Piru Bay languages

Piru Bay
Geographic distribution:	Indonesia: Ambon and Seram
Linguistic classification:	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian (MP) Nuclear MP Central Maluku ? East Central Maluku Seram ? Nunusaku Piru Bay
Glottolog:	piru1243

The Piru Bay languages are a group of twenty Malayo-Polynesian languages, spoken on Ambon Island and around Piru Bay on the island of Seram. None of the languages have more than about twenty thousand speakers, and several are endangered with extinction.

Classification

The languages are as follows:

• West Piru Bay (Seram and Ambon islands)
  • Asilulu
  • Hoamoal: Luhu (Piru), Manipa; Larike-Wakasihu, Boano
• East Piru Bay
  • Sepa, Teluti
  • Seram Straits
    • Paulohi (Solehua) (divergent)
    • Kaibobo
    • East Ambon: Hitu, Tulehu; Laha, Seit-Kaitetu
    • Uliase (Lease Islands)
      • Kamarian
      • Hatuhaha
        • Haruku
        • Saparuan
          • Elpaputi: Amahai, Nusa Laut
          • Saparua: Saparua, Latu

Many of the Piru Bay languages form a dialect continuum.