The Endangered Ilokano Terms

International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 9, Issue 12, December-2018 246 ISSN 2229-5518 THE ENDANGERED ILOKANO TERMS

Santiago Rabino Reolalas University of Northern Philippines UNESCO Heritage City of Vigan City [email protected] 09177991230

ABSTRACT

Today, Ilokano ranks third among the major languages in the Philippines based on the number of speakers. It is being used not only in Northern Luzon, particularly in the Ilocos Region, where Ilokano is the lingua franca, but also by the Ilokanos who have migrated to Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao as well as abroad, like in Canada, in the United States of America, in Hawaii, in Italy, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Dubai and other parts of the world. Even some ethnic communities in the provinces within Northern Luzon is so rich that it embodies the cultural heritage of the Ilokanos, their identity and pride. Today, with the advancement of technology and the impact of the social media and communication, there are a lot of Ilokano terms that have been endangered because the cultures they embody have been degenerated. This aimed to protect and preserve these endangered Ilokano terms before they degenerate gradually. Furthermore, this paper sought to enrich and promote this terms through the making of an Ilokano dictionary. The framework upon which this research endeavor has been based is obsolescence. This term refers to the extinction or degeneration of the vocabulary because the culture,IJSER tradition or custom the term carries has been impracticable. Since the main occupations in the region where the researcher resides are farming and fishing because topographically being the place agricultural and coastal, the terms being studied are basically related to farming and fishing. In addition, terns depicting Ilokano culture (kannawidan), traditions, customs and beliefs are also included. The informants and validators of this study are elderly whose ages range from sixty to ninety, although middle adults were also interviewed. Interview and focus group discussion were used as the data gathering instruments in this qualitative research.

Background of the Study These courses were “Wika at Pulitika” and “Wika at Kultura”. The latter is being In order to comply with the considered more interesting and challenging requirements of the degree, Doctor of by the researcher, he, being a language, Philosophy in Linguistic, the researcher took literature and culture teacher, although up two penalty courses from the Department political science is also one of his interests. of Filipino of the College of Arts and Letters Basing from his experiences and (CAL), at the University of Philippines. (observations) as a language teacher,

IJSER © 2018 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 9, Issue 12, December-2018 247 ISSN 2229-5518 recently, most particularly having taught that the terminology used by a culture Translation and Editing of Texts and Ilokano primarily reflects that culture’s interest and Grammar and Orthography, the students’ concerns. common problem is vocabulary. The students have difficulty on grasping the There are two types of conducting meanings and orthography of words ethno-scientific researches, namely: emic included in class discussions, exercises and and kinetic. The former relates to or quizzes. They complain of the depth involves analysis of cultural phenomena (kinauneg) of the vocabulary, a misnomer from the perspective of one who participates for the term, puro nga Ilokano. in the culture being studied. The latter is done form the perspective of the one who The source of words being used is does not participate in the culture being basically the Bannawag, a weekly Ilokano studied (Merriam- Webster’s Collegiate magazine. One consideration in the selection Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, 2009. of the words is their cultural significance, the researcher, taking into account the Since the researcher is a native interdependence of language and culture, Ilokano, thus he endeavors to study the and vice-versa. Ilokano language and culture. Consequently, this research is emic ethno-cultural- Humans learn their culture through linguistic. language; culture is transmitted through language. Anthropologists learn to Today, Ilokano ranks third among communicate in another language in order to the major languages in the Philippines based do field work. Such research endeavor is on the number of speakers. It is being used under the luster of ethno-science and ethno- not only in Northern Luzon, particularly into linguistics. the Ilocos Region, where Ilokano is the lingua franca, but also by Ilokanos who have Today, IJSER ethno-cultural-linguists migrated to Metro Manila, Visayas and (researchers who study language and Mindanao as well as abroad, like in Canada, culture) are concerned about the last 5% of in the United States of America, In Hawaii, the world’s languages which are in danger of In Italy, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), disappearing. A language becomes extinct in Dubai and other parts of the world. Even (moribund language) because it is only some ethnic communities in the provinces spoken by a few older and unknown to within Northern Luzon where they have children. Perhaps, as many as 90% of all the their own mother tongue, they also use world’s languages will become extinct or Ilokano, instead of their indigenous moribound within the next 100 years. An languages. entire way of thinking is lost each time a languages becomes dead. The language The Ilokano language is so rich that becomes extinct because the culture it it embodies the cultural heritage of the embodies gradually dies down. Among them Ilokanos, their identity and pride. Today, are the Pangasinense (Pangalatoc) and other with the advancement of technology and the dialects and languages of indigenous impact of the social media and communities. Thus, there is an established communication there are a lot of Ilokano relationship between language and culture. terms that have been endangered because the Culture is transmitted by language. It is clear culture they embody have been degenerated.

