Bisayan languages

The Bisayan languages or Visayan languages[1] are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages spoken in the Philippines. They are most closely related to Tagalog and the Bikol languages, all of which are part of the Central Philippine languages. Most Bisayan languages are spoken in the whole Visayas section of the country, but they are also spoken in the southern part of the Bicol Region (particularly in Masbate and Sorsogon where several dialects of Waray are spoken), islands south of Luzon, such as those that make up Romblon, most of the areas of Mindanao and the province of Sulu located southwest of Mindanao. Some residents of Metro Manila also speak one of the Bisayan languages.

Bisayan
Bisaya
Binisaya
Visayan
EthnicityVisayans
Geographic
distribution
Visayas, most parts of Mindanao, Masbate, and Mimaropa in the Philippines, Sabah in Malaysia and immigrant communities
Linguistic classificationAustronesian
Proto-languageProto-Bisayan
Subdivisions
  • Asi
    Cebuan
    Central Bisayan
    West Bisayan
    South Bisayan
Glottologbisa1268
Geographic extent of Bisayan languages based on Ethnologue and the National Statistics Office 2000 Census of Population and Housing

Cebuan

Central Bisayan

  Waray
  Ati

West Bisayan

Asi

  Asi

South Bisayan

  Tausug

Other legend

  Widespread/L2 use of Cebuano
  Widespread/L2 use of Hiligaynon

Over 30 languages constitute the Bisayan language family. The Bisayan language with the most speakers is Cebuano, spoken by 20 million people as a native language in Central Visayas, parts of Eastern Visayas, and most of Mindanao. Two other well-known and widespread Bisayan languages are Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), spoken by 9 million in most of Western Visayas and Soccsksargen; and Waray-Waray, spoken by 6 million in Eastern Visayas region. Prior to colonization, the script and calligraphy of most of the Visayan peoples was the badlit, closely related to the Tagalog baybayin.

Nomenclature

Native speakers of most Bisayan languages, especially Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray, not only refer to their language by their local name, but also by Bisaya or Binisaya, meaning Bisayan language. This is misleading or may lead to confusion as different languages may be called Bisaya by their respective speakers despite their languages being mutually unintelligible.

However, languages that are classified within the Bisayan language family but spoken natively in places outside of the Visayas do not use the self-reference Bisaya or Binisaya. To speakers of Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon and Tausug, the term Visayan usually refers to either Cebuano or Hiligaynon.

There have been no proven accounts to verify the origins of Bisaya. However, there is an ethnic group in Malaysia and Brunei who call themselves with the same name. However, these ethnic groups in the Philippines must not be confused with those in Borneo.

Evidence

David Zorc lists the following innovations as features defining the Bisayan languages as a group (Zorc 1977:241).[2] Tausug is noted to have diverged early from the group and may have avoided some sound changes that affected the others.

  1. *lC, *Cl > *Cl (where C is any consonant not *h, *q, or *l)
  2. *qC, *Cq > *Cq (MOST) *qC, *Cq > *qC (Tausug, and most Bikol languages)
Reflexes of PCPh and PPh
*qaldaw *qalsəm *qitlug *baqguh
Tagalic *qa:daw

(Tag: 'ʔa.raw)

*qa:səm

(Tag: 'ʔa.sim)

*qitlug

(Tag: ʔit.'log)

*ba:guh
Bikol *qaldaw

(Naga: ʔal.'daw)

*qalsəm

(Naga: ʔal.'som)

*qitlug

(Iriga: ʔit.'log)

*ba:guh (Iriga: 'ba.go, Naga: 'baʔ.go)
Bisayan *qadlaw

(ALL: 'ʔad.law)

*qasləm

(Kin: 'ʔas.lëm,

Ceb: 'ʔas.lum)

*qitlug

(MOST: 'ʔit.log)

Internal classification

David Zorc gives the following internal classification for the Bisayan languages (Zorc 1977:32).[2] The five primary branches are South, Cebuan, Central, Banton, and West. However, Zorc notes that the Bisayan language family is more like a dialect continuum rather than a set of readily distinguishable languages.

The South Bisayan languages are considered to have diverged first, followed by Cebuan and then the rest of the three branches. Also, in the Visayas section, the province of Romblon has the most linguistic diversity, as languages from three primary Bisayan branches are spoken there: Romblomanon from Central Bisayan, Inunhan from Western Bisayan and Banton (which has an independent Bisayan branch).

Notably, Baybayanon and Porohanon have Warayan substrata, indicating a more widespread distribution of Waray before Cebuano speakers started to expand considerably starting from the mid-1800s.[3]

A total of 36 varieties are listed below. Individual languages are marked by italics.

Bisayan Languages Tree Chart

The auxiliary language of Eskayan is grammatically Bisayan, but has essentially no Bisayan (or Philippine) vocabulary.

