Asi language

The Asi language is a Visayan language spoken, along with the Romblomanon and Onhan languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. The language is also known as Bantoanon, Calatravanhon, Odionganon, Sibalenhon, Simaranhon, and Bisaya.

Specifically, it is spoken on the following islands within Romblon:

• Tablas: the municipalities of Odiongan and Calatrava, situated respectively on the western and northern parts of the island. The Odiongan dialect has more outside influences and is more widely used in literature.^[1]
• Banton: the island's sole municipality of Banton. This is the prestige dialect of Bantuanon/Asi and is considered by many native speakers to be the most representative dialect of the language.^[1]
• Simara: the island's sole municipality of Corcuera.
• Maestre de Campo (also known as Sibale): the island's sole municipality of Concepcion.

David Zorc notes that Bantuanon speakers may have been the first Visayan speakers in the Romblon region. He also suggests that Bantuanon may have a Cebuan substratum and that many of its words may have been influenced by the later influx of other languages such as Romblomanon.^[2]

Sounds

Asi has sixteen consonants: p, t, k, b, d, g, m, n, ng, s, h, w, l, r and y. There are four vowels: a, i/e, and u/o. The vowels i and e are allophones, with i always being used when it is the beginning and sometimes end of a syllable, and e always used when it ends a syllable.The vowels u and o are allophones, with u always being used when it is the beginning and sometimes end of a syllable, and o always used when it ends a syllable. This is one of the Philippine languages which is excluded from [ɾ]-[d] allophone.

Grammar

Pronouns

References

External links

• Banton language information