The Wotu–Wolio languages are a group of closely related languages spoken in Sulawesi that belong to the Celebic subgroup of the Austronesian family.

Classification

The Wotu–Wolio languages comprise five languages which are grouped into three branches: While in earlier classifications, Wolio, Laiyolo, and later also Wotu, were included in the Muna–Buton subgroup, Donohue (2004) has shown that based on phonological evidence, the Wotu–Wolio languages form a distinct subgroup of their own. Mead (2003) included the Wotu–Wolio languages as one out of six branches in the Celebic subgroup. Zobel (2020) lists the Wotu–Wolio languages, which he calls Southern Kaili–Wolio, as Ledo, Wotu, Wolio, Kamaru, Kalao, and Loa' (Barang-Barang). Wolio, Kamaru, Kalao, and Loa' (Barang-Barang) make up the Island Kaili–Wolio subgroup within Southern Kaili–Wolio. Ledo has Kaili–Pamona morphological and grammatical features, while its lexicon is mainly of Wotu–Wolio origin. Mamuju is traditionally classified as South Sulawesi, but has a Wotu–Wolio lexical substratum.