Subanon language
The Subanen language is an Austronesian language belonging to the Greater Central Philippine languages. It is typically considered by linguists as a dialect cluster more than a monolithic language. Subanon is spoken in various areas of Zamboanga Peninsula namely the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and in Misamis Occidental of Northern Mindanao. There is also a sizeable Subanon community in Misamis Oriental. Most go by the name of Subanen, Subanon or Subanun, while those who adhere to Islam refer to themselves as Kalibugan.Jason Lobel classifies the Subanen varieties as follows.
- Subanen
- *Western
- **Western Subanon
- **Western Kolibugan
- *Nuclear
- **West Nuclear
- ***Tawlet-Kalibugan Subanen
- ***Salug-Godod Subanen
- **East Nuclear
- ***Southern Subanen
- ***Central Subanen
- ***Northern Subanen
- ***Eastern Subanen
Lobel lists the following innovations among each of the following subgroups.
- Nuclear Subanen: *k > Ø
- Western Subanen: *k > /k/
- East Nuclear Subanen: *r > /l/
- West Nuclear Subanen: *r > /r/
- Western Subanen: *r > /l/
Proto-Subanen is also notable for having completely lost Proto-Greater Central Philippine *h.
Lobel also provides a reconstruction of Proto-Subanen.Phonology
Western Subanon has 15 native consonants. There is no phonemic contrast between velar and uvular consonants.Western Subanon Vowels
Western Subanon has 5 vowels.Monophthongs
Diphthongs
The diphthongs of Western Subanon are /au/, /ua/, /io/, /oi/, /ai/, and /ia/.Example
The chorus of the Western Subanon song Momula ita 'Let's plant' is shown.
