Puyuma

Puyuma (Pinuyumayan) is one of the smallest and most divergent of the Formosan Austronesian languages, the primary branch of Austronesian within the indigenous languages of Taiwan. Puyumic stands separately from other Formosan branches (Atayalic, Tsouic, Paiwanic, Rukaic, etc.), making Puyuma significant for Austronesian historical linguistics — it preserves features lost elsewhere. Spoken by ~3,000 Puyuma people in eight villages of the Beinan area near Taitung in southeast Taiwan. Cultural traditions include the Mangmahut hunting ritual and the Mangayaw plain-dwelling community structure, which is matrilineal — distinctive among Taiwanese aboriginal groups (most are patrilineal).