Itawis language


Itawis is a Northern Philippine language spoken by the Itawis people and is closely related to the Ibanag and Ilocano.

Background

Itawis is spoken by the Itawis people of Northern Luzon who inhabit the provinces of Cagayan Valley. Their range is from the lower Chico and Matalag rivers. The language is said to have rooted in the town of Tuao. In many towns by these rivers, Itawis are found with the 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, a subset of the Austronesian language superfamily. During the pre-colonial 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 lamesa, which means table, for the Itawis people didn't eat on tables, which were later introduced by the Spanish.
In the town of Rizal, Cagayan, a language called Malaueg is spoken by a group of people of the same name. It is not yet clear whether Malaueg is a distinct language or not because its proximity to Itawis may possibly make it a dialect of the latter.

Interrogative Words

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.

Dialects

Linguists classified "Malaueg" and "Rizal" as dialects of Itawis language.

Phonology

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Close
Mid
Open

Consonants

Gaddang is also one of the Philippine languages which is excluded from - allophony.

Examples

Comparison to Ibanag
ItawitIbanagEnglish
isataddayone
duaduatwo
tallutalluthree
appatappa'four
limalimafive
annamannamsix
pitupituseven
waluwalueight
siamsiamnine
mafulumafuluten
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.