Romblomanon language

Romblomanon
Ini
Native to	Philippines
Region	Romblon province (entire Romblon and Sibuyan islands; some parts of Tablas except Banton, Corcuera, Maestro de Ocampo and Carabao)
Native speakers	94,000 (2011) [1]
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Central Philippine Bisayan Central Bisayan Romblomanon
Language codes
ISO 639-3	rol
Glottolog	romb1245
Area where Romblomanon is spoken

Romblomanon or Bisaya/Binisaya nga Romblomanon is an Austronesian regional language spoken, along with Asi and Onhan, in the province of Romblon in the Philippines. The language is also called Ini, Tiyad Ini, Basi, Niromblon, and Sibuyanon. It is a part of the Bisayan language family and is closely related to other Philippine languages.

Geographic distribution

Specifically, Romblomanon is spoken in the following islands on Romblon:

• Romblon: the sole municipality of Romblon.
• Sibuyan: all its municipalities, Cajidiocan variant, Magdiwang variant, and San Fernando variant.
• Tablas: the municipality of San Agustin.
• Oriental Mindoro: migrant Romblomanon speakers from Carmen in Tablas brought the language particularly to the municipality of Bansud and also migrant Romblomanon speakers from Tablas, Romblon and Sibuyan islands to the municipalities of Mansalay, Bulalacao and parts of Bongabong and Roxas respectively.

Phonology

Consonants

		Labial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal		m	n		ŋ
Plosive	voiceless	p	t		k	ʔ
	voiced	b	d		ɡ
Fricative			s			h
Rhotic			ɾ
Lateral			l
Approximant		w		j

Romblomanon is one of the Philippine languages that do not exhibit [ɾ]–[d] allophony.

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		u
Open		a

• Phonetic variations of /i,u/ with sounds [e,o] are said to occur. ^[2]

Grammar

Pronouns

Personal

	Absolutive	Ergative	Oblique
1st person singular	ako	nakon, ko	akon
2nd person singular	ikaw, ka	nimo, mo	imo
3rd person singular	siya	niya	iya
1st person plural inclusive	kita	naton	aton
1st person plural exclusive	kami	namon	amon
2nd person plural	kamo	nindo	indo
3rd person plural	sinda	ninda	inda

Demonstrative pronouns

	Absolutive	Ergative/Oblique	Locative	Existential
Nearest to speaker ('this, here')	iní	tiyadní	dirí	(y)ári
Near to addressee or closely removed from speaker and addressee ('that, there')	inâ	tiyadnâ	dirâ	(y)ára'
Remote ('yon, yonder')	adtó	tiyadtó	didtó	(y)á(d)to

In addition to this, there are two verbal deictics, karí, meaning 'come to speaker', and kadto, meaning 'to go yonder'.

Interrogative words

Romblomanon	English	Example
Ano	What	Ano imo pangayan? 'What is your name?'
San-o	When	San-o ka makadto sa Romblon? 'When are you going to Romblon?'
Diin	Where	Diin ka pa-kadto? 'Where are you going?'
Sin-o	Who	Sin-o ang imo ka-ibahan? 'Who is your companion?'
Kamusta	How	Kamusta ka? 'How are you?'
Pa-unó	How (a derivative of ano)	Pa-anó ka maka halin? 'How can you go?'
Pila	How much / How many	Pila ini? 'How much is this?' / Pila ka tawo ang yara? 'How many people are there?'

Examples

Numbers

Number	Romblomanon
1	Isá
2	Duhá
3	Tuyó
4	Upat
5	Limá
6	Onum
7	Pitó
8	Wayó
9	Siyám
10	Napúyô
100	Isa-kagatús
1000	Isa-kalibó
First	Una
Second	Panga-duhá
Third	Pang-tuyó / Pangat-lo
Fourth	Pang-upat
Fifth	Pang-limá
Sixth	Pang-onum
Seventh	Pang-pitó
Eighth	Pang-wayó
Ninth	Pang-siyám
Tenth	Pang-napúyô

