Kinaray-a language

Kinaray-a is an Austronesian language spoken mainly in Antique Province in the Philippines. It is also spoken in Iloilo province and certain villages in Mindanao that trace their roots to Antique Province or Kinaray-a speaking areas of Iloilo Province. Kinaray-a came from the word "iraya" equivalent to "ilaya" in Tagalog, which refers to a group of people residing in the mountain areas of the province. While groups of people residing near the river delta are referred to as "ilawod" from the Hiligaynon word "lawod", which refers to a large body of water (sea, ocean, lake, or strait). However, Kinaray-a does not necessarily refers to the way or language spoken by the highlanders of Panay Island. Speakers of this language are called, "Karay-a."

Kinaray-a is also spoken in most parts of Iloilo together with Hiligaynon. Most towns of Iloilo speak Kinaray-a while Hiligaynon is mostly spoken in the city area. Due to regional proximity, media and television stations, Kinaray-a speakers can understand Hiligaynon speakers. However, only Hiligaynon speakers who reside in Kinaray-a speaking areas can understand the language. Those who come from other areas, like Negros, have difficulty in understanding the language, if they can at all.

It is a misconception among some Hiligaynon speakers that Kinaray-a is a variation of Hiligaynon; the reality is that the two belong to two different, but related, language subgroups.

It belongs to the Visayan language family.

Dialects

There has not been any actual study on the dialects of Kinaray-a. Speakers both of Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon would however admit to hearing the differences in the ways by which Kinaray-a speakers from different towns speak. Differences in vocabulary can also observed between and among the dialects.

The differences and the degrees by which the dialects differ from each other depend largely on the area's proximity to another different language-speaking area. Thus, in Antique, there are, on the northern parts, varieties that are similar to Aklanon, the language of Aklan, its neighbor on the north. On the south, in Iloilo towns in the other hand, the dialects closely resemble that of the standard Kinaray-a spoken in San Jose de Buenavista, lowland Sibalom and Hamtic.

Differences

Some dialects differ only on consonant preference like y vs h. e.g. bayi/bahi (girl). Some have distinct differences like sayəd/kadə (ugly) and rangga/gəba (defective).

Phonology

Vowels

A
E (uncommon - mostly "I" below)
I
O (uncommon - mostly "U" below)
U
Ə

The vowels E and O are used mostly in non-Kinaray-a words. The "E" and "O" sounds from the same words in other (mostly Non-Visayan) Filipino languages are often pronounced as "I" and "U" respectively. "U" is sometimes interchanged with "Ə" (like the kinaray-a word for river - some say "suBA", others say "səBA".

For example:

Consonants

Grammar

Nouns

Pronouns

Numbers

Common expressions

Saying "Diin kaw maagto?" (Literally, Where are you going?) is common way to greet people. You don't need to answer the question directly. The usual answer is an action like "Maninda." (Literally, To buy something on the market.) instead of "Sa tinda." (Literally, To the market.)

• Are you eating well? - Mayad man panga-ən mo?

• Good. - Mayad.

• How are you feeling? - Ano bay pamatyag mo?

• I don't know. - Wara takən kamaan. (Or simply: Maan a.)

• Let's go! - Panaw/Halin ta rən!

• Come together. - Iririmaw kita.

• Why? - Nagâ haw?

• What is your name? - Ano ngaran mo?

• Good morning! - Mayad nga aga!

• Good afternoon! - Mayad nga hapon!

• Good evening! - Mayad nga gab-i!

• That one. - Amo kara. (Or simply: Ra.)

• How much? - Tag pira?

• Yes. - Huəd.

• Because. - Banggəd.

• Because of you. - Banggəd kanimo.

• About you. - Tunggəd kanimo.

• You know. - Man-an mo.

• Hurry! - Dasig!

• Again. - Liwan.

• Do you speak English? - Kama-an kaw maghambal kang Inglis?

• It is fun to live. - Sadya mabuhi.

See also

• Languages of the Philippines
• Filipino
• Cebuano
• Kapampangan
• Chabacano
• Pangasinan
• Visayan languages
• Bikol
• Ilokano
• Hiligaynon
• Waray-Waray

External links

• Bansa.org Kinaray-a Dictionary

Languages of the Philippines National language Filipino Official languages English • Filipino Recognized regional languages Bikol • Cebuano • Hiligaynon • Ilokano • Kapampangan • Kinaray-a • Maguindanao • Maranao • Pangasinan • Tagalog • Tausug • Waray-Waray Recognized auxiliary languages Arabic • Spanish Language groups Borneo-Philippines {Central Philippine (Bikol {Inland • Pandan} • Visayan {Aklan • Bisakol}) • (Batanic • Sambalic)}