Bolinao language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bolinao
Binu-Bolinao
Native to Philippines
Region Bolinao, Anda
Native speakers
51,000  (2007 census)[1]
Official status
Regulated by Commission on the Filipino Language
Language codes
ISO 639-3 smk

The Bolinao language (Bolinao: Binu-Bolinao) is spoken primarily in the Pangasinense municipality of Anda and the town of Bolinao. It has approximately 50,000 speakers (Ethnologue 1990), making it the second most widely spoken Sambalic language.

Phonology

Bolinao has 21 phonemes: 16 consonants and five vowels. Syllable structure is relatively simple. Each syllable contains at least a consonant and a vowel.

Vowels

Bolinao has five vowels. They are:

There are six main diphthongs: /aɪ/, /əɪ/, /oɪ/, /uɪ/, /aʊ/, and /iʊ/.

Consonants

Below is a chart of Bolinao consonants. All the stops are unaspirated. The velar nasal occurs in all positions including at the beginning of a word.

Bilabial Dental Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n (ny) /ɲ/ ng /ŋ/
Plosive Voiceless p t k /ʔ/
Voiced b d g
Affricate Voiceless (ts) (ty) /tʃ/
Voiced (dy) /dʒ/
Fricative s (sy) /ʃ/ h
Flap r
Approximant j w
Lateral l (ly) /ʎ/

Language Comparison

A common proverb[2] from Philippine national hero Jose Rizal in English, “He who does not acknowledge his beginnings will not reach his destination,” is translated into Bolinao and followed by Pangasinan, the dominant indigenous language of Pangasinan province and the original in Tagalog for comparison:

Bolinao “Si [tawon] kai magtanda’ lumingap sa nangibwatan [na], kai ya mirate’ sa keen [na].
Pangasinan "Say toon agga onlingao ed pinanlapuan to, agga makasabi'd laen to."
Tagalog “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.”

See also

References

External links

  • Binubolinao.net, website dedicated to the preservation of the Bolinao language, featuring a downloadable dictionary and introductory lessons
  • Bolinao Business Directory, a website that features a Bolinao language translator


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