Ati (Inati), or Binisaya nga Inati, is an Austronesian language of the island of Panay in the Philippines. The variety spoken in northern Panay is also called Sogodnin.^[2] The Ati people also speak Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon.

Classification

Pennoyer (1987) and Reid (2013) consider Inati to be an isolate within the Philippine languages. It differs markedly from the Visayan languages and has many features not found in the Central Philippine languages.

Inati shows some unique sound changes.^[3]

• Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *R > Inati /d/, such as PMP *liʔəR > Inati /liʔad/
• Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ə > Inati /a/ (as in the Central Luzon languages), not PMP *ə > /u/ or /ə/, as in the Visayan languages

Distribution and dialects

Lobel (2013:75) lists the following Ati communities in the Philippines, with populations given in parentheses:

• Iloilo (1,902): Anilao (341), Barotac Viejo (867), Cabatuan (31), Calinog (163), Dueñas (43), Dumangas (50), Janiuay (22), New Lucena (59), Passi (103), San Miguel (17), San Rafael (110), Santa Barbara (12), Tigbauan (69), San Joaquin (15)
• Antique (4,680): Anini-y (156), Hamtic (3,081), Tobias Fornier (1,383), San Jose (60)
• Capiz (308): Dumarao (308)
• Aklan (740+): Buruanga (?), Malay (740)
• Guimaras (789): Buenavista (189), Jordan (237), Sibunag (178), Nueva Valencia (185)
• Negros Occidental (309): Isabela (309)
• Romblon: Odiongan and Calatrava on Tablas Island, and San Jose on Carabao Island (unknown population size)

Baruah (2000) lists the following locations:

• Antique: Culuasi, Hamtic, San Jose, Sibalom, Tobias
  • Tina, Hamtic, Antique (512 people)
• Capiz: Dumarao
• Iloilo: Janiuay, Anilao, Cabatuan, Duenas, Dumangas, Mina, New Lucena, Passi, San Miguel, San Joaquin, San Rafael, Santa Barbara, Tigbauan
  • Nagpana, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo (500 people)
• Aklan
  • Barangay Sabang, Buruanga, Aklan (4 households, 15 people)
  • Barangay Jesuna, Nabas, Aklan (3 households, 20 people)
  • In Malay, Aklan: Barangays Argao, Cubay Norte, Cubay Sur, Cogon, Boracay (total: 63 households, 321 people)

Pennoyer (1987) reports that Sogodnin is spoken by a few remaining speakers in Cogon, Malay (whose ancestors had moved from interior Sabang to Bakirohan to Cogon), and on Carabao and Boracay islands.

Ethnologue reports two dialects for Ati:^[4]

Malay (not to be confused with Malay, Malaysia.) and Barotac Viejo Nagpana. Ethnologue states that Barotac Viejo Nagpana is the prestige dialect.^[4]

Phonology

• The consonants in parentheses are not phonemic.