Writing System: The Cia-Cia language, primarily spoken by the Cia-Cia people in Indonesia, adopted the Hangul alphabet (from Korean) as an effort to develop a more efficient and accessible writing system. Previously unwritten, the use of Hangul provides the Cia-Cia with phonetic representation that fits well with its sound structure.
Grammar: Cia-Cia grammar features a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order typical of many Austronesian languages. It incorporates aspects such as affixation to denote tense, aspect, and mood, as well as grammatical markers to indicate relationships between words in sentences, including possessives and locatives.
Phonology: Cia-Cia has a unique phonemic inventory with sounds such as /p, t, k, ʔ, b, d, ɡ, m, n, ŋ, s, h, l, w, j/, as well as vowels /i, e, a, o, u/. The language is distinguished by its consonant and vowel harmony, which aids in smooth transitions between syllables and contributes to its melodic quality.
Lexicon: The Cia-Cia lexicon is rooted in the Austronesian language family, with vocabulary reflecting local culture and environment. Over time, the Cia-Cia lexicon has also incorporated loanwords from Indonesian due to geographic proximity and sociocultural interactions, especially in areas like modern technology and governance.
Endangered Voices Initiative 