Sunday 14 March 2010 07:34:35 PHT

The Boholano Language

IJsselstein, Tuesday, 31 January 2006 05:18:56

On Bohol, most people speak Cebuano, or, to be more exact, the local dialect of Cebuano, called Boholano. It differs in some respect from the Cebuano spoken on Cebu. For example:

Cebuano: Akoa baya ning sinilas.
Boholano: Ahoa baja ning sinilas.
Tagalog: Akin itong tsinilas na ito.
English: This is my slipper.

However, you will not face too much trouble making yourself understood on Bohol. Many people speak English, and almost all speak standard Cebuano as well as Tagalog.

The names used for languages in the central Philippines is somewhat confusing, to say the least. As the central group of islands is called Visaya (or more properly Bisaya, as there is no V in any of the languages spoken there), some people call Cebuano 'Visayan' or 'Bisayan' (Binisaya), however this term is confusing, as this name is also applied to Hiligaynon (also known as Ilonggo), spoken on Panay and in Negros Occidental, and Waray-Waray, spoken on Leyte and Samar. The Cebuano language is spoken on Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor and parts of Negros, Northern Mindanao, and Leyte. Adding to the confusion is that many Filipino's call these languages dialects, even though they are quite distinct in many aspects, similar to the differences between English, Dutch, and German.

Of the three main Bisayan languages, Cebuano is the most common, spoken by about a third of the Philippine population and first language to more Filipino's than any other language, including Tagalog.

As a side note, also in Borneo, there is a people calling themselves Bisaya, speaking yet another language called, you guess it, Bisaya. The historical connection is of course that most Filipino Bisayans migrated to their current homeland some 1000 years ago. In a semi-literate population (the language had its own script before the Spanish conquest), separated by seas and mountains, a language can change a lot in such a span of time, so again this language is unintelligible to Filipino Bisayans, just as much as most English speakers won't be able to make much of Anglo Saxon.

The excellent Cebuano dictionary by John U. Wolff is available on line at Cornell University: Vol I (A-K) and Vol II (L-Z). This is the best dictionary available for Cebuano. However, be sure to read the introduction before using it.

Have a look at our on-line dictionary of Philippine languages to find the meaning of Cebuano, Tagalog, and Ilonggo words.

Finally, we have a short Cebuano Phrase Book available.

Soft-Boiled Rice

One time, three men met at a trail crossing. One was a Boholano, another was a Pangasinan, and the last was Pampangueño. Each had only a smattering of the dialects of the others, but they managed to learn from each other that they were all bound for the same destination and to make it understood between them that, because of the distance and the difficulty of the way, it would be a good thing to travel together. They each carried an equal quantity of rice and agreed to put all their food together to make the cooking easier in the camp.

They walked on for several days and their supplies were running low. Finally, while camped near a spring, they noticed they had only very little rice left.

"Mayap no lilotan tapamo para dakal," said the Pampangueño. (It would be better if we make lilot so it will be more).

"Pare, lugaon lamang ang bugas aron madaghan," said the Boholano. (Pal, lets make linugao of the rice so that it will be enough for us).

"Andi u-umpay, maong na balbalon tayo piano dakel," said the Pangasinan. (No my friends, it would be better if we cook binolbal, so it will be more.)

"I tell you, lets make linugao," said the Boholano.

The Pampangueño got angry: "No lets make lilot out of it."

"Stop," shouted the Pangasinan alarmed. "It would be very unwise to quarrel here. Let us re-divide the rice so that each one of us could prepare his share in his own way." They did so and soon three fires were burning beneath three pots. When the cooking was finished and the three men looked up from their efforts, Their eyes widened in surprise.

"Linugao!" cried the Boholano.

"Lilot!" exclaimed the Pampangueño.

"Binolbal!" shouted the Pangasinan.

They all only cooked the rice a little longer and with more water, making the grains larger and softer than usual. A common understanding might many times have saved both time and temper.

From Boholano Folklore by Maria Caseñas Pajo.

