Ivatan language

Ivatan/ Ibatan
Chirin nu Ibatan
Spoken in	Philippines
Region	Batanes Islands
Total speakers	35,000; (Population includes 3,448 Itbayatan)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Batanic Ivatan/ Ibatan; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-1	None
ISO 639-2	phi
ISO 639-3	ivv
	Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode.

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The Ivatan language, also known as Ibatan (though in ISO classification Ibatan is reserved for a closely-related language spoken in the Babuyan Islands, which is assigned the code [ivb] as opposed to [ivv])^[1] or Chirin nu Ibatan (meaning, "language or dialect of the Ivatan people"), is an Austronesian language spoken exclusively in the Batanes Islands. Despite the islands' closer proximity to Taiwan than Luzon, it is important to not group the language with Formosan languages, which in fact are assigned one of ten sub-families within the Austronesian language family,^[2] whereas Ivatan is included with other Philippine languages in the Malayo-Polynesian sub-family, an immense group of 1248 languages not restricted to the languages of the Philippines, but, as the name suggests, includes Malayic^[3] and Oceanic languages.^[4] Confuses arises because the Batanic, or more commonly, Bashiic division does contain Tao (Yami), a language spoken by the people of Orchid Island off the east coast of Taiwan, who are ethinically related to the Ivatan.^[3]^[5] Tao is the closest language to Ivatan if Ibatan, whose status as an independent language is still unclear to scholars,^[6] is disregarded.^[5]

[edit] Introduction

Ivatan is especially characterized by its words, which mostly have the letter v, as in vakul, Ivatan, and valuga. Letter e, is pronounced as the schwa oun, or uh, as in Dios Mamajes, 'di-yos-ma-ma-huhs', and palek 'pa-luhk'. While related to the Northern Philippine group of languages, Ivatan, having been isolated, is most closely to the two other members of the Bashiic sub-group of languages, Tao (Yami) and Ibatan, neither of which is indigenous to Luzon.^[5] It should be noted that Ibatan, spoken on the nearby Babuyan group of islands, is so similar to Ivatan that it is not entirely clear whether it should be classified as a dialect of Ivatan or a separate language, though each does receive its own code in ISO taxonomy.^[7] Supporting separate listings is the fact that Ibatan is 31% mutual intellible with Basco Ivatan, the standard form of the language, though that number rises to 64% for the Itbayaten form of the language.^[8] With Basco Ivatan, more commonly known as Ivasayen, an adjective denoting the Ivasayen people who inhabit the main island of Batan, and Itbayaten, derived from Itbayat, the name for the northernmost of the three islands, is a third dialect, Isamurongen, a dialect with a vocabulary identical to Ivasayen spoken on the southern half of Batan and on the most southern island, Sabtang.

As implied, notable variation exists in spoken Ivatan despite the fact that Batanes makes up roughly 200 km² and is home to only 18,000 inhabitants.^[9] Examination of the linguistic zones suggests that this is best explained by Batanes being composed of three islands rather than a single landmass, as these linguistic divisions roughly follow geographic ones, the notable exception being Isamurongen which is spoken on not only Sabtang, but Batan as well.

Perhaps this explanation can be seen most clearly in the differences in the dialects themselves, where lexiconical variation is insignificant, but phonological variation, often indictative of geographic isolation, is highly pronounced;^[10] The late advent of writing, which might have standardized pronunciation prior to divergence, could have also been a factor.

[edit] Variations in Language

In the capital of Basco and the surrounding northern half of Batan, the area encompassed by Ivasayen, t is prominent, whereas in the Isamurongen zone to the south (Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan and Sabtang) that phoneme becomes a ch. Itbayaten is unique in that it incorporates words not in use in the other dialects, though such differences amount to 2% of the total vocabulary.^[11]

Examples of the more visible variations of the Ivasayen and Isamurongen words and pronunciations are:

tiban (to look) in Basco is chiban in the southern towns

antiyaw (later) in Basco is anchiyaw in the southern towns

kabatiti (patola) in Basco is kabachichi in the southern towns

timoy (rain) in Basco is chimoy in the southern towns

Examples of different Ivasayen, Isamurongen and Itbayaten words that have the same English translation:

adkan (to kiss) in Basco and the southern towns is umahan in Itbayat.

arava (none) in Basco and the southern towns is aralih in Itbayat.

bago (pig) in Basco and the southern towns is kuyis in Itbayat.

otioyan (nest) in Basco, is ochoyan in the southern towns and hangtay in Itbayat.

ipos (tail) in Basco is vochivot in the southern towns and also ipos in Itbayat.

