Ivatan language
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. 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. 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. 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. 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; The late advent of writing, which might have standardized pronunciation prior to divergence, could have also been a factor.
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.
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 wel 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 to other languages in the Philippines includes the presence of the glottal stop in the pronunciation of words.
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
Grammar
Further information: Ivatan grammar
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 (1 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
Ivatan literature
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
Ivatan songs
Laganitan
An Domana Vohan
Taao Di Valogan
Hapnit
Ladji No Minasbang
Didiwen Ko
Poems
I Wanted Wings
Meetings
Alone
Guide Me, My Guardian Angel
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.
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.
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, mihioxay (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)
Ivatan Words
Etymology
Coined words are two words combined to form one new word.
Sentence
Coined word
Meaning
Usage
Mirwa ta anchiyaw
Tanchew
Wel 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
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
Similarities with the Tao language
Day
Home
Friend
Eat
Drink
Ivatan
Araw
Vahay
Cayvan
Kuman
Minom
Yami
Araw
Vahay
Kagagan
Kanen
Inomen
Similarities with other Austronesian languages
One
Two
Three
Four
Ivatan
Asa
Dadwa
Tatdu
Apat
Hawaiian
Kahi
Lua
Kolu
H
Javanese
Siji
Loro
Telu
Papat
Indonesian
Satu
Dua
Tiga
Empat
Malagasy
Isa
Roa
Telo
Efatra
Accommodation
Ivasayen
Isamurongen
Itbayaten
Room
Cuarto
Cuarto
Mail
Tulas
Turas
Water
Danum
Ranum
Time
Oras
Oras
Approval & Disapproval
Ivasayen
Isamurongen
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
Bank, Telephone & Post Office
Ivasayen
Isamurongen
Itbayaten
Money
Cartos
Cartos
Telephone
Telefono
Telefono
Colors
Itbayaten
Isamurongen
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
Maujama
Days of the Week
Ivasayen
Isamurongen
Itbayaten
Sunday
Domingo
Lumingu
Monday
Lunis
Lunis
Tuesday
Martis
Martis
Wednesday
Miyirkolis
Mirkulis
Thursday
Juibis
Juybis
Friday
Biyernis
Birnis
Saturday
Sabado
Sabalu
Direction
Itbayaten
Isamurongen
Ivasayen
Left
Guri
Guri
Right
Wanan
Wanan
Straight ahead
Diricho
Diricho
Cardinal numbers
Itbayaten
Isamurongen
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
Ordinal numbers
Itbayaten
Isamurongen
Ivasayen
1st
First
Ma’num’ma
Manum’ma
2nd
Second
3rd
Third
4th
Fourth
5th
Fifth
Ichalima
Cacadima
6th
Sixth
7th
Seventh
8th
Eighth
9th
Ninth
10th
Tenth
L
Last
Ma’nau’di
Manau’di
See also
Languages of the Philippines
Ivatan people
Tao language
External links
Official Site of the Batanes Province
BatanesOnline.com
The Ivatan
Affiliation with the Yami of Taiwan
Bansa.org Ivatan Dictionary
Ivatan-English Dictionary from Webster’s Dictionary
References
^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=92522
^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=89851
^ a b http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=89852
^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=90446
^ a b c http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=92521
^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ivb
^ ibid.
^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ivb
^ http://www.philsite.net/batanes.htm
^ ibid.
^ ibid.
Categories: Philippine languagesHidden categories: Articles lacking in-text citations from May 2008 | All articles lacking in-text citations
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I found this quite interesting. I’ve lived in Batanes (one year – 1965) and have been married to an Ivatan for 40 years. I’ll be in Batanes from Feb thru Apr 2011. The language with its multiple dialects is so pleasant to listen to. To those who are accustomed to the language tend to believe they are listening to birds chirping at times.
It is a Mavid language.