Linguistic Notes
The Itawit language has a fast, somewhat soft tone. Speakers usually shorten sentences by shortening words, however shortening every word is not possible. For a non-fluent, non-native, or a beginner learner, all words in a sentence should be said fully and complete. In a gesture of respect, Itawits usually use the name or status of a person at the end of a sentence.
For example: Where is the bathroom? (asking an elderly woman) Dyanna yo banyu ko anti/manang?
anti : auntie used in Itawit for an elderly woman or a family friend)
manang : elder sister(used in Itawit as a sign of respect)
When asking a question, Itawits usually start with a person's name or status and then the question itself.
If asking someone familiar, Itawits also usually end it with he, diba, or ko (state persons name or status).
- What
Anna (in some dialects of Itawis, it is Hanna)
- Where
Dyanna (jan+na)
- When
Sonu inya (sometimes, Itawits shorten in to so-inya)
- Who
Inya
- Why
Kaam
- How
Kunnasi
The Itawit sentence structure is similar to English. For example:
Ronald went to get some water from the fridge. :
Y Ronald e numang nga nangalak kang danum kanne ref. :
- Ronald went to get water from fridge.
The format is a noun, verb, adjective/place/noun sequence.
If you are talking about a person, nobody will know who you're talking about unless you use the specification word Y. The Tagalog equivalent would be Si, both meaning That person. After saying Y, you say the persons name, but in a gesture of respect, the status and name is given.
- EXP
- (describing an older woman) Eleine is so funny.
- Y manang Eleine e sobra y0 appagalak na.
- (elder sister) Eleine very laugh maker article pertaining to Elaine. :
Read more about this topic: Itawis Language
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