Nabua, Camarines Sur - Language

Language

The Philippine Archipelago is composed of over seven thousand islands and over 7,000 dialects. Almost every island or geographical grouping has their own local dialect or language. Even though an island or a regional group has a dialect or language, there are always variations of that dialect.

Nabua, for example, is not an exception. On the geographical level, the Nabua dialect can be considered having its base from the Bikol dialect. However, there are other smaller social groups within the Bicol region where Nabua derives the foundation of its dialect. The Rinconada area composed of Baao, Buhi, Bula, Balatan, Bato and Nabua shares the same “Rinconada” dialect that the local folks are still enriching up to this day. The local folks coming from the Rinconada “B” towns and Nabua can be easily recognized by the way they enunciate words or phrases when they talk or use the dialect.

Additionally, Spanish influences are frequently encountered in the languages of Nabuenos. Some examples of Spanish words embedded in the local dialect are:

“Abreya raw iton puertan.” This is a command statement, meaning “Open the door.” in English or “Buksan ang pintuan.” in the Filipino language.

“Abreya” is an inflection of the Spanish verb “abrir” (to open) and “puertan” is from the Spanish word “puerta”.

Other variations of Spanish words being used in the Nabua local dialect can be found, but many these words or terms due to usage over time do not follow proper Spanish language conjugations and grammar.