Itawis

Itawis is a Northern Philippine language which has close relationships to Ibanag, Ilocano, and other languages of the same order. Unlike the rest of Philippine languages, Itawit and its kin use the consonants z,f,j (spelled like dy but sounds lik j) and v. For example, fefeg-fan, madyan-maid, kazzing-goat, and bavi-pig.

Background

Itawit is spoken by the Itawit people of Northern Luzon who inhabit the province of Cagayan Valley. Their range is from the lower Chico and Matalag rivers. In many towns by these rivers, Itawits are found with Ibanags, and speak Ibanag as well as an example of linguistic adaptation. Because of this, Itawit and Ibanag are indistinguishable, and speakers of Itawit and Ibanag can easily understand each other because of the scary, close relationship of their languages. The Itawit are linguistically and culturally very closely related to the Ibanag.

The Itawit language is classified as a Malayo-Polynesian language, in the superfamily of languages called Austronesian. During the Pre-Spanish period of the Philippines, words were borrowed from Spanish to stand in place for words that did not exist in the Itawit language. One such word is "la mesa" which means table, for Ancient Itawits didn't eat on tables which were introduced by the Spanish.

Linguistic Notes

The Itawit language has a fast, somewhat soft tone. Speakers usually shorten sentences by shortening words, however shortening every word is not possible. For a nonfluent, nonnative, or a beginner learner, all words in a sentence should be said fully and complete. In a gesture of respect, Itawits usually use the name or status of a person at the end of a sentence.; exp. : "'Where is the bathroom? (asking an elderly woman)Dyanna yo banyu ko "anti/manang"?"'

; anti : auntie used in Itawit for an elderly woman or a family friend); manang : elder sister(used in Itawit as a sign of respect)

When asking a question, Itawits usually start with a person's name or status and then the question itself. If asking someone familiar, Itawits also usually end it with "he", "diba", or "ko" (state persons name or status).

; What :Hanna; Where :Dyanna (jan+na); When :Sonu inya (sometimes, Itawits shorten in to so-inya); Who :Inya ; Why :Kaam; How :Kunnasi

The Itawit sentence structure is similar to English.; EXP :; Ronald went to get some water from the fridge. : ; Y Ronald e numang nga nangalak kang danum kanne ref. :; [stating word] Ronald [] went to get [word that states a place] water from fridge. :The format is a noun, verb, adjective/place/noun sequence.

If you are talking about a person, nobody will know who you're talking about unless you use the specification word "Y". The Tagalog equivalent would be Si, both meaning "That person". After saying "Y", you say the persons name, but in a gesture of respect, the status and name is given.; EXP :; (describing an older woman) Eleine is so funny. :; Y manang Eleine e sobra y0 appagalak na. :: [Stating word] (elder sister) Eleine [] very [] laugh maker [] article pertaining to Elaine. :

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Pronunciation

Consonants; b : like 'b' in bed ; d : like 'd' in dead ; f : like 'f' in file ; g : like 'g' in goat ; h : like 'h' in happy ; k : like 'c' in cat ; l : like 'l' in like; m : like 'm' in moan; n : like 'n' in none; p : like 'p' in pocket; q : like 'qu' in queen; r : like 'r' in rooster; s : like 's' in sister; t : like 't' in tooth; v : like 'v' in vain; w : like 'w' in water; y : like 'y' in yell; z : like 'z' in zone

Vowels; a : like 'a' in apple; e : like 'e' in elephant; i : like 'ee' in bee; o : like 'o' in so; u : like 'oe' in shoe

Diphthongs; ay : like 'ay' in "say"; ai : like 'ay' in "say"; au : like 'awe'

; ee : like 'ee' in "see"; ei : like 'ay' in "say"; ey : like 'ay' in "say", like 'ee' in "see"

; ie : like 'ee' in "see"

