Balinese

Balinese is a language spoken in Indonesia, specifically on the island of Bali. It is part of the Austronesian family of languages, which includes Indonesian, Malay, and Javanese. Balinese is not mutually intelligible with any of these languages, though it does have some similarities with Indonesian. There are approximately 3.7 million speakers of Balinese, most of whom live on the island of Bali. The language is also spoken in Lombok, Sumbawa, and Flores. Balinese is used in both formal and informal settings, and is the language of education and the media on the island of Bali. The Balinese script is derived from the Old Javanese script, and is written from left to right. The script is used mainly for religious texts, though it is also used for some administrative documents. Balinese is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch of a word can change its meaning. There are four tones in Balinese: high, low, rising, and falling. The language also has a complex system of honorifics, which are used to show respect to others. Balinese has been influenced by both Sanskrit and Dutch. Sanskrit loanwords are often used in religious contexts, while Dutch loanwords are more commonly found in administrative and educational contexts.