Jeroen Hellingman

What readers think...

saiha wrote:
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:26:45 PHT
borneo bisaya Amahan namu nga itotat ca sa langit: :Ipapagdayet an imong ngalan: :Moanhi canamun an imong pagcahadi: :Tumanun an imong buot dinhi sa yuta, :maingun sa langit. :Ihatag mo damun an canun namun sa matagarlao: :Ug pauadun mo cami san mga-sala namu, :maingun ginuara namun, :san mga-nacasala damun: :Ngan diri imo tugotan cami maholog sa manga-panulai: :sa amun manga-caauai. :Apan bauiun mo cami sa manga-maraut ngatanan. philippine bisaya(sugbuanon) :Amahan namo, nga anaa sa mga langit, :pagadaygon ang imong Ngalan, :moabot kanamo ang imong gingharian, :matuman ang imong pagbuot :dinhi sa yuta maingon sa langit. :Ang kalan-on namo sa matag adlaw :ihatag kanamo karong adlawa. :Ug pasayloa kami sa among mga sala, :ingon nga nagapasaylo kami :sa mga nakasala kanamo. :Ug ayaw itugot nga mahulog kami sa panulay :hinonoa luwasa kami sa dautan. :Kay imo man ang gingharaian, :ug ang gahumug ang himaya, :hangtod sa kahangturan. Amen.
saiha wrote:
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 12:26:33 PHT
borneo bisaya Amahan namu nga itotat ca sa langit: :Ipapagdayet an imong ngalan: :Moanhi canamun an imong pagcahadi: :Tumanun an imong buot dinhi sa yuta, :maingun sa langit. :Ihatag mo damun an canun namun sa matagarlao: :Ug pauadun mo cami san mga-sala namu, :maingun ginuara namun, :san mga-nacasala damun: :Ngan diri imo tugotan cami maholog sa manga-panulai: :sa amun manga-caauai. :Apan bauiun mo cami sa manga-maraut ngatanan. philippine bisaya(sugbuanon) :Amahan namo, nga anaa sa mga langit, :pagadaygon ang imong Ngalan, :moabot kanamo ang imong gingharian, :matuman ang imong pagbuot :dinhi sa yuta maingon sa langit. :Ang kalan-on namo sa matag adlaw :ihatag kanamo karong adlawa. :Ug pasayloa kami sa among mga sala, :ingon nga nagapasaylo kami :sa mga nakasala kanamo. :Ug ayaw itugot nga mahulog kami sa panulay :hinonoa luwasa kami sa dautan. :Kay imo man ang gingharaian, :ug ang gahumug ang himaya, :hangtod sa kahangturan. Amen.
Robert M. wrote:
Thursday, 13 August 2009 02:32:59 PHT
According to the decree, a copy of the catalog was to be distributed to the provincial heads of the archipelago. From there, a certain number of surnames, based on population, were sent to each barangay's parish priest. The head of each barangay, along with another town official or two, was present when the father or the oldest person in each family chose a surname for his or her family. Several groups were exempt from having to choose new surnames: Those possessing a previously adopted surname (whether indigenous or foreign) already on the list; or, if not on the list, not prohibited due to ethnic origin or being too common. Families who had already adopted a prohibited surname but could prove their family had used the name for at least four consecutive generations. (These were names prohibited for being too common, like de los Santos, de la Cruz, or for other reasons.) Because of the mass implementation of Spanish surnames in the Philippines, a Spanish surname might not necessarily indicate Spanish ancestry and can make it difficult for Filipinos to accurately trace their lineage. Less than 3% are from original Filipinos used prior to the Spanish decree.
Robert M. wrote:
Thursday, 13 August 2009 02:32:11 PHT
The Alphabetical Catalog of Surnames (Spanish: Catálogo alfabético de apellidos, Tagalog: Ayon sa Unang Titik ng Libro ng Huling Pangalan) is a book of surnames published in the Philippines in the mid-19th century. This was in response to a Spanish colonial decree establishing the systematic distribution of family names and the imposition of the Spanish naming system on the inhabitants of the Philippines. The book was created after Spanish Captain and Governor General Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa issued a decree on November 21, 1849, in response to the inconsistencies in the way Filipinos arbitrarily chose surnames. Following the Christianisation of the Philippines, many Filipinos chose surnames such as de los Santos, de la Cruz, del Rosario, and Bautista for their religious significance; even today these surnames are perhaps the most common. Many other Filipinos also chose surnames of well-known chieftains such as Lacandola. Furthermore, many people within the same family had different surnames. This created difficulties for the Spanish colonial authorities, who found that it hindered their ability to perform a census of the archipelago's inhabitants, as well as complicating the collection of taxes.
alzenh lacson wrote:
Tuesday, 21 July 2009 19:52:39 PHT
cno po mrunong mag salita ng cebuano?? pki translate nmn po ito para po kc sa project namen to.. "miss, bili na kayo dito, pasalubong niyo sa inyo" eto po ym ko.. pritichiq@yahoo.com para po sa project namin yan.. were reporting about bohol.. tnx (july 21, 09 )

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