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The Balinese language is part of the Austronesian language family and is spoken by the Balinese people, who primarily reside on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Unlike most Indonesians who practice Islam, the Balinese predominantly adhere to Hinduism, with significant Javanese cultural influences.1

The language has different modes of speech to reflect social rank, including high, middle, and low Balinese, used for courtly, equal status, and everyday communication, respectively. While the upper-class form of Balinese contains many Javanese and Sanskrit words, the language is distinct from that of eastern Java.12

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  1. Balinese
  2. Bali

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