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Kaili is anAustronesiandialect cluster of theCelebic branch, and is one of the principal languages ofCentral Sulawesi. The heartland of the Kaili area is the broadPalu River valley which stretches southward from Central Sulawesi's capital city,Palu. Kaili is also spoken in the mountains which rise on both sides of this valley, and along the coasts of theMakassar Strait and theGulf of Tomini.

Taking a fine-grade view, it is possible to distinguish sixteen regional varieties of Kaili. Following the practice of Kaili people themselves, each variety is named after its negator. For example, in the Tawaili region northeast of Palu, Kaili speakers userai as their word for 'no,' while speakers in the Parigi region on the Gulf of Tomini usetara. These two varieties can be referred to as 'Kaili Rai' and 'Kaili Tara,' irrespective of whether one intends for these varieties to be regarded as languages, dialects, or subdialects. These varieties can also be referred to as 'Tawaili' and 'Parigi.'

The following table is a list of lowest-level Kaili varieties, presented by negator and alternate name(s) by which each has been known.

The linguistNicolaus Adriani recognized eight languages.^[2] In this early work, several Kaili varieties were as yet unknown to the author.

• Tawaili (= Rai)
• Palu (= Ledo)
• Lole (= Unde)
• Ganti (= Ndepuu)
• Sigi (= Ija)
• Pakuli (= Ado, Edo)
• Parigi (= Tara)
• Sausu (= Ta’a)

The linguistS. J. Esser divided Kaili into western, central and eastern groups.^[3] Esser was unclear whether his divisions represented dialects or languages, but Noorduyn concluded he intended one language with three principal dialects.^[4]

• West Kaili (= Ende, Tado, Inde, Da’a, Unde, Ndepuu)
• Central Kaili (= Ledo, Ado, Edo, Ija, Taa)
• East Kaili (= Rai, Tara, Ta’a)

Using anthropological rather than linguistic criteria,Alb. C. Kruyt divided peoples of this area into three 'rings' or 'circles.'^[5]

• Pakawa ring (= Ende, Tado, Inde, Da’a)
• Kaili ring (= Unde, Ndepuu, Rai, Tara, Ta’a, Doi, Ledo)
• Sigi ring (= Ado, Edo, Ija, Taa)

Barr and Barr recognized one language with six dialects (they also includedKulawi as a seventh dialect, but left Ende and Tado out of consideration since those varieties are not spoken in Central Sulawesi).^[6]

• Pekava (= Inde, Da’a)
• Banava (= Unde, Ndepuu)
• Tawaili-Sindue (= Rai)
• Parigi (= Tara, Ta’a)
• Palu (= Doi, Ledo)
• Sigi ( = Ado, Edo, Ija, Taa)

TheEthnologue (16th ed., 2009) recognizes four languages. In this subclassification, Kaili Ledo is best regarded as an 'everything else' category 'awaiting further research.'

• Baras (= Ende)
• Kaili Da’a (= Tado, Inde, Da’a)
• Kaili Ledo (= Raio, Rai, Tara, Ta’a, Doi, Ledo, Ado, Edo, Ija, Taa)
• Kaili Unde (= Unde, Ndepuu)

• Kaili–Pamona languages
• Languages of Sulawesi

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