with the aid of the informants selected fishermen-farmer-informants from Pug-os, Statement of the Problem Cabugao, Mindoro and Pagburnayan, and Puroc-a-Bassit Vigan City, and Balaleng, Initially this paper attempted to Sagpat and Guimod, Bantay. In addition, the determine the vocabulary skills of the 3rd local chief executives from the afore- year Bachelor in Elementary Education mentioned selected barangays were (Beed) students of the College of Teacher employed as validators. Education (CTE), University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City. The focus of which This research employed the were word which embody Ilokano culture. phenomenological-qualitative type of Further, I sought to investigate and analyse research. The Informants and validators are some selected words to determine their the elderlies in the selected barangays in the etymology (origin), derivation, and meaning, municipalities of the First District of Ilocos and their cultural significance. Sur. However, there were also interviewed to validate the usage of the terms which It also attempted to make corpus of have personally chosen by the researcher. vocabulary of cultural significance and Focused group discussions and occupational terminologies. Furthermore, interviews were the main data gathering this paper sought to enrich and promote instruments. Video shots were also taken to these terms through the making of an further enrich the results of this study. Ilokano dictionary. Significance of the Study The framework upon which this research endeavor has been based is This paper contributes to the obsolescence. This term refer to the furthermore of Ilokano linguistics and extinction or degeneration of the vocabulary language and culture education, especially in because the culture,IJSER tradition or custom the the ethno-science and ethno-linguistics term carries has been impracticable. focusing on morphological and socio- cultural analyses of the selected Methodology vocabularies.

In the Ilokano Grammar and Scope and Delimitation Orthography class of the researcher, spelling and vocabulary quizzes were given Since the main occupations in the regularly. Words were personally chosen by region where the researcher resides are the researcher form selected new articles and farming and fishing because topographically literary texts from Bannawag, (Kangrunaaan being the place agricultural and coastal, the a Magasin Dagiti Ilokano), and some dramas terms being studied are basically related to and commentaries form Bombo Radio farming and fishing. In addition, terms Vigan, in consideration of their dificulry and depicting Ilokano culture (Kannawidan), their cultural significance. The Basis of the traditions, customs and beliefs are also selection was cultural and occupational. included. Originally, there were fifty From the long list of terms utilized in the vocabularies listed, but the shortlist has been quizzes, these were trimmed down to 15 trimmed down to fifteen because of the words which were subjected to analyses limited time allotted for the researcher to

complete the study. In addition, some of the act of thanksgiving of the work done terms are not being used anymore by the or the bountiful harvest. In addition, informants such as basingkawel, dangadang, the farmers petition to God Almighty anansata, let-ang, buribor, balludong, for a more bountiful harvest in the batonlagip, etc. next season. Nowadays, this practice together with the agpadigo, has been The informants and validators of this lost. The tagnawa system has also study are elderly, whose ages range form been lost because everyone is paid as sixty to ninety, although middle adults were to the labour he renders in the also interviewed. Interview and focused construction of relative’s or group discussion were used as the data neighbor’s house or the amoyo as in gathering instruments in this qualitative the case of planting rice or the daklis research. as being practiced by a group of fishermen. The term now may mean Presentation and Discussion as to the context of the Last Supper as being used in this situation, Those Here are the fourteen words that who served in a pasken or punsyon have been chosen to be investigated and will eat only after everyone or all the analysed: guests will have eaten before they have put away everything which 1. KANNAWIDAN- The root of the were used in the celebration like term is tawid which means heritage washing the plates, putting the forks or inheritance, the stem of which is and spoons in bundles, isuda ti nakannawidan, synonymous to manglamusa or the last guest to nakairuaman(Something habitually arrive in a punsion intentionally, or repeatedly done or practiced, in tapno isuda ti manglamisaan or Filipino, It is kaugalian o kultura). It manglamusa. includes IJSERthe traditions, customs, beliefs or practices of a certain of 3. TAGNAWA- The term, tagnawa, people. A pangngalan sa ngayon ang originates from the word ‘tawa’, salitang ito ay siyang ginagamit na which means window, the stem of pantawag sa kapistahan ng buong which is agpatawa; tawa being lalawigan ng Ilocos Sur ( Ylocos symbolic of the kalapaw (bahay Kannawidan Festival). Salitang ugat kubo), as in synecdoche, a figure of nito ay TAWID, na ang ibig sabihin speech where a part represents the nito ay pamana. whole. This is synonymous to the farming terminology, amoyo, or 2. LAMUSA- This term originates daklis in fishing or the popular term, from the Spanish word, “la mesa”, bayanihan. This term is suggestive of which means table. Lamusa is a the spirit of cooperation and celebration after the planting or solidarity among Ilokanos. The sense harvesting season wherein each of helpfulness shall be compensated family in the entire neighborhood in the form of bulibol in amoyo and shares one food specialty in the form raong in daklis. Pecuniary reward is of potluck (balon) but this shall be discouraged. served all together on the table. It is

4. TAGIPATGEN- This noun is abong-abog, instead is used when derived from the verbal prefix, tagi, there is a dead member of the family. meaning consider and patgen from The preparation of this kind of the root pateg, which means worth or shelter suggests the sense of value. It means to values, treasures cooperation and solidarity of the or cultural heritage, which may neighborhood and strong family ties either be tangible or intangible. and extended family members.

