8/9/2019 Lesson 1- Butuanon Dialect

Introduction:

Butuanon belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian languages, one of the
world's largest language families, both in terms of numbers of languages (more than 1,200)
geographical spread (from Madagascar to Easter Island near the coast of South America.

In relation to other Philippine languages, Butuanon belongs to the Southern branch of Visayan
languages, and the Visayan languages in turn belongs to the Southern branch of Philippines
languages (to which the Mindanao, Bicolano, and Tagalog languages also belong). The northern
Philippine languages are confined to Luzon (e.g. Kapampangan, Pangasinense, Ilocano, the
Cordillera languages).

Butuanon is one of the Visayan languages. Specifically it belongs to the Southern branch of
Visayan. As such, most of the words in its vocabulary are cognate to the words found in other
Visayan languages. Its grammatical rules are also similar to its fellow Visayan languages
Surigaonon and Cebuano.

There is a common misconception that Butuanon is a dialect, but in fact it is a language.

Dialects are defined by international linguistic standards as mutually intelligible versions of a
language. For example, the common medium of communication in Baranggay Babag Butuan
City is mutually intelligible with the one used in Talakugon Municipality; thus both are dialects
of the same language, which is called Butuanon by international linguists. Butuanon as a
language is at par with the other 160 or so Philippine languages, including Tagalog, and the rest
of the world’s languages. To call Butuanon a dialect does not do justice to this rich and complex
language.

Language is the main medium by which humans communicate ideas and feelings to each other.
Consequently, language is not only the main transmitter of human culture, but it also forms the
most important part of culture. Without language, human society and culture would not exist
at all.

Language also has another role that is often overlooked. Each language is shared by a cultural
community, and forms the main basis for the existence of such a community, which is called an
ethnolinguistic people. If the language of an ethnolinguistic people dies, so does this people.
For example, if no can speak the Butuanon language, there will be no Butuanon ethnolinguistic
people.

Children are born with the ability to learn any language, but they usually, this is their parents'
first language—a language that has been passed down from generation to generation for
hundreds of years. There are at present more than 6,000 distinct languages and peoples of the
world. Each week, one or two of them die out, usually due to years of discriminatory policies of
governments that promote only the language of their capitals and centers. These languages
differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Each language offers unique concepts and
ways of expressing them, and thus unique perspectives (points of view), besides defining the
very peoples of the world. Each of them is priceless and irreplaceable, a treasure that humanity
can hardly afford to lose.

Any language with less than 300,000 speakers is regarded by international linguists as
endangered. The Butuanon language at present can only be spoken by less than 500 youngsters
in Butuan itself. If the next generations of Butuanons are not taught Butuanon in school, that
will be the end of the Butuanon ethnolinguistic people.

The main purpose of this syllabus is to preserve the priceless and irreplaceable Butuanon
language that has defined the Butuanon people for more than a thousand years.

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Ginoo – Maluluy-on ang Ginoo. God is merciful.
Pangoo – Si Lino ang Pangoo. Lino is the President.
Bata – Tambok ang mga bata. The children are fat.

Phrases:

Kang Cory – Patsada ang kang Cory. Cory’s is pretty.  

Kaaba ni Cris – Patsada ang kaaba ni Maria. Cris clothes are pretty.
Yaton lamisa – Madiyaw ang yaton lamisa. The one on the table is good.

Either SI or SINDA always marks the TOPIC, unless it is a pronoun (personal or demonstrative) in
which case the TOPIC FORMS of these pronouns are used. The topics are indicated in the
following sentences.

Maaslag siya. (Personal Pronoun) He/She is big.

Imo iyan. (Demonstrative Pronoun) That is yours.

NOTE: The topic pronouns are also referred to as focus pronouns. Pronouns and FOCUS will be
explained later. Also the English equivalent of the third person singular pronoun SIYA is both he
and she. He will be used as the English equivalent throughout the books.
The COMMENT says something about the topic. The COMMENT usually begins the sentence. A
sentence whose comment is not a verb is a NON-VERBAL SENTENCE. While there are many
types of non-verbal sentences, this lesson emphasizes three types of non-verbal sentences:

DESCRIPTIVE SENTENCES – when the comment is an adjective describing the topic.