Common expressions

Romblomanon / Sibuyanon dialect (San Fernando)	Aklanon	Tagalog	English
Ambo/ilaga (Sibuyan)	Eanggam	Daga	Rat
Asó	Aso	Usok	Smoke
Ayam/ajam (Sibuyan)	Ayam	Aso	Dog
Ayaw mag pinisik / Ajaw mag pinisik (Sibuyan)	Indi ka maglandi	Huwag kang malandi	Don't flirt
Babaye/baje (Sibuyan)	Bayi	Babae	Female
Bu-ang	Kumangon	Baliw	Crazy
Bukon, indi	Bukon, indi	Hindi	No
Bulan/buyan (Sibuyan)	Buean	Buwan	Month
Bungoy	Bungoe	Bingi	Deaf
Buroy	Badwan	Bobo	Dumb
Buta	Bueag	Bulag	Blind
Buwas	Hin-aga	Bukas	Tomorrow
Hadakon, hambugon	Bugaeon	Mayabang	Boastful
Hadlok	Hadlok	Takot	Afraid
Mus na	Mali eon, mosyon eon	Tara na	Let's go
Hangit ako sa imo	Hangit ako kimo	Galit ako sa iyo	I hate you
Higko/higtang (Sibuyan)	Higko	Dumi	Dirt
Hu-o	Hu-o	Oo	Yes
Ibabaw	Ibabaw	Itaas	Up
Idayum	Idaeum	Ilalim	Down
Kabu-ot ka / Kabuoton ka (Sibuyan)	Mabu-ot ka	Mabait ka	You are kind
Ka-guapa ka / Kaguapahon ka (Sibuyan)	Gwapa ka	Maganda ka	You are beautiful
Ka-guapo ka / Kaguapuhon ka (Sibuyan)	Gwapo ka	Gwapo ka	You are handsome
Kalag	Kaeag	Kaluluwa	Spirit
Galaum/gasi	Ea-um	Akala	Assumption
Kanam	Hampang	Laro	Play
Kwarta	Kwarta	Salapi	Money
Layaki/yaki (Sibuyan)	Eaki	Lalaki	Male
Maayo nga adlaw / Maajo na Adlaw (Sibuyan)	Maayad-ayad nga adlaw	Magandang araw	Good day
Maayo nga aga / Maajo na Aga (Sibuyan)	Maayad-ayad nga agahon	Magandang umaga	Good morning
Maayo nga gabi-i / Maajo na Gab-i (Sibuyan)	Maayad-ayad nga gabi-i	Magandang gabi	Good evening
Maayo nga hapon / Maajo na Hapon (Sibuyan)	Maayad-ayad nga hapon	Magandang hapon	Good afternoon
Mabinuligon	Mabinuligon	Matulungin	Helpful
Madamo nga salamat	Maabo nga saeamat	Maraming salamat	Thanks a lot
Magdahan ka	Magdahan ka/Maghaeong ka	Mag-ingat ka	Take care
Mahuga	Malisud	Mahirap	Difficult
Mahugod/mapisan (Sibuyan)	Mahugod	Masipag	Industrious
Maisog/kaisugon (Sibuyan)	Maisog	Matapang	Brave
Makusog/kakusugon (Sibuyan)	Mabaskog	Malakas	Strong
Mala-in/kalainon (Sibuyan)	Maea-in	Masama	Bad
Malipay	Malipayon	Masaya	Happy
Maluya/maluja (Sibuyan)	Mahinay	Mabagal	Slow
Manamit/kanamiton (Sibuyan)	Manami	Masarap	Delicious
Manang	Manang	Ate	Older sister
Manong	Manong	Kuya	Older brother
Mayad/majad (Sibuyan)	Mayad	Matalino	Intelligent
Merkado	Tindahan	Pamilihan	Market
O-ning/kuring (Sibuyan)	Kuring	Pusa	Cat
Palangga ta gid ikaw	Palangga ko gid ikaw	Mahal na mahal kita	I love you so much
Palangga ta ikaw	Palangga ko ikaw	Mahal kita	I love you
Pisikon/pisikan	Mala	Malandi	Flirtatious
Pusong/bakakon	Purilon	Sinungaling	Liar
Semana	Dominggo	Linggo	Week
Sinsilyo	Sinsilyo	Barya	Coins
Subay	Guyom, tigasaw	Langgam	Ant
Tubi	Tubi	Tubig	Water
Tu-ig	Dag-on	Taon	Year
Tu-o	Tu-o	Kanan	Right
Waya/waja (Sibuyan)	Waea	Kaliwa	Left
Yawa/jawa (Sibuyan)	Yawa	Kasamaan	Demon

References

1. Romblomanon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. Newell, Leonard E.; Tabardilla, Emilia (2006). Romblomanon dictionary. Linguistic Society of the Philippines.

Further reading

• Law, Rence S. (1997), The Romblomanon Grammar Essentials Sketch – via romblomanon.net

External links

• Ethnologue
• romblomanon.webonary.org - Dictionary by SIL