Alternate Names: Baangingi’, Balanguingui, Bangingi, Bangingih Sama, Northern Sama, Sama Bangingih, Samal
Dialects: Balangingi, Daongdung, Kabinga’an, Lutangan (Lutango), Sibuco-Vitali (Sibuku), Sibuguey (Batuan). Most Lutangan understand Bangingih Sama, the prestige dialect. Intelligibility of Central Sama , 71%, 83% of Lutangan, 85% of Sibuco-Vitali. Lexical similarity: 77% with Lutangan, 75% with Sibuco-Vitali.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 80,000 in Philippines (2007). Population total all countries: 85,000.
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Chavacano [cbk], English [eng], Filipino [fil], Tausug [tsg].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 40%–45%. Most urban men are literate. Videos. Grammar. Bible portions: 1979–2009.
Typology: SVO to introduce a topic, thereafter VSO; prepositions; gender not marked; ergative; nontonal; CVC, CV, VC; 17 consonant phonemes and 5 vowel phonemes.
Writing System: Arabic, Latin
Nation of Origin: Philippines
Other Comments: Balangingi is the prestige dialect of Northern Sama. Muslim.