Grammar
The most recognizable difference is the use of the passive imperfect in place of the present progressive. In Manila, this is done by inserting the infix -um- after the first syllable then by repeating the first syllable. In the Batangan dialect however, this form is done by putting the prefix na- to the word.
| Standard | Batangan | Standard | Batangan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| root word | kain (to eat) | kain (to eat) | tawag (to call) | tawag (to call) |
| syllabication | ka-in | ka-in | ta-wag | ta-wag |
| conjugated | k-um-a-ka-in | na-ka-in | t-um-a-ta-wag | na-ta-wag |
| written variant | kumakain | nakain | tumatawag | natawag |
This conjugation of the verb becomes funny because as what was mentioned above, this would mean the passive past to Manileños. When someone asks "Nasaan si Pedro?" (Where is Peter?), one would promptly answer 'Nakain ng isda!', which translates to "He's eating a fish!". However, to those unfamiliar with this kind of usage, the statement could easily be taken to mean "He was eaten by a fish!". However, a Batangueño can distinguish between the two seemingly identical forms.
Read more about this topic: Batangas Tagalog
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