Magahat and Karolanos, both spoken in Negros, are unclassified within Bisayan.[4]

Ethnologue classification

Ethnologue classifies the 25 Bisayan languages into five subgroups:

Language familyNo. of LanguagesLanguages
Banton1Bantoanon
Cebuan1Cebuano
Central Bisayan1Bantayanon
Peripheral5Ati, Capiznon, Hiligaynon, Masbateño, Porohanon
Romblon1Romblomanon
Warayan3Baybayanon, Kabalian, Northern Sorsoganon
Gubat1Southern Sorsoganon
Samar-Waray1Waray
South Bisayan2Surigaonon, Tandaganon
Butuan-Tausug2Butuanon, Tausug
West Bisayan1Caluyanon
Aklan2Aklanon, Malaynon
Karay-an1Karay-a
Cuyan2Cuyonon, Ratagnon
North-Central1Inonhan
Total25

Names and locations

Zorc (1977: 14–15) lists the following names and locations of Bisayan languages. The recently documented languages Karolanos, Magahat, and Kabalian are not listed in Zorc (1977).

SubgroupLanguageOther namesLocation(s)
BantonBantonBanton Island, Romblon
BantonSibaleBantonSibale (Maestre de Campo) Island, Romblon
BantonOdionganonCorcuera Island dialectOdiongan area, Tablas Island, Romblon
WesternAlcantaranonAlcantara, Tablas Island, Romblon
WesternDispoholnonSan Andres (Despujols), Tablas Island
WesternLooknonInunhanLook and Santa Fe, Tablas Island
WesternDatagnonRatagnun, LatagnunIlin Island and Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro
WesternSanta TeresaBarrio Santa Teresa of Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro
WesternBulalakawnonBulalacao (San Pedro), southern Oriental Mindoro
WesternSemiraraSemirara Island Group
WesternCuyononCuyunoCuyo Island, except Agutaya; coastal area around Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Culion and Busuanga Islands
WesternAklanonAkeanon, Aklano, AklanAklan and northern Capiz, Panay Island
WesternPandanPandan area, Antique, including the Buruanga, Aklan area of Panay
WesternKinaray-aAntiqueño, Hinaray-a, Sulud, Panayanomost of Antique, Panay Island; most inland areas of Iloilo and Capiz; southern Guimaras Island off of Iloilo
WesternGimarasGuimaras Island, Iloilo
CentralRomblomanonNiromblon, SibuyanonRomblon and Sibuyan Island; San Agustin area, Tablas Island
CentralBantayanBantayan Island
CentralCapiznonCapiz and northeastern Iloilo, Panay Island
CentralHiligaynonIlonggomost of Iloilo, Panay Island; western Guimaras and Negros Occidental
CentralKawayanCauayan, Negros Occidental
CentralMasbateMasbateMasbate and Ticao Island
CentralCamotesCamotes Island, between Cebu and Leyte
CentralNorthern SamarSamareño, Waray-Waraynorthern Samar
CentralSamar-LeyteSamareño, Waray-Waray, Sinamarcentral Samar; northern half of Leyte
CentralWaraySamareño, Waray-Waray, Binisayâsouthern Samar Island, Eastern Samar
CentralSorsogonSorsogonon, Bikolnorthern Sorsogon, Bikol
CentralGubatSorsogononsouthern Sorsogon, Bikol (including Gubat)
CebuanCebuanoSugbuanon, Sugbuhanon, Cebuan, SebuanoCebu Island; Negros Oriental; eastern Visayas and the coastal areas of northern and eastern Mindanao
CebuanBoholanoBol-anonBohol Island
CebuanLeyteKanâ, Leyteñocentral western Leyte; immigrants to Dinagat Island
SouthernButuanonButuan, Agusan del Norte area
SouthernSurigaononJaun BisayâSurigao del Norte
SouthernJaun-JaunSiargaononSiargao Island, Surigao del Norte
SouthernKantilanCantilan and Madrid, Surigao del Sur
SouthernNaturalisTandag and Tago, Surigao del Sur
SouthernTausugMoro, Taw SugJolo Island; southern and western Palawan

Comparisons

The following comparisons are from data gathered by Zorc (1997).

Personal-noun case markers

Subgroup Variety Singular Plural
NOM ERG OBL NOM ERG OBL
BantonBanton si ni kang sa na kaná
BantonSibale si ni kang sína nína kína
BantonOdionganon si ni kang sa na kaná
Western, InonhanAlcantaranon
Western, InonhanDispoholnon si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, InonhanLooknon si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, Kuyan, RatagnonDatagnon si ni ki sánda nánda kanánda
Western, Kuyan, RatagnonSanta Teresa si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, InonhanBulalakawnon si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, Kuyan, CaluyanonSemirara si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, KuyanCuyonon si ni ki sanda nanda kanda
WesternAklanon si ni kay sánda(y) nánda(y) kánda(y)
Western, Kinaray-aPandan si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, Kinaray-aKinaray-a si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Western, Kinaray-aGimaras
CentralRomblomanon si ni kay siná niná kiná
Central, PeripheralBantayan
Central, PeripheralCapiznon si ni kay sánday nánday kánday
Central, PeripheralHiligaynon si ni kay silá ni níla ni sa íla ni
Central, PeripheralKawayan
Central, PeripheralMasbate si ni kan sinda ninda kanda
Central, PeripheralCamotes
Central, Warayan, WarayNorthern Samar si ni kan sirá nirá kánda
Central, Warayan, WaraySamar-Leyte si ni kan sirá níra kánda
Central, Warayan, WarayWaray hi ni kan hirá níra kánda
Central, PeripheralSorsogon (Central Sorsoganon) si ni kan sirá nirá kánda
Central, WarayanGubat (South Sorsoganon) si ni kan sirá nirá kánda
CebuanCebuano si ni kang silá si

