The genetic relationship between Alune, Lisabata, Luhu, and Wemale (Western Seram, Indonesia): a historical-comparative linguistics approach

Abstract

Language and cultural identity differences can easily lead to a small amount of warfare and confrontation due to a lack of sense of belonging. This study examined the genetic relationship of four languages spoken in Western Seram, consisting of the Alune, Lisabata, Luhu, and Wemale, and its urgency to the relation among four existing tribes by stepping on qualitative and quantitative evidence. To determine language kinship, 200 basic lexical items from Swadesh’s lists were tested on 12 informants. Along with that, 20 additional informants were added for face-to-face interviews to assess historical, philosophical, social, and cultural backgrounds. Despite the inconsistencies in phonological change regularities, the results have revealed that Lisabata and Luhu had the highest percentage of language kinship at 64% with 128 cognates, followed by Lisabata and Alune at 58% with 116 cognates, Luhu and Alune at 57.5% with 114 cognates, Alune and Wemale at 49% with 98 cognates, Wemale and Luhu at 47.5% with 95 cognates, and Wemale and Lisabata at 45% with 90 cognates. Evidence of interconnectedness between the four languages on the family level within the historical frame of Nunusaku mythology can be used further as a milestone to strengthen the relationship between the four ethnic groups.

Keywords:

• Ethnic identity
• genetic relationship
• historical-comparative linguistic
• language kinship
• Western Seram

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Jeroen van de Weijer, College of International Studies, Shenzen University, China

SUBJECTS:

• Culture
• Race & Ethnicity
• Historical & Comparative Linguistics
• Interdisciplinary Language Studies
• Linguistic Theory
  

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Language Office of Moluccas, Indonesia, as well as the Raja, Saniri, and indigenous Alune, Lisabata, Luhu, and Wemale, for their significant role in providing linguistic and cultural insights, which enriched our study. We also give our thanks to the anonymous reviewers who dedicated their time and expertise to assessing our manuscript critically. Their constructive feedback and insights have substantially improved the outcome.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to The Indonesia Endowment Funds for Education (LPDP). This study was funded by the Directorate of Research Universitas Gadjah Mada (Dit.lit UGM), Indonesia, under the scheme of Rekognisi Tugas Akhir (Final Project Recognition) program with the Grant Number 5075/UN1.P.II/Dit-Lit/PT.01.01/2023.

Notes on contributors

Hendrokumoro

Hendrokumoro is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia. His areas of expertise lie in language, communication, and culture; as well as historical-comparative linguistics (HCL), dialectology, Javanese literature, cognitive linguistics, and general linguistics.

Faradika Darman

Faradika Darman is a final-year student in the Master in Linguistics Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada,as well as a civil servant in Language Office of Moluccas, Indonesia. Her research interests are descriptive linguistics, as well as Austronesian and endangered languages.

Neni Nuraeni

Neni Nuraeni is a final-year student in the Master in Linguistics Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. She focuses on Austronesian language and descriptive linguistics studies.

Nadia Khumairo Ma’shumah

Nadia Khumairo Ma’shumah graduated with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Linguistics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia, in 2023. As a junior researcher, her interests lie in the contestation of language, identity, and culture; literary translation; cognitive linguistics, systemic functional linguistics (SFL); as well as critical discourse analysis (CDA).