Ivatan language

The Ivatan language, also known as Chirin nu Ivatan ("language of the Ivatan people"), is an Austronesian language spoken in the Batanes Islands of the Philippines. Though the islands are closer to Taiwan, Ivatan is not one of the Formosan languages. Instead, it belongs to the Batanic languages, which may be a main branch of the larger Malayo-Polynesian family of Austronesian languages.

The language spoken on Babuyan Island, called Ibatan, is sometimes considered a dialect of Ivatan. Many people from Babuyan moved to Batan Island and the mainland of Luzon during the Spanish colonial period. Later, the island was repopulated by families from Batan who spoke Ivatan dialects.

Today, Ivatan speakers live beyond their homeland. Many have settled in areas such as Cagayan Valley, Ilocandia, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindoro, and Palawan. Some also moved to Mindanao, especially in Bukidnon, Lanao, and Cotabato, looking for better lives. However, the Ivatan language is becoming less common among newer generations in these areas, as many now speak languages like Cebuano, Hiligaynon, or Tagalog instead.

Introduction

Ivatan is known for its special words that often use the letter v, like vakul, Ivatan, and valuga. It is related to languages in the Northern Philippines but stands out because of its long isolation. Ivatan is closest to two other languages, Yami (Tao) and Itbayat, which are not from Luzon.

Ivatan has two main dialects. One is called Basco Ivatan, also known as Ivasay, spoken on the main island of Batan. The other is Southern Ivatan or Isamurung, spoken on the southern part of Batan and the island of Sabtang.

Variations in language

In the town of Basco and the northern part of Batan, certain sounds are spoken as t, while in the southern area (Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan, and Sabtang), the same sounds are spoken as ch.

Some examples show how words change between these areas:

• 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

The Itbayaten language is sometimes seen as a dialect of Ivatan. There are a few words that differ among Ivasayen, Isamurongen, and Itbayaten, even when they mean the same thing in English:

• 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
• ipes ('tail') in Basco is vochivot in the southern towns and also ipes in Itbayat

Ivatan and Filipino words are sometimes mixed together. For example, the Ivatan word mapatak comes from marunong (Filipino) and chapatak (Ivatan), meaning 'someone who knows'. This happened because people who were not Ivatan started speaking the language and their words were later used.

Some Ivatan expressions come from mixing languages and shortening phrases:

• Dios mamajes or Dios Mamajes nu mapia means 'God reward you with goodness' or 'God bless you' and is used to thank someone
• Dios mavidin means 'May God remain with you' and is used by someone who is leaving
• Dios machivan means 'May God go with you' and is used by someone who is staying behind

Phonology

The Ivatan language has special sounds that change in certain words. For example, the sound /u/ can sometimes sound a bit lower, like [ʊ]. The sound [e] is mostly found in words borrowed from Spanish, Ilocano, and Tagalog.

Also, the sound /h/ can sometimes be heard as a different sound, [x]. Ivatan is special because it does not change sounds in the same way some other Philippine languages do.

Grammar

Pronouns

The Ivatan language has its own special words that people use to talk about themselves and others. These words are called pronouns.

Cultural terms of the Ivatan people

The Ivatan people have many special words for things in their daily lives and culture. Some words describe foods like uve (yam), sudi (taro), and wakay (sweet potato). Others describe animals such as baka (cow) and kaddin (goat). There are words for tools and items like lukoy (bolo knife) and dulang (low dining table).

The Ivatans also have words for traditions and community activities. For example, kayvayvanan means friendship and cooperative work that starts with a shell horn called a vodiadong. There are special terms for boats used for fishing, such as faluwa, chinarem, and tataya. The language includes words for music and stories, like laji (lyric folk songs) and kabbata (legends). These terms show the rich culture and way of life of the Ivatan people.

Phrases

Here are some common words and phrases in the Ivatan language:

• Hello – Kapian capa nu dios
• How are you? – Ara ca mangu?
• I am fine – Taytu aco a mapia
• Thank you – Dios mamajes
• Where are you going? – Ngayan mo?
• I am going to... – Mangay aco du...
• How much? – Manyi Pira?
• How many? – Pira?
• Good – Mapia
• Yes – Oon
• I want ___ – Makey ako no ___
• Good luck – Mapia palak
• What's your name? – Angu ngaran mo?
• Hungry – mapteng
• Thirsty – ma-waw
• Tired – mavanah
• Happy – masuyot

These phrases show how the Ivatan people communicate in their special language.

Ivatan words

Ivatan words are made by combining two words to create a new one. This language has many words that are similar to other Philippine languages and to the Tao language.

Writing system

Ivatan is written with the Latin alphabet, which is the same set of letters we use every day. Since Ivatan is mainly spoken and not often written down, there isn’t one single way everyone writes it. Different people might write it a little differently.

Schools use a special way to write Ivatan that includes all 26 regular letters, plus three extra ones: ch, ñ, and ng. The sound “uh,” like in the middle of a word, is usually shown with the letter e, such as in Dios Mamajes, which sounds like “di-yos-ma-ma-huhs.”