Philippines indigenous people

INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGES
AND
LITERATURES
Learning
Content
1. Why do we need to study indigenous languages and literature?
David Crystal (2000) provides the different reasons why we need to care for the IP languages
and prevent their dying or extinction. These reasons are;
• a. Linguistic diversity enriches our human ecology;
• b. Languages are expressions of identity;
• c. Languages are repositories of history;
• d. Languages contribute to the sum of human knowledge and each language provides a
matrix of wisdom of a particular group of people;
• e. Languages are interesting subjects in their own right.
In contemporary times, there is a growing advocacy for an increase in awareness and concern
to help IP groups in some nations to conserve their languages. IP languages abandonment or
the extinction of IP languages has been an evident adverse outcome of the process of language
convergence, or they die naturally (Headland, 2003; Crystal, 2000).
2. ROLE OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE
An Indigenous Peoples Language can be defined simply as the language
spoken uniquely by a group people who affiliates with a particular
indigenous group and/or with origins in the particular group (Spolsky,
2002). The Martinez Cobo Study in 1986 provided an expanded
definition of IP language, saying it refers to a language Identified with
and unique to a particular indigenous community.
Two other concepts that posed a constant threat to the preservation
and conservation of IP languages;
• National Regional Languages
• Dominant Regional Languages
The role of IP languages has been reduced to a medium for
communications at home and in the community, which is the result of
the need to learn and adopt to regional and national languages
(Headland, 2003).
However, according to the United Nations General Assembly, IP
language must not be regarded as second-rate or indifferent. It is a
significant part of indigenous people’s ways of life, culture and identity.
A particular language embodies the ideas, beliefs, values, and
abstraction that contain their sense of history, psychology and mindset,
understanding of the world, spirituality, and the vision of their
community.
3. Philippine Indigenous Languages
a. Linguistic diversity in the Philippines
The Philippines is considered to be one of the richest sources of linguistic diversity in the world.
According to Neison Castro (2002), the archipelagic character of the country is one of the factors
that can be attributed to the diversity of languages in the Philippines. Curtis Mcfarland (2004)
contends that the linguistic diversity in the Philippines is a result of natural processes.
b. Status of Philippine IP languages
The number of individual languages listed for the Philippines is 187. Of these 183 are living and 4
are extinct. Of the living languages, 175 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. Furthermore,
41 are institutional,73 are developing, 45 are vigorous, 13 are in trouble, and 11 are dying, and 4
are extinct.
Among the IP languages in the Philippines, only two are widely used for communication: The
Maguindanaon and the Tausug
Department of Education Order number 74 series of 2009, also known as
“Institutionalizing Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MLE),”
acknowledges the advantage of the use of the learner’s mother tongue in
improving learning outcomes and the promotion of education for all.
Only 27 of the 175 indigenous languages in the Philippines are currently employed
as mother languages. These include Balangao, Chavacano, Ibanag, Ibatan,
IfugaoMayoyao, Ifugao-Tuwali, Inabaknon, Inakeanon, Isnag, Ivatan, Kagayanen,
Kalinga-Butbut, Kalinga-Limos, Kalinga-Lubuagan, Kallahan-Keley-I, Kinaray-a,
Maguindanaoan, Manobo-Obo, Maranao, Paranan, Sambal, Sama-Central,
Surigaonon, Tagabawa, Tagakaulo, Tausug, Tboli and Yakan.
There are 13 IP languages in the Philippines that are considered to be in trouble.
These include Agta-Dupaninan, Atta-Faire, Ayta-Magbukun, Bolinao, Isinai,
ItnegInlaod, Manobo-Kinamiging, Subanen-Eastern, Agta-Mt. Iraya, Alta-Northern,
Batak, Butuanon and Giangan.
There are 11 dying IP languages in the Philippines. Dying or endangered languages

are evident when the children in the community are not speaking the language of
their parents and there are only a few people left in the IP community (Cahil,
1999). These include Agta-Alabat Island, Agta-Isarog, Arta, Ata, Ayta-Sorsogon,
Ratagnon and Tagbanwa-Central. The Eskayan language is dormant and is dying,
while Agta-Dicamay, Agta-Villa Viciosa, Ayta-Tayabas and Katabaga are already
classified as extinct.
c. Surviving Ancient Syllabic Script among IP
languages
Among the different IP languages in the Philippines, the Buhid-
Mangyan, Hanunuo-Mangyan and the Tagbanwa of Palawan have
maintained the ancient pre-Hispanic syllabic script.
The Buhid and Hanunuo Mangyans have been able to preserve
their indigenous way of writing due to natural borders provided by
the mountains against the influence of modern living.
MANGYAN
SYLLABIC SCRIPT
There are three IP groups associated with the Tagbanwa: the
Aborlan Tagbanwa, Calamian Tagbanwa and the Central
Tagbanwa. All of these IP communities and languages can be
found and are spoken in Palawan in the Philippines.
TAGBANUA SYLLABIC
ALPHABET
4. Why do we need to study IP Literature?
The epics , stories ,folk tales and legends give us a glimpse of
the worldview of the IP group ( cole ,1915 : Tiu ,2001 ). Cole
(1915 )argues that these literature provide the IP”s
explanation of the origin of a signaficant source of food and
livelihood like hills mountains, lake and rivers .Similarly , the
characteristics and origins of certain plants and animals are
also elaborated on in these narratives.
5.Role of Indigenous Literature
IP literature provides different functions in an IP community. It
may simply be intended as a form of entertainment during
ordinary days and special occasions (Tu,2015; Asain, 2006).
However, it also serves as a non-material artifact that contains
the group's history (Asain, 2006). Moreover, according to Asain,
the stories and legends can be a form of instructional tool and
define the cultural and ethnic identity of the IP group to future
generations.
6. Indigenous Literature in the Philippines
IP literatures in the Philippines can be categorized in conventional literary forms
(Asain, 2009; Cole, 2000; Blake, 1911). These include epics, stories, "bugtong" or
riddles, folk tales, mythology, legends and oration. However, elaborate prayers
and ritual chants can also be considered as forms of IP literature (Scott et al.,
1956).
Existing studies on IP literatures in the Philippines suggest that these literatures
are told, memorized and retold in oral form (Bañez, 2002; Tiu, 2001; Cole 1915).
In some groups, selected individuals are tasked to be storytellers and they pass
on this vital responsibility through inheritance within the family, as in the
privileged “binukot” of the Tumanduk group of Panay Island (Bañez, 2002).
In certain IP groups there is the retelling of the myths and legends—among the
Igorots, the elders and the priests or “mumbaki” are known to be the
storytellers (Scott et al., 1956).
However, in some IP communities, while most members of the community can

retell the stories to their children, the details vary from one person to another.
Among the Hanunuo-Mangyan in Mindoro, the “ambahan” is not limited to a
single individual or family (Postma, 1981).
Thank you

Philippines indigenous people

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Philippines indigenous people

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Philippines indigenous people

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INDIGENOUS

There are 11 dying IP languages in the Philippines. Dying or endangered languages

However, in some IP communities, while most members of the community can

You might also like