The Ivatan language is basically a spoken language. Until lately, little effort was made to record the language in written form. What the young generation know about it is largely through hearing it spoken and speaking it.

Some tend to mix the Ivatan words to Filipino or vise versa in sentences, much worst is the combining or compounding of the Filipino words to the Ivatan words. One common example of this is – mapatak. This is derived from marunong (Filipino) and chapatak (Ivatan) which literally means someone who knows which were then compounded to form the word mapatak. This is actually the result of the influence of non-Ivatans who tend to speak the language & were then eventually adopted.

Another common mistakes that are often heard, is the mispronunciation of the Ivatan word like iskarayla – the correct is iskalayra – which means stairs, and tumaraya – the correct is tumayara – which means going up.

One unique characteristic of the language is its enormous street language. It is called street language because it emanated from the streets. Examples of these are: tanchew, coined from mirwa ta anchiyaw – literally means we’ll meet again later, and nganmu, coined from jinu ngayan mu – literally means where are you going. These are results of shortening the Ivatan phrases or sentences into one or two words depending on its usage.

Common Ivatan expressions have various origin such as:

Dios Mamajes/ Dios Mamajes nu mapia
Literally: "God reward you with goodness" or "God bless you"
Usage: Used to show gratitude to someone

Dios Mavidin
Literally: "May God remain with you"
Usage: Used by the person who is leaving

Dios Machivan
Literally: "May God go with you"
Uasge: Used by the person who is staying behind

The Ivatan language is characterized with its pidgin Spanish, spoken with the musicality of southern Chinese accent.

Similarities of the language to other dialects in the Philippines includes the presence of the glottal stop in the pronunciation of words.

[edit] Phonology

The Ivatan language consists of 4 vowels, 21 consonants and 5 diphthongs.

Vowels: a, e, i, u

Diphthongs: aw, iw, ay, ey, oy

Consonants: b, ch, d, f, g, h, hh, j, k, l, m, n, ng, ny, p, r, s, t, v, w, y

[edit] Grammar

Further information: Ivatan grammar

[edit] Cultural terms of the Ivatan people

uve, ubi, sudi- yam; staple crop

sudi- taro

wakay- sweet potato

bulyas- onions

baka- cow

kaddin- goat

kayvayvanan- friendship; cooperative work by a community which starts at the blow of a shell horn called a vodiadong

payohoan- helping one another; work club of teenagers who alternate their shifts

paluwa; chinarem; tataya- three boats used for fishing

kabbata- legends

lagi- lyric folk songs

kalusan- working songs

sisyavak- humorous anecdotes and tales

kabbuni- riddles

pananaban- proverbs

vachi- song leader

mais- corn

palay- rice plant

dukay- sprouted mung beans

rakarakanen- vegetables

hagsa- an extinct wild deer

vulaw a bagu- wild boar

tatus- coconut crabs

lakasan- tops of wooden trunks used for storing cloth and other valuables serve as benches

dulang- low dining table

bangku- low bench

rahaung, camarin- a storeroom for larger farm equipment such as plows, harrows, sleds, card, and the ox-drawn pole used for clearing off sweet potatoes and other vines from fields being prepared for recultivation

vuyavuy- a small palm growing usually on Batanes coastal hills

talugung- a kind of conical hat woven from strips made from the stalk of a local plant called nini

pasikin- small bamboo or rattan baskets worn on the back

lukoy- bolo knife

suhut- sheath of a bolo knife

suut, vakul- a head-and-back covering woven from the stripped leaves of banana or the vuyavuy

alat- baskets

batulinaw- a necklace made of hollow globules (1½ cm. in diameter) interspersed with smaller pieces of gold in floral patterns and held together by a string made of fiber

tamburin- an all-gold necklace whose beads are smaller and more ornate than the batulinaw, and lockets

seseng, pamaaw, chingkakawayan, liyano, de pelo, dima s'bato, pitu s'bato, de perlas, bumbolya, karakol, pinatapatan- traditional earrings that come from the Spanish period

angang- jars

dibang - flying fish

payi - lobster

arayu - dorado

mataw - dorado fisherman

tipuho - breadfruit

uhango - pandan

tamidok - fern

chayi - tree

soot - generic term referring to the Ivatan rain cape made from the finely stripped leaves of the vuyavuy palm.

vakul - woman's soot, worn on the head.

kanayi - man's soot, worn on the shoulders.

falowa - Ivatan boat, now usually motorized, for 10-20 passengers.

