| Summary: | This research aims at the investigating of the genetic relationship between two
different languages used in different administrative regions, i.e. the language of Lasalimu
and Kamaru. The Lasalimu language is spoken by people who live in Buton island,
exactly in south of Lasalimu sub-district, south east of Sulawesi, whereas the Kamaru
language is spoken in Lasalimu sub-district. The research is conducted by SIL (2006)
states that the language of Lasalimu and Kamaru are two different languages, while
Pusat Bahasa (2008) mentions them as two dialects of the same language. However, the
unclear conclusion of the last researches brings this research identifying the status of
these languages� relationship based on quantitative and qualitative evidences.
This research used comparative historical linguistics approach in identify the
status about relationship these languages. Comparative historical linguistics approach
was employed to uncover the close relationship of these languages through some similar
components which they have by using qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative
method was conducted by applying lexicostatistic technique. Beside that, qualitative
method was carried out by analyzing phonemes and etymons of PAN which are reflected
in these languages.
This research was the combination of synchronic and diachronic study. The
synchronic study included the descriptive of their phonological system and analyzing
their phonological, lexical difference and morphological variations. In the mean time, the
diachronic study included calculating the degree of the relationship of these languages,
involving the investigation of the phonemes and the PAN etymon reflected in the two
languages through top down reconstruction. The reference used to trace PAN was the
one that was written by R.A. Blust (1981).
The finding gained from the quantitative approach which used the lexicostatistic
technique shows that the relationship of these languages reaches 68%. This percentage
indicates that these languages are actually a family language.
The result of quantitative synchronic research is supported by qualitative
synchronic study which shows that there are similarities in the phonological system of
the two languages. Polimorfemis lexicon contains in the two languages show a
similarity. In addition, there are variations depending on the social context.
The diachronic study results indicate a qualitative correspondence between
vowels and consonants of Lasalimu and Kamaru language. These exclusively collective
innovations of the two languages are innovation at the level of phonemes and etiomons
that show the close relationship of these languages. There are also differences in the
lexicon of terms that a distinctive form of these languages.
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