siláng

níla ni

níang

sa íla ni,

sa ílang

CebuanBoholano si ni kang síla níla kaníla
CebuanLeyte silang nilang sa ilang
Southern, Butuan-TausugButuanon si ni kang síla níla kánda
Southern, SurigaononSurigaonon si ni kay síla níla kaníla
Southern, Surigaonon Jaun-Jaun si ni kan síla si níla ni díla ni
Southern, Surigaonon Kantilan
Southern, Tandaganon Naturalis
Southern, Butuan-TausugTausug hi hi kan hinda hinda kanda

Common-name case markers

Subgroup Variety NOM ERG OBL
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Past Nonpast Past Nonpast Future
BantonBanton -y kag it ittong sa
BantonSibale -y kag it itkag sa
BantonOdionganon -y kag it ittong sa
Western, InonhanAlcantaranon ang it tang sa
Western, InonhanDispoholnon ang it kang sa
Western, InonhanLooknon ang it tang sa
Western, Kuyan, RatagnonDatagnon ang # ang sa
Western, Kuyan, RatagnonSanta Teresa ang kang sa
Western, InonhanBulalakawnon ang it tang sa
Western, Kuyan, CaluyanonSemirara ang kang sa
Western, KuyanCuyonon ang i i-ang sa
WesternAklanon -y ro~do it ku sa
Western, Kinaray-aPandan ang it kang sa
Western, Kinaray-aKinaray-a ang ti kang sa
Western, Kinaray-aGimaras ang ti kang sa
CentralRomblomanon ang ning nang sa
Central, PeripheralBantayan ang sing sang sa
Central, PeripheralCapiznon ang sing sang sa
Central, PeripheralHiligaynon ang sing sang sa
Central, PeripheralKawayan ang sing sang sa
Central, PeripheralMasbate an sin san sa
Central, PeripheralCamotes in an sin san sa
Central, Warayan, WarayNorthern Samar in an si(n) sa(n) sa
Central, Warayan, WaraySamar-Leyte in an it sin san sit sa
Central, Warayan, WarayWaray in an it hin han hit ha
Central, PeripheralSorsogon (Central Sorsoganon) an sin san sa
Central, WarayanGubat (South Sorsoganon) an sin san sa
CebuanCebuano -y ang ug sa sa
CebuanBoholano ang ug sa sa
CebuanLeyte ang ug sa sa
Southern, Butuan-TausugButuanon ang hung sa
Southern, SurigaononSurigaonon ang nang sa
Southern, Surigaonon Jaun-Jaun an nan sa
Southern, Surigaonon Kantilan ang nang sa
Southern, Tandaganon Naturalis ang nang sa
Southern, Butuan-TausugTausug in sin ha

Reconstruction

Proto-Bisayan
Reconstruction ofBisayan languages
Reconstructed
ancestors

David Zorc's reconstruction of Proto-Bisayan had 15 consonants and 4 vowels (Zorc 1977:201).[2] Vowel length, primary stress (penultimate and ultimate), and secondary stress (pre-penultimate) are also reconstructed by Zorc.

Proto-Bisayan Consonants
Bilabial Dental Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive Voiceless p t k ʔ
Voiced b d ɡ
Nasal m n ŋ
Fricative s h
Lateral l
Approximant w j
Proto-Bisayan Vowels
Height Front Central Back
Close i /i/ u /u/
Mid ə /ə/
Open a /a/

See also

References

  1. Adelaar, Alexander (2005). "The Austronesian languages of Asia and Madagascar: a historical perspective". In Adelaar, Alexander; Himmelmann, Nikolaus (eds.). The Austronesian languages of Asia and Madagascar. London: Routledge. pp. 1–42., page 16.
  2. Zorc, David Paul (1977). The Bisayan Dialects of the Philippines: Subgrouping and Reconstruction. Canberra, Australia: Dept. of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University. doi:10.15144/PL-C44. ISBN 0858831570.
  3. Lobel, Jason (2009). Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World. Oxford: Elsevier. pp. 914–917.
  4. Lobel, Jason William. 2013. Philippine and North Bornean languages: issues in description, subgrouping, and reconstruction. Ph.D. dissertation. Manoa: University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
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