Kamayo language


Kamayo, also called Kadi, Kinadi, or Mandaya, is a minor Austronesian language of the central eastern coast of Mindanao in the Philippines.

Distribution

Spoken by some areas of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, Kamayo varies from one municipality to another. Lingiganons are quite different from other municipalities on the way they speak the Kamayo language. Ethnologue also reports that Kamayo is spoken in the Agusan del Sur Province border areas, and in Davao Oriental Province between Lingig and Boston.

Dialects

Kamayo is a language widely used by the Mandayas in the Davao Oriental areas. It is closely related to Tandaganon and Surigaonon. Dialect variations are caused by mixed dialect communications such as the Cebuano language in barangays Mangagoy & Pob. Bislig. The towns of Barobo, Hinatuan, and Lingig has a distinct version spoken. A suffix is usually added in most adjectives in superlative forms; for example, the word "gamay" in Cebuano is gamayay while the word "dako" is spoken as dako-ay in Bislig.
Dialects are classified as North Kamayo and South Kamayo.

Vocabulary

Common phrases
KamayoTagalogEnglish
Adi / NganiDitoHere
NgadtoDoonThere
Ampan / WaraWalaNothing
AronMeronHave
Basi / BasinBakaMaybe
ButangLagayPut
HainSaanWhere
IdtuAyonThat
IndayEwanI Don't Know
Ini / NginiItoThis
ItunAyanThat is
KamangKuhaTake
KinuKailanWhen
MadayawMabutiGood
MaraatPangitUgly
Nanga saBakitWhy
Unaan / NaanAnoWhat
PilaMagkanoHow Much
Sinu / Sin-uSinoWho
TagiBigayGive
UnuhonPaanoHow
WaraWala-
IsuBataChild
hinuodMatandaOld person
IrongIlongNose
HuoOoYes
DiriHindiNo
BayhoMukhaFace
AlimaKamayHand
SikiPaaFoot
PaaHitaThigh