Ivatan language

Ivatan
	Ibatan
	Chirin nu Ibatan
Region	Batanes Islands
Native speakers	unknown (33,000 cited 1996–2007)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Batanic Ivatan; ; ;
Dialects	Ivasay Isamurung Babuyan
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either:; ivv – Ivatan; ivb – Ibatan (Babuyan)
Glottolog	ivat1242 (Ivatan); ibat1238 (Ibatan)

The Ivatan (Ibatan) language, also known as Chirin nu Ibatan ("language of the Ivatan people"), is an Austronesian language spoken in the Batanes Islands.

Although the islands are closer to Taiwan than to Luzon, it is not one of the Formosan languages. Ivatan is one of the Batanic languages, which are perhaps a primary branch of the Malayo-Polynesian family of Austronesian languages.

The language of Babuyan Island is a dialect. Babuyan was depopulated by the Spanish and only repopulated at the end of the Spanish era with families from Batan Island.

Introduction

Ivatan is especially characterized by its words, which mostly have the letter v, as in vakul, Ivatan, and valuga. The 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 close to the two other members of the Bashiic sub-group of languages, Yami (Tao) and Itbayat, neither of which is indigenous to Luzon. 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 that Ibatan is 31% mutual intelligible with Basco Ivatan, the standard 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,^{[but we just said this is a different language]} 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 although Batanes makes up roughly 200 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 lexical variation is insignificant, but phonological variation, often indicative 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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

Itbayaten is sometimes also considered a dialect. 2% of the total vocabulary does not occur in Ivatan dialects. 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,^[when?] 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^[who?] tend to mix the Ivatan words to Filipino or vice versa in sentences, much worset 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 and 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 or 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"
Usage: 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 four vowels, 21 consonants and five 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

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
laji- lyric folk songs
kalusan- working songs
sisyavak- humorous anecdotes and tales
kabbuni- riddles
pananahan- 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 re-cultivation
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
salawsaw- wind
kayvan- friend
mahakay- man
mavakes- woman

Literature

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

Songs

Laganitan
An Domana ‘O’ Vohan
Taao Di Valogan
Hapnit
Ladji No Minasbang
Didiwen

Poems

I Wanted Wings
Meetings
Alone
Guide Me, My Guardian Angel

An kalilyak mu

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 eggplant.

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.

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
Hungry- 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)
Kakuyab - Yesterday
Antinaraw - Afternoon
Antin manguh ta mangay? - When are we going?
Antin manguh ka mapagugud? - When are you going to cut your hair?

Ivatan words

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

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 雅美/達悟	Araw	Vahay	Kagagan	Kanen	Inomen

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

Accommodation

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

Approval and 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

Bank, telephone and post office

	Ivasayen	Isamurongen	Itbayaten
Money	Cartos		Cartos
Telephone	Telefono		Telefono

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

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

Direction

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

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

Ordinal numbers

		Itbayaten	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

Notes

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↑ Ivatan at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
Ibatan (Babuyan) at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
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External links

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