Makassarese (Basa Mangkasara' / ᨅᨔ ᨆᨀᨔᨑ)

Makassarese is spoken in South Sulawesi province in Indonesia by about 2.1 million people. It belongs to the South Sulawesi group of Malayo-Polynesian languages and its name is also written Makasar, Makassar or Macassar.

These days Makassarese is generally written with the Latin alphabet, but also has its own script, known as Lontara, which is still used. The Lontara script is a descendent of the ancient Brahmi script of India.

Latin alphabet for Makassarese

Lontara script for Makassarese

Sample text in the Lontara script in Makassarese

Sample text in the Lontara alphabet in Makassarese

Sample videos in Makassarese

Information about Makassarese | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Makassarese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makassarese_language
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makassar_(langue)
http://archive.phonetics.ucla.edu/Language/MAK/mak.html
http://www.ling.hawaii.edu/ldtc/languages/makassar/

Free Lontara font
http://alibataatpandesal.com/outbox.html

Malayo-Polynesian languages

Alorese, Amarasi, Ambai, Ambel, Anuki, Balinese, Banjarese, Batuley, Bengkulu, Bima, Bugis, Bushi, Chamorro, Dawan, Duri, Fijian, Fordata, Galoli, Gayo, Iban, Indonesian, Javanese, Kei, Kerinci, Komering, Lamaholot, Lampung, Ledo Kaili, Madurese, Makasarese, Malagasy, Malay, Mamasa, Mandar, Mandar, Mbula, Mentawai, Minangkabau, Mualang, Musi, Ngaju, Nias, Ogan, Palauan, Sasak, Selaru, Sumbawa, Sundanese, Tetum, Tii, Toqabaqita, Toraja-Sa'dan, Urak Lawoi’, Wamesa, Western Rote, Yamdena

Languages written with the Lontara script

Bugis, Makasarese, Mandar

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 17.10.22

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