Makuva language

Makuva, also known as Makuʼa or Lóvaia,^[3] is an apparently extinct Austronesian language spoken at the northeast tip of East Timor near the town of Tutuala.

NativetoEast Timor

Native speakers

extinct since 1950s^[1] to 56 (2010 census)^[2]

Language family

Austronesian

• Malayo-Polynesian
  • Central–Eastern
    • Timor–Babar
      • Southwest Maluku
        • Makuva

Recognised minority
languagein

East Timor

Quick facts Native to, Native speakers ...

Makuva
Makuʼa, Lóvaia
Native to	East Timor
Native speakers	extinct since 1950s[1] to 56 (2010 census)[2]
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Central–Eastern Timor–Babar Southwest Maluku Makuva
Official status
Recognised minority language in	East Timor
Language codes
ISO 639-3	lva
Glottolog	maku1277
ELP	Maku'a
Distribution of ethnic Makuva in East Timor

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Makuva has been heavily influenced by neighboring East Timorese Papuan languages, to the extent that it was long thought to be a Papuan language. The ethnic population was 50 in 1981, but the younger generation uses Fataluku as their first or second language. A 2003 report estimated that there were only five fluent speakers of the language.^[4]