265 KARL ANDERBECK, The Malayic-speaking Orang Laut © 2012 Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia KARL ANDERBECK has been involved with Indonesian linguistics since 2000, doing Masters research on Malay dialects in Jambi, and later, ield research in Lampung, South Sumatra and Bengkulu provinces. His research interests are dialectology, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics. His main publications include “Initial reconstruction of Proto-Lampungic; Phonology and basic vocabulary” (2007), in: Studies in Philippines Languages and Cultures 16: 41–165 and Malay dialects of the Batanghari River Basin (Jambi, Sumatra) (2008), SIL e-Books 6 (http://www.sil.org/silepubs/abstract.asp?id=50415). He is currently in a PhD programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Karl Anderbeck may be contacted at: anderbeck@gmail.com. Wacana Vol. 14 No. 2 (October 2012): 265–312 The Malayic-speaking Orang Laut Dialects and directions for research KARL ANDERBECK Abstract Southeast Asia is home to many distinct groups of sea nomads, some of which are known collectively as Orang (Suku) Laut. Those located between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula are all Malayic-speaking. Information about their speech is paltry and scattered; while starting points are provided in publications such as Skeat and Blagden (1906), Kähler (1946a, b, 1960), Sopher (1977: 178–180), Kadir et al. (1986), Stokhof (1987), and Collins (1988, 1995), a comprehensive account and description of Malayic Sea Tribe lects has not been provided to date. This study brings together disparate sources, including a bit of original research, to sketch a uniied linguistic picture and point the way for further investigation. While much is still unknown, this paper demonstrates relationships within and between individual Sea Tribe varieties and neighbouring canonical Malay lects. It is proposed that Sea Tribe lects can be assigned to four groupings: Kedah, Riau Islands, Duano, and Sekak. Keywords Malay, Malayic, Orang Laut, Suku Laut, Sea Tribes, sea nomads, dialectology, historical linguistics, language vitality, endangerment, Skeat and Blagden, Holle. 1 Introduction Sometime in the tenth century AD, a pair of ships follows the monsoons to the southeast coast of Sumatra. Their desire: to trade for its famed aromatic resins and gold. Threading their way through the numerous straits, the ships’ path is a dangerous one, illed with rocky shoals and lurking raiders. Only one vessel reaches its destination. This ship is in the express service of the ruler of Srivijaya, and is guided through the treacherous waters by skilful people