Itawis
Encyclopedia
Itawis, Itawit, or Tawit, 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 consonant
s z,f,j (spelled like dy but sounds like j) and v. For example, fefeg-fan, madyan-maid, kazzing-goat, and bavi-pig.
who inhabit the province of Cagayan Valley
. Their range is from the lower Chico
and Matalag rivers. In many towns by these rivers, Itawis are found with Ibanags, and speak Ibanag as well as an example of linguistic adaptation. Speakers of Itawis and Ibanag can easily understand each other because of the close relationship of their languages. The Itawis are linguistically and culturally very closely related to the Ibanag.
The Itawis language is classified as a Malayo-Polynesian language, in the super family 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 Itawis language. One such word is la mesa which means table, for Ancient Itawis didn't eat on tables which were introduced by the Spanish.
For example:
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 :
Anna (in some dialects of Itawis, it is 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. For example:
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. :
----
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"
Helo
How are you? :
Kunnasi 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? :
Anna 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
----
Comparison to Ibanag
Ibanag
The Ibanags are an ethnolinguistic minority numbering a little more than half a million people, who inhabit the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya. They are one of the largest ethnolinguistic minorities in the Philippines. Ibanags speak the same language under the same name...
, Ilocano
Ilokano language
Ilokano or Ilocano is the third most-spoken language of the Republic of the Philippines....
, and other languages of the same order. Unlike the rest of Philippine languages, Itawit and its kin use the consonant
Consonant
In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are , pronounced with the lips; , pronounced with the front of the tongue; , pronounced with the back of the tongue; , pronounced in the throat; and ,...
s z,f,j (spelled like dy but sounds like j) and v. For example, fefeg-fan, madyan-maid, kazzing-goat, and bavi-pig.
Background
Itawis is spoken by the Itawis people of Northern LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
who inhabit the province of Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley is a region of the Philippines, also designated as Region II or Region 02. It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino...
. Their range is from the lower Chico
Chico
-Given name:* Chico Marx , actor and one of the Marx Brothers* Chico Buarque , Brazilian singer and writer* Chico DeBarge , R&B singer* Chico Ejiro, Nigeria film director* Chico Mendes , Brazilian environmental activist...
and Matalag rivers. In many towns by these rivers, Itawis are found with Ibanags, and speak Ibanag as well as an example of linguistic adaptation. Speakers of Itawis and Ibanag can easily understand each other because of the close relationship of their languages. The Itawis are linguistically and culturally very closely related to the Ibanag.
The Itawis language is classified as a Malayo-Polynesian language, in the super family 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 Itawis language. One such word is la mesa which means table, for Ancient Itawis 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 non-fluent, non-native, 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.For example:
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 :
Anna (in some dialects of Itawis, it is 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. For example:
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. :
----
Pronunciation
Consonantsb : 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? :
Kunnasi 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? :
Anna 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
----
Comparison to Ibanag
| Itawit | Ibanag | English |
|---|---|---|
| isa | tadday | one |
| dua | dua | two |
| tallu | tallu | three |
| apat | apa' | four |
| lima | lima | five |
| annam | annam | six |
| pitu | pitu | seven |
| walu | walu | eight |
| siam | siam | nine |
| mafulu | mafulu | ten |
| Yo ngahan ku e Ben. | I ngagak ku ay Ben. | My name is Ben. |
| Janna yo nagafuanam mu? | Sitau y naggafuanam mu? | Where did you come from? |
| Hanna yo kinnam mu? | Anni y kinnam mu? | What did you eat? |
| Hanna yo kanakanam mu? | Anni y kanakanam mu? | What are you eating? |
| Nakakan kami zinan nu nallabbet iggina. | Nakakak kami nacuan nu limibbe yayya. | We would have eaten, had they arrived. |
| Hanna yo kanam mu sangaw? | Anni y kanam mu sangaw? | What are you going to eat? |
| Maddagun kami mangan kustu nallabbet iggina. | Maddaguk kami kuman kustu nallabbe yayya. | We were eating while he/she arrived home. |