Tambok ang bata. The child is fat.

Niwang sinda Maria. Maria and her companions are thin.
Mahaaba ang tao. The man is tall.
Dakwa ang lamisa. Table is big.

CLASSIFICATION SENTENCES  – when a noun is the comment of the topic describes the topic or
identifies as to type or class.

Maestro si Roly. Roly is a teacher.

Mga estudyante sila. They are students.

Doktor ang tao. The man is a doctor.
Magbasakay sinda Boyet. Boyet and his companions are farmers.

EQUATIONAL SENTENCES  – when there are two topics, which are equal to each other, serve as
comments for each other.

Si Roly ang maestro. The teacher is Roly.

Si Tiron ang amigo ko. Tiron is my friend.
Sila ang mga estudyante. They are the students.

NOTE: In equational sentences there must be agreement in the use of plural or singular form of
the two topics. In descriptive and classification sentences if the topic is plural, the comment
may be made plural by putting mga before the comment but it does not have to be plural.

Niwang sinda Ryan. = Mga niwang sinda Ryan.

Estudyante sila. = Mga estudyante sila.

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NEGATION:

The negation of these non-verbal sentences is made by putting DII before the comment.

Tambok ang bata. Dii tambok ang bata.

Maestro si Roly. Dii maestro si Roly.
Si Tiron ang amigo ko. Dii si Tiron ang amigo ko.

AIMS FOR THE LESSON

Learn when to use the topic marker SI and ANG.

Learn to form simple non-verbal descriptive, classification and equational sentences.

Learn to negate these non-verbal sentences using DII.

Learn to use plural topic SINDA and using ANG MGA.
Learn the basic pattern drills.

TAPE PATTERN DRILLS

SIMPLE SUBSTITUTION – 1
Substitute the words or cues given as the comment of the sentence. Listen to the cue and say
out loud the new sentence, then listen to the answer provided by the tape and then repeat the
answer as given by the tape.

Examples:

Magtutudlo (Teacher) Magtutudlo si Lino.

Maaslag (Tall) Maaslag si Lino.
Maliskog (Energetic) Maliskog si Lino.

Tubag (Answer)

Magtutudlo(Teacher) Magtutudlo si Greg.

Hayupo (Short) Hayupo si Ryan.
Maliskog (Energetic) Maliskog si Ryan
Dii estudyante (Not a student.) Dii estudyante si Ryan.

Dii maaslag (Not big) Dii maaslag si Ryan.

Dii putahaw (Not lazy) Dii putahaw si Ryan.

Estudyante- Estudyante si Bob. (Bob is a student.)

Tubag (Answer)

Dii maestro (Not a teacher) Dii maestro si Bobit.

Mahaba (tall) Mahaba si Bobit
Aslag (Big) Maaslag si Bobit.
Dii hayupo (Not Short) Dii hayupo si Bobit.
Tambok (Fat) Tambok si Bobit.
Dii niwang (Not thin) Dii niwang si Bobit.
Puti. (White) Puti si Bobit.
Dii itum (Not black) Dii itum si Bobit.

Tambok Tambok ang bata. (The child is fat.)

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Tubag (Answer)

Dii niwang (Not thin) Dii niwang ang bata.

Hayupo (Short) Hayupo ang bata.
Dii maaslag (Not big) Dii maaslag ang bata.
Estudyante (Student) Estudyante ang bata.
Dii maestro (Not a teacher) Dii maestro ang bata.

Ang Estudyante- Si Nilo ang estudyante. (Nilo is the student.)

Tubag (Answer)

Dii si Bobit (Not Bobit) Dii si Bobit ang estudyante.

Ang ta-o. (The man)
Dii ang bata (Not the child)
Ang bata nga usog (boy)
Siya (He/She)
Dii siya (Not he)
Dii ako (Not me)
Ang ta-o ang estudyante.
Dii ang bata ang estudyante.
Ang bata nga usog ang estudyante.
Siya ang estudyante.
Dii siya ang estudyante.
Dii ako ang estudyante.

Simple Substitution – 2

Substitute the words or cues given as the topic of the sentence. Listen to the cue and say out
loud the new sentence and then repeat it again after the tape provides the correct answer. The
English equivalent to the cues are given on the right side of the page.