5. PINAKBET- the stem of the term 7. SALUYOT- The tern refers to the pakbet plus the verbal infix, in, while green, leafy, slippery vegetable the root is kebbet. Pinakebbet, which is a common ingredient in the through assimilation, it has become Ilokano dinengdeng, in addition to pinakbet. This is a popular Ilokano ampalaya, or malunggay leaves. The dish which is present in every purpose of which is for digestive padaya. The main ingredients are purposes because of its slippery eggplant, ampalaya, okra, sili, utong nature, it is believed to facilitate patani, (karabasa) and the common digestion. Thus, in the sentence, spices such as onion, garlic, ginger, ‘Saluyot ni Ilokano’, which is tomatoes. The term suggests the ‘nagalis ti biag ni Pedro’ multiplicity of the Ilokano identity idiomatically. Or in another and bis ingenuity and simplicity. It sentence, ‘Sinalsaluyot na dagidiay should be noted that the original kalaban’. In both sentences, the term main ingredient was not the bagnet saluyot, suggests facility. Culturally, but the daing or dilis (dried fish), the term suggests that an Ilokano, that because it is salty adds up to the nothing is hard or difficult, through delicacy of the pinakbet plus the patience and strong determination, in boggoong or bagoong. the end, he shall succeed. IJSER The tastes of the main 8. DUMANON- The term is derived ingredients are suggestive in from the verb, danon ‘arrive’ and meaning: ampalaya- bitter, sili- infix, um. It means welcome, which pungent, kamatis and karabasa- suggests the hospitality of the sweet, eggplant- tasteless, implying Ilokaos. the various experiences of the Ilokanos. It also refers to a marriage arrangement where the husband-to- 6. PALA-PALA- This term is be and his parents, thogether with synonymous to abong-abong, balaw- some elderly relatives talk to the baw, or salpaw. It serves as shades parents and relatives of the bride-to- in the yard during feasts and other be to discuss the wedding. This happenings within the neighborhood tradition has been gradually and the family. The term, pala-pala disappearing because of the practices is usually prepared at least to days of premarital sex and live-in. Instead before the celebration as in the case of the term, dumanon, it’s already of wedding, graduation, or other umapon because the bride to be is merry-making activities. The word, pregnant. The term, danon-danon, as

in the sentence ‘Gapu ti danon- is synonyms to tarigagay, danon, nadadael ti pnaggayem da tagtagainep, dardarepdep, or Juan ken Pedro’ means a tell-tale parmata. It has been gradually (tsismis). The term is a derivation of banishing because of the adaptation dumanon. of the term, vision, which has been used in setting up organizational 9. GULGOL- This word is a variant of strategic planning. the term, luglog, when patterened after suysoy becoming yusyos. 11. ILOKANISTA - This word is Originally, it meant shampooing, derived from the words, Ilokano and using arutang (rice upper stalks artista, but morphologically it is the being burned placed in a coconut erbal suffix, -ist, such as chemist, shell the eye of which is drilled to Ilokanist, which means an Ilokano serve as passage of water). scholar, linguist translator, literary This term also refers to the writer, painter, poet or scriptwriter. custom where the family and relatives after the funeral rites go 12. BALDI – Etymologically, it comes together to a nearby river or to the from the words, balay and padi, seashore to have their faces washed (house of the friars), believed to be with the river or sea water, after the deep well, but it is not. This is a which, they go home, their backs group of at least three shallow wells, turned. This custom is practiced to called kalaki, kababai and kaadi. commence the forgetting of the These were used for the fermentation tragedy brought upon by the death of of legumes which were a loved one. manufactured as dye (bluish or violet This also refers to a ritual color, which was called aniel, used done by a pregnant woman after an as medicine for mumps. However, earthquake,IJSER washing the face or the the dye produced was imported womb with vinegar so the fetus through the Acapulco Trade during grows healthy. the Spanish time. This is believed to be a ritual performed for a sick relative the 13. SELLEPET – Morphologically cause of which is the disorder of the analysed to have originated from intestines. A pair of pure white selletong (male reproductive organ) feathered and yellow-legged rooster and pepet (female reproductive and hen (karurayan), butchered, their organ), which means the act of blood being used to wash the face sexual intercourse. This term is and abdomen of the sick member of synonymous to agyot, or agnaig. It the family, including the other family has been used today to mean a members. In addition, this ritual, prostitute or a paramour. The aggulgol, is performed to drive away etymology, being selsel (insert the bad luck. peni s into the female organ, pepet). Another meaning attributed to the 10. SIRMATA - The etymology of term is a sexual intercourse between sirmata comes from the words, sirip, two male lovers (selling a kasla ‘to gaze’ and mata, ‘eyes’. This term pepet ti bakla). Thus, the term may