; oi : like 'oy' in "boy"; oo : like 'oo' in "food", like 'oo' in "good"; ou : like 'ow' in "cow", like 'oo' in "food", like 'o' in "cot"; ow : like 'ow' in "cow"; oy : like 'oy' in "boy"

; ch : like 'ch' in "touch"; sh : like 'sh' in "sheep"; th : like 'th' in "this", like 'th' in "those"; gh : like 'f' in "fish"; ph : like 'f' in "fish"

Phrases

; Hello :Helo; How are you? :Kunnisi ka?; I am fine :Napia nak; I am not doing well :Marik kuru nga napia.; Thank you :Mabbalat; And you? :Ey ikau?; Good morning :Napia nga mataruk; Good afternoon :Napia nga giram; Good night :Napia nga gabi; Good night (for sleeping) :Napia nga akaturug; Good day :Napia nga algaw; Yes :Oon (Oh-ohn [also shortened as On] ); No :Awan (or Mari); Maybe :Baka; Definitely :Siguru; I don't know :Marik ammu; I know :Ammuk; What is your name? :Hanna yo ngahan mu? ; My name is (state your name) :Yo ngahan ku e (state your name); His/her name is (state persons name) :Yo ngahan na e (state persons name); Nice to meet you :Napia nga nakilala ta ka; Please :___ [command] pay e. ("if you would"); May I ask you a favor? :Puede pe nga makifavor? :; Take care :Magingat ka/Innam mu ikau; How old are you? :Pia ya dahun mun (the word mun is short for mu ngin [both can be said] )/Anni ya dahun mun?; I am (state your age) years old. :Ya dahun ku e (state your age); Where are you from? :Anni nga bansa yo nagafanan mu? (asking what country)/Janna yo nagafanan mu? (lit. Where did you come from?); Where do you live? :Dyanna yo padyanan mu?; Where have you been? :Nagafanan mu kang?/Dyanna ya nagafuanan mu?; Where are you going? :Dyanna ya anyanan mu?/Anyanan mu kang?; Can you accompany me to_? :Puedem nga vulunan yakan kang_? ; Can you take me to_? :Puedem nga iyangay yakan kang_?; What is your work? :Hanna yo trabahum?; What are you doing? :Hanna yo kukukuan mu?; Where do you go to school? :Hanna yo eskuelam?/Janna ya pagilamuan mu?; Excuse me (getting attention) :Excuse me; Excuse me (to pass through, asking permission) :Pakidalan (I will walk)/Puede nak nga manalan?/Manalan nak/Excuse me ko (persons name); I can't speak (state language) well. :Marik kuru maka-ergo kang (state language) nga napia. ; I can't speak (state language). :Marik maka-ergo kang (state language).; I only understand :Matindyan ku laman; I don't understand :Marik nga matindyan; I understand :Matindyan ku; Help :Paki-ufun/Ufunan mu yakan/Mauag ku ya ufun; Look out :Magadang ka (lit. save yourself/flee); Where's the bathroom? :Dyanna ya banyu?; What time is it? :Hanna yo orat ngin?; Who is she/he? :Inya iggina?; What do you mean? :Hanna yo kayat mu nga kayan?; Please say it again/Pardon :Puedem nga kayan uli/Paki-ulit mu yo kinahim; Please write it down :Iturat mu; Let's go :Anteran (Anteran is short for umang tera ngin/ both can be said)/Tara/Teran/Tsin; Wait :So abit/Mattaron ka/ Taronan mu yakan; Can I speak to_? :Puedek kergo y_?; Monkey: Ayong ; Pig: Bavi; Cliff:Zizzig; Animal : Ayam; Snake :Zariyyang

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Comparison to Ibanag

References

* Diphthong Section found in Wikitravel, Tagalog Phrasebook : (http://wikitravel.org/en/Filipino_phrasebook)
* Ethnologue on Itawit :(http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=itv)
* Wikipedia Ibanag Language :(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibanag_language