Magtutudlo si Lino. (Lino is a teacher.)

Tubag (answer)

Si Lino- Magtutudlo si Lino.

Si Ryan Magtutudlo si Ryan.
Si Ador Magtutudlo si Ador.
Si Jamjam Magtutudlo si Jamjam.
Ang tao (man) Magtutudlo ang tao.
Ang daga (The woman) Magtutudlo and daga.

Si Lina- Magtutudlo si Lina.

Puti si Cory. (Cory is light complexioned.)

Tubag (answer)

Si Jamjam Puti si Jamjam.

Sinda Kora (Jose and his companions) Puti sinda Kora.
Sinda Tiron (Tony and his companions) Puti sinda Tiron.
Ang mga tao Puti ang mga tao.
Ang bata Puti ang bata.
Ang mga bata Puti ang mga bata.
Si Ryan Puti si Ryan.
Sinda Lina Puti sinda Lina.

Si Bobit ang magtutudlo. (Bobit is the teacher.)

Tubag (answer)

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Ang doktor Ang doctor ang magtutudlo.
Ang pari Ang pari ang magtutudlo.
Ang diriktor Ang diriktor ang magtutudlo.
Ang kura paroko Ang kura paruko ang magtutudlo.
Ang usog Ang usog ang magtutudlo.

MOVING SLOT SUBSTITUTION  – 2

Substitute the words or cues given as either the topic or comment of the sentence. Remember
the topic is marked by topic markers si/sinda or ang/ang mga. Listen to the cue and say out
loud the new sentence and repeat it again after the tape provides the correct answer. The
English equivalents to the cues are given on the right side of the page.

Maaslag si Bobit. (Bobit is big.)

Tubag (answer)

Dii hayupo (Not short) Dii hayupo si Bobit.

Si Roly Dii hayupo si Roly.
Si Hudet Dii hayupo si Hudet.
Maliskog Maliskog si Matet.
Ang bata Ang bata maliskog.
Dii putahaw (Not lazy) Ang bata dii putahaw.
Si Lina Si Lina dii putahaw.
Dii maaslag (Not big) Si Lina dii maaslag.
Dii tambok(Not fat) Si Lina dii tambok.
Si Timi Si Timi dii tambok.
Ang daga (The woman) Ang daga dii tambok.
Ang mga daga Ang mga daga dii tambok.
Ang mga bata Ang mga bata dii tambok.
Sinda Timi Sinda Timi dii mga tambok.
Maliskog (Energetic) Sinda Timi mga maliskog.
Sinda Wantan Sinda Wanta mga maliskog.

NEGATIVE TRANSFORMATION

Give the negative of the following statements. Say out loud your answer and then listen to the
answer provided by the tape, and then repeat it.

Examples: Tambok si Marlon Dii tambok si Marlon.

Tubag (Answer)

Si Jemima ang maestro. Dii si Jemima ang maestro.

Kura paroko si Bobit. Dii kura paroko si Bobit.
Si Junalyn and maestra. Dii si Junalyn ang maestra.
Hayupo (short) si Bibi. Dii hayupo si Bibi.
Si Lina ang magtutudlo. Dii si Lina ang magtutudlo.
Si Boyet ang estudyante. Dii si Boyet ang estudyante.
Ang dagah (woman) ang doctor. Ang dagah dii ang doctor.
Putahaw (lazy) ang (man) usog. Dii putahaw ang usog.
Maliskog ang mga bata. Dii maliskog ang mga bata.
Sinda Marlon mga pari. Dii sinda Marlon ang mga pari.

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Si Lino maestro.
Si Bobi estudyante.
Si Bobiros mahaba.
Ang bata hayupo.
Si Badi dii kon maestro.
Ang bata dii kon mahaba.
Si Lina maestra.
Si Bobit ang kura paruko.
Si Tata dii kon hayupo.
Dii kon mahaba si Lina.
Si Bobi katsaong kaibanan niya mga maestro.
Dii kon maniwang ang mga bata.
Ang tao dii kon pari.
Ang daaga maliskog.
Ini nga mga daaga dii kon matambok.
Sinda Bobiros katsaong mga kaibanan niya dii kon mahaba.
Sinda Hudet katsaong kaibanan niya dii kon mga doctor.
Ang mga bata maliskog.
Ang mga usog putahaw.
Ang mga bata dii kon mahaba.