tataya - Ivatan dory with twin oars, for 2-4 passengers.

timban - church

vanuwa - port

avayat - a broad directional term used to indicate the west, a western direction or the western side.

valugan - a broad directional term sued to indicate the east, an eastern direction or the eastern side.

palek - sugar cane wine

malisto- fast

mawadi- slow

mavid- beautiful

kuman- eat

minom- drink

bapor, tataya- boat

taw- sea

ranum- water

salao sao- wind

cayvan- friend

mahacay- man

mavakes- woman

[edit] Ivatan literature

[edit] Ivatan legends

Datu Tayong and Batbatan Otang

Orayen and Pudalan

The Origin of the "Nato"

The Origin of the People of Sabtang

The Legend of Layin

The Two Fishermen

[edit] Ivatan songs

Laganitan

An Domana ‘O’ Vohan

Taao Di Valogan

Hapnit

Ladji No Minasbang

Didiwen Ko

[edit] Poems

I Wanted Wings
Meetings
Alone
Guide Me, My Guardian Angel

[edit] Ivatan Proverbs

Ipangudidi mu u mapya nanawu.

Carry with you good teaching, always bear in mind sound advice.

Arava u mayet an namaes u ryes.

There is no strong man when the sea is at its worst.

Arava u ryes an AB u su vinyedi.

There is no current that does not bounce back.

Tumuhutuhud makaysed a tachi.

The feces that is dropped is sure comfort.

Ulungen mu ava u kakedkeran mu.

Do not gore the peg where you are tied.

Matakaw ava dimu u kasulivan.

Nobody can steal your knowledge.

Nyeng mu a hukbiten ta isek ni tatumuk.

Grasp the opportunity because the bed bugs will carry and hide them inside the floor.

Kanen mu ava u kakamay mu.

Do not eat your fingers.

Arava u susuhan da su vahay a mapsek.

No one burns the house of a good man.

[edit] Selected Idioms

Mahmahma u vatu kan uhu naw.

Stones are softer than his head.

Umsi ava su vahusa u kamates.

Tomatoes do not bear eggplants.

Tud da payramun u vinata naw.

They washed their face with what he said.

Inulay mu ta tya naydited u uhu na.

Leave him alone for his head is tangled.

Machitbatbay ka avan asa ka kaban amed.

Do not speak of a cavan for a measuring lime unit.

[edit] Ivatan Phrases

Hello - Kapian capa nu dios

How are you? - Ara ca mangu?

I am fine - Taytu aco a mapia

I am not fine - Ara coava mapia

Thank you - Dios mamajes

Where are you going? - Ngayan mo?

I am going to... - Mangay aco du...

Where is ___? - Ara dino si ___?

Straight ahead - Direcho

How much? - Manyi Pira?

How many? - Pira?

Good - Mapia

No good - Mapia/Mavid ava

Yes - Oon

I want ___ - Makey ako no ___

I don't want - Makey aco ava

I have a problem - Mian problema ko

No problem - Arava o problema

Good luck - Mapia palak

What's your name? - Angu ngaran mo?

Where is the house of ___? - Jino vahay da ___?

There- Du nguya, du daw, dawr

Here- Diaya

Hungy- Mapteng

Thirsty- Ma-waw

Tired- Mavanah, chinagagan (south), navanax

Happy- Masuyot, masaray

Whistling- Mamito, mihiñoxay (itbayat)

Sea- Taw, hawa(itbayat)

Soft- mahma, maxma & mayuxma(itbayat)

Sea- Taw, hawa(itbayat)

Bird- manumanok, kangkang(itbayat)

Perpendicular- maybatbat, mipatinu-nong(itbayat)

Mud- hetek, xetek(itbayat)

Sea- Taw, hawa(itbayat)

[edit] Ivatan Words

[edit] Etymology

Coined words are two words combined to form one new word.

Sentence	Coined word	Meaning	Usage
Mirwa ta anchiyaw	Tanchew	We’ll meet again later.	Street language
Jinu ngayan mu	Nganmu	Where are you going?	Street language

Loanwords are words in the language that have been borrowed from other languages.

