What is language of sumatra?

Sumatra is a large island in western Indonesia with a rich and diverse linguistic landscape. There are over 60 languages spoken on the island, which can be broadly classified into several major groups.

The first group is the Malayic languages, which include the standard Indonesian language as well as several regional dialects. These languages are descended from Old Malay, which was spoken by traders and seafarers throughout Southeast Asia in the pre-colonial period.

The second group is the Batak languages, which are spoken by the Batak ethnic group in northern Sumatra. There are several different Batak languages, including Toba Batak, Mandailing Batak, and Karo Batak.

The third group is the Acehnese language, which is spoken by the Acehnese people in the northernmost part of Sumatra. Acehnese is closely related to other Austronesian languages spoken in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Other minority languages spoken on Sumatra include Minangkabau, Javanese, Sundanese, and Chinese dialects such as Hokkien and Cantonese.

Overall, the linguistic diversity of Sumatra reflects the island's long history of trade and migration, as well as its complex ethnic and cultural makeup.