Surigaonon language


Surigaonon is an Austronesian language spoken by Surigaonon people. As a regional Philippine language, it is spoken in the province of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and some portions of Agusan del Norte, especially the towns near the Mainit Lake, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental.

External relationships

Surigaonon is a member of the Bisayan languages. It has been heavily influenced by Cebuano due to the influx of many Cebuanos in the region. However, most Cebuano speakers can hardly understand Surigaonon speakers, except for Cebuanos who has been living in the region for years.
Surigaonon is very closely related to the Tausug language of Sulu and the Butuanon language of Butuan.

Varieties

Tandaganon

Tandaganon is a closely related variety spoken in the central Surigao del Sur municipalities of Tandag City, San Miguel, Tago, Bayabas, Cagwait, Marihatag, San Agustin, and most of Lianga. It can be classified as a separate language or alternatively as a southern variety of Surigaonon. There are about 100,000 speakers.
Surigaonon itself on the other hand is the northern variety, with about 400,000 speakers. Surigaonon speakers are distributed throughout Surigao del Norte, northern Surigao del Sur, and northern Agusan del Norte. Surigaonon and Tandaganon speakers can understand each other well, even if they use their own languages in conversation.
Together, Surigaonon and Tandaganon are spoken in Surigao del Norte and most parts of Surigao del Sur, except in the City of Bislig, municipalities of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina. In the non-Surigaonons-speaking areas of Surigao, most of the inhabitants are descended from Cebuano-speaking migrants, and the rest are natives who speak Kamayo, a Mansakan language.

Phonology

According to Dumanig, Surigaonon has a similar phonological inventory as its sister Bisayan languages, Cebuano and Boholano.

Vowels

Below is the vowel system of Surigaonon:
FrontCentralBack
Close
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Consonants

Below is a chart of Surigaonon consonants.
Note: is spelled y, is spelled j and is spelled ng.

Clusters

Surigaonon has 25 consonant clusters and 4 diphthongs, which is similar to Cebuano.

Comparison between Surigaonon, Cebuano, and Tausug

Sample words and phrases

Words
Phrases