For each sentence, do the following:

-Identify the type of Non-Verbal Sentence.

-Give the Butuanon equivalent
-Negate

1. The house is nice.

2. Lino is the teacher.
3. Jo is a student.
4. The child is short.
5. Gumamela is a flower.
6. The room is small.
7. The helper is tall.
8. Jose and his companions are the doctors.

9. The women are Filipino.

10.Narra is a tree.
11.Bobit is the priest.
12.The city is big.
13.Timi and her friends are thin.
14.The table is white.
15.Boyet is a janitor.

Tubag/ Answer

1.Ang baay patsada.

2.Si Lino ang maestro.
3.Si Jo estudyante.
4.Ang bata hayupo.
5.Ang gumamela buwak.
6.Ang kwarto gamay.
7.Ang katabang mahaba.
8.Si Jose katsaong kaibanan niya ang mga doctor.

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9.Ang mga daaga Filipino.

10. Ang narra kahoy.
11. Ang pari si Bobit.
12. Ang syudad dakwa.
13. Si Timi katsaong mga kaibanan niya mga niwang.
14. Ang lamisa puti.
15. Si Boyet dyanitor.

What can you say about?

A tree
The school
The sea
Your best friend
Your pet
A mango

Below are some paragraphs in Butuanon containing non-verbal sentences. The English
equivalent of the sentence is given on the right side of the page.

NOTE: There are new words and expressions, which are indicated in both Butuanon and English.
Remember these are equivalents.

A
Sadto isa ka libo nga tuig nga milabay, waa pa ang Pilipinas pero yaon na ang Butuan.
Binutuanon ang linitokan hong mga Butuanon sadto. Makilaan sila nga Butuanon kay ang
linitukan nila amoy Binutuanon. Kaamo, doon, mga maas na lang katsaong pila ka gatus nga
mga batan-on ang makalitok hong Binutuanon. Amo iyan importante kadiyaw nga magkangyat
ang mga batan-on hong Binutuanon hasta dii mahatlok ang Butuanon nga katawhan.

One thousand years ago, there was no Philippines but Butuan was already in existence.
Binutuanon was the language of the Butuanons then. They could be identified as Butuanons
because their speech was Binutuanon. However, at present, only the elderly and a few hundred
of the youth can still speak Binutuanon. That is why it is so important that the youth of today
learn Binutuanon so that the Butuanon people will not die out.

B
Ang mga kamaas-maasan hong mga Butuanon mikani Butuan nga mikasakay hong mga dakwa
nga bawto nga piga-hingaan nga balanghai. Ang ngaan nga baranggay, tikan sani nga bawto.
Sadto, ang Binutuanon pigalitok tikan hong Agusan paiyan Davao. Doon, diyan mismo Butuan,
pigalitok na lang ini disaon Baranggay Babag katsaong iban nga panimaay ngadto Maug-Banza.
Buhion ta ini, ang linitukan hong kamaasmaasan ta!

The ancestors of the Butuanons came here to Butuan riding in large boats called balanghais.
The word baranggay comes from the names of these boats. At that time, Butuanon was spoken
from present-day Butuan up to Davao. Now in Butuan itself, it is spoken only in Baranggay
Babag and some households in Maug-Banza. Let us preserve this, the language of our
ancestors!

C
Sadto Abril 30, 2003, yaoy isa ka organisasyon nga ang pangaan SaveOur Languages through
Federalism ang pigapatukod. Ang isa ka katuyuan saning organisasyon amo ang pagpatudlo
hong mga linitukan hong Pilipinas disaon mga andanan, hasta dii ini sila mahatlok. Amo ini nga

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miningkamot ini nga organisasyon maghinang hong Butuanon nga syllabus, hasta makakangyat
ang mga batan-on hong Binutuanon.

On April 30, 2003, an organization named Save Our Languages through Federalism was
founded. One of the aims of this organization is to teach the languages of the Philippines in
schools so that they will not die out. This is why this organization has done its best to make a
Butuanon syllabus, so that the youth may learn Binutuanon.

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