refer to the male lover of a gay, as being understood by the LGBT’s. The vocabulary skills of the third year Beed students of the College of 14. UDONG – This word is synonymous Teacher Education of the University of to surong, referring to the interior Northern Philippines is generally at the towns. It connotes the far-flung areas average level. where life is so simple and frugal. The extinction of some Ilokano terms is caused by culture degeneration, not Gradually, it is going to the otherwise. town to sell the local or native Recommendations produce in exchange for prime household commodities. There is a In addition to Ilokano Grammar and designated market day for every Orthography, there should be an additional town, such as, Monday for subject in Ilokano, probably Ilokano Magsingal, Thursday for Sto. literature or culture the medium of Domingo, etc. instruction should be Ilokano.

On the other hand, it may be A more extensive study on Ilokano paradoxical when in the sentence, morphology and dialectology should be Mapanak agudong, signifying, from conducted on a wider scope. the farm (away) to the town market,

but Agpasurong, from the patag, such as Vigan to a certain interior BIBLIOGRAPHY town of Abra or Ilocos Sur. Gelade, George P. Ilokano-English Now, this means badoy or old Dictionary, CICM Missionaries, Inc. fashioned outmoded in lifestyle. Quezon City, Philippines, 1993 IJSER 16. BULIBOL – The term bulibol, is a Carro, Andres. Vocabulario Iloco-Español noun which is synonymous to bulnos but not similar to abang, though, Laconsay, Gregorio C. Diksionario Iloko- generically, it may mean tangdan English-Tagalog, 1985 (reward in kind not pecuniary for manual labour) or bingay, apag or Vanoverborgh, Morice. Iloko Grammar, bettek (share). It is the share of the Catholic School Press, Baguio City, harvester (nakipagas) from the 1955 farmer, not necessarily the landlord because the share of the owner of the Ortograpiyang Pambansa, Komisyon sa land or landlord given by the farmer Wikang Filipino, Manila, 2014 or sower which is generally 2/3 or ¾, Tarabay ti Ortograpia, GUMIL, 2013 the remaining is to the farmer or grower. In communal fishing Rosal, Nicolas, I. Understanding an Exotic (daklis), the term for bulibol is Language. First Printing Press, New raong. Jersey, USA 1981.

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Rubino, Carl. Reference Grammar of Ilocano, University of California, USA, 1997.

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Tarabay iti Ortograpia ti Pagsasao nga

Ilokano, 2012. Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino

Merriam-Webster’s. Collegiate Dictionary. 2009, 11th Edition, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

IJSER

34. tilar – weaving instrument 35. rakem – tool for harvesting 36. gulgol – shampoo, cleansing 37. binatbatan – seggrating the seeds 38. udong – go to the public market 39. sellepet – sexual intercourse 40. dap-ayan – assembly 41. pala-pala – trellis

42. tawid – inheritance The List of the Words 43. saluyot – green, slippery, leafy 44. baldi – well 1. damili – potteries 45. almidor – starching 2. alimpatuk – climax 46. kapasanglay – cooton tree 3. dardarepdep – desire 47. kannawidan - culture 4. kamarin – granary 5. sakaanan – footage 6. bugaw – drive away, middleman, agent 7. basingkawel – battle 8. tarumpingay – emotional pain 9. dingnguen – livestock, cows, goats 10. minuyongan – orchard 11. tagipatgen – values, valuable 12. bulibol – share 13. dadapilan – sugar cane mill 14. kalastraad – character 15. daklis – communal fishing 16. amoyo – communalIJSER farming 17. tagnawa – sense of cooperation, solidarity 18. baluarte – bailwick 19. supapak – price 20. saranay – financial aid for the dead 21. alintatao – shadow 22. saltek – sound produced by the lizard 23. agpadigo – share 24. batonlagip – memento, token 25. daliasat – journey 26. balangkantis – fake, not genuine 27. bannawag – sunrise 28. lamusa – feast 29. bala-bala – plan 30. pinakbet – vegetable dish 31. dumanon – marriage arrangement 32. sirmata – vision 33. padaya – celebration