The Central Maluku languages are a proposed subgroup of the Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family which comprises around fifty languages spoken principally on the Seram, Buru, Ambon and the Sula Islands, Indonesia. None of the languages have as many as fifty thousand speakers, and several are extinct.
Classification The traditional components of Central Maluku are the Sula, Buru, and East Central Maluku languages, plus the Ambelau isolate.
Collins (1983) The following classification of the Central Maluku languages below is from Collins (1983:20, 22) and (1986).Collins, James T. (1983). The Historical Relationships of the Languages of Central Maluku, Indonesia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.Collins, J.T. (1986). "Eastern Seram: a subgrouping argument". In Geraghty, P., Carrington, L. and Wurm, S.A. eds, FOCAL II: Papers from the Fourth International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics. C-94:123-146. Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University.
Central Maluku West Central Maluku Ambelau Buru–Sula–Taliabo Buru: Buru, Lisela, Palumata (extinct), Moksela (extinct) Sula: Sula, Mangole Taliabo East Central Maluku (around Seram and Aru) Banda–Geser Banda Seran Laut: Bati, Geser, Kowiai, Watubela East Seram Bobot–Masiwang Setic: Hoti, Benggoi, Salas, Liana-Seti Nunusaku Kayeli Patakai–Manusela Nuaulu Huaulu, Manusela Three Rivers Wemale Amalumute Yalahatan Northwest Seram: Hulung, Saleman, Loun, Ulat Inai (Alune, Nakaʼela), Lisabata-Nuniali Piru Bay languages (20 languages)
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