tsg]. Used as L2 by Southern Sama [ssb].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 25%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–35%. Dictionary. NT: 1994.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Philippines
Other Comments: Muslim.