Loanword	Origin	Meaning
Telefono	Spanish	An instrument for reproducing sounds at a distance
Domingo; Lumingu	Spanish	Sunday
Lunis	Spanish	Monday
Martis	Spanish	Tuesday
Miyirkolis; Mirkulis	Spanish	Wednesday
Juibis; Juybis	Spanish	Thursday
Biyernis; Birnis	Spanish	Friday
Sabado; Sabalu	Spanish	Saturday

[edit] Similarities with other Philippine languages

	Person	House	Dog	Coconut	Day	New
Ivatan	Tawo	Vahay	Chito	Niyoy	Araw	Va-yo
Tagalog	Tao	Bahay	Aso	Niyog	Araw	Bago
Bikol	Tawo	Harong	Ayam	Niyog	Aldaw	Ba-go
Cebuano	Tawo	Balay	Iro	Lubi	Adlaw	Bag-o
Tausug	Tau	Bay	Iru'	Niyug	Adlaw	Ba-gu
Kinaray-a	Taho	Balay	Ayam	Niyog	Adlaw	Bag-o
Kapampangan	Tau	Bale	Asu	Ngungut	Aldo	Bayu
Pangasinense	Too	Abong	Aso	Niyog	Agew	Balo
Ilokano	Tao	Balay	Aso	Niog	Aldaw	Baro
Gaddang	Tolay	Balay	Atu	Ayog	Aw	Bawu
Tboli	Tau	Gunu	Ohu	Lefo	Kdaw	Lomi

[edit] Similarities with the Tao language

	Day	Home	Friend	Eat	Drink
Ivatan	Araw	Vahay	Cayvan	Kuman	Minom
Yami 雅美	Araw	Vahay	Kagagan	Kanen	Inomen

[edit] Similarities with other Austronesian languages

	One	Two	Three	Four
Ivatan	Asa	Dadwa	Tatdu	Apat
Hawaiian	Kahi	Lua	Kolu	Hā
Javanese	Siji	Loro	Telu	Papat
Indonesian	Satu	Dua	Tiga	Empat
Malagasy	Isa	Roa	Telo	Efatra

[edit] Accommodation

	Ivasayen	Itbayaten
Room	Cuarto	Cuarto
Mail	Tulas	Turas
Water	Danum	Ranum
Time	Oras	Oras

[edit] Approval & Disapproval

	Ivasayen	Itbayaten
Good	Mapia	Map'pia
Of course	Siyempre	Siyempre
Ok	Okay	Okay
Pretty	Mavid	Mavij
Yes	Oon	Uwen
No	Omba	Engga
Nothing	Arava	Aralih
Perhaps	Siguro	Siguro

[edit] Bank, Telephone & Post Office

	Ivasayen	Isamurongen	Itbayaten
Money	Cartos		Cartos
Telephone	Telefono		Telefono

[edit] Colors

	Itbayaten	Ivasayen
Black	Mavaweng	Mavajeng
Blue	A'sul	Maanil
Brown	Chocolati	Chocolati
Dark	Masarih	Masari
Gray	Mavu-avo	Mavuavo
Green	Birdi	Berde
Light	Marengang	Marial
Red	Mavayah	Mavaya
White	Mahilak	Maydac
Yellow	Mayuxama	Mañujama

[edit] Days of the Week

	Ivasayen	Itbayaten
Sunday	Domingo	Lumingu
Monday	Lunis	Lunis
Tuesday	Martis	Martis
Wednesday	Miyirkolis	Mirkulis
Thursday	Juibis	Juybis
Friday	Biyernis	Birnis
Saturday	Sabado	Sabalu

[edit] Direction

	Itbayaten	Ivasayen
Left	Guri	Guri
Right	Wanan	Wanan
Straight ahead	Diricho	Diricho

[edit] Cardinal numbers

		Itbayaten	Ivasayen
0	Zero	Siro; a'bu	Siro; abu
1	One	A'sa	Asa
2	Two	Daduha	Dadua
3	Three	Atlu	Tatdu
4	Four	A'pat	Apat
5	Five	Lalima	Dadima
6	Six	A'nem	Anem
7	Seven	Pito	Papito
8	Eight	Waxo	Wawajo
9	Nine	Sasyam	Sasyam
10	Ten	Sapuxu	Sapujo

[edit] Ordinal numbers

		Itbayaten	Ivasayen
1^st	First	Ma'num'ma	Manum'ma
2^nd	Second
3^rd	Third
4^th	Fourth
5^th	Fifth	Ichalima	Cacadima
6^th	Sixth
7^th	Seventh
8^th	Eighth
9^th	Ninth
10^th	Tenth
L	Last	Ma'nau'di	Manau'di

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[0] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=92522

[1] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=89851

[ethnologue.com-2] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=89852

[3] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=90446

[ReferenceA-4] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=92521

[5] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ivb

[6] .

[7] ttp://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ivb

[8] ttp://www.philsite.net/batanes.htm

[9] .

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