Dialects: None known. Reportedly similar to Tidore ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 42,000 (Wurm and Hattori 1981). L2 users: 20,000. North and northeast Halmahera.
Language Use: Former trade language, now shifting to North Moluccan Malay [max]; weaker in core area, stronger in periphery (2012 J. Bowden). Also use Indonesian [ind]. Used as L2 by Sawai [szw].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%.
Nation of Origin: Indonesia
Other Comments: Muslim.