| Bantoanon | |
|---|---|
| Asi | |
| Binantoanon | |
| Native to | Philippines |
| Region | Romblon |
Native speakers | 75,000 (2011)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin (Bantoanon Alphabet) Baybayin locally known as Suyat (historical) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | bno |
| Glottolog | bant1288 |
Bantoanon language map | |
Bantoanon[1] or Asi is a regional Bisayan language spoken, along with Romblomanon and Onhan, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Asi originated in the island of Banton, Romblon and spread to the neighboring islands of Sibale, Simara, and the towns of Odiongan and Calatrava on Tablas Island. The Asi spoken in Odiongan is called Odionganon, Calatravanhon in Calatrava, Sibalenhon in Concepcion, Simaranhon in Corcuera, and Bantoanon in Banton.
Specifically, it is spoken on the following islands within Romblon:
Linguist David Zorc notes that Bantoanon speakers may have been the first Bisayan speakers in the Romblon region. He also suggests that Asi may have a Cebuan substratum and that many of its words may have been influenced by the later influx of other languages such as Romblomanon.[3]
While Bantoanon is the original and most common name of the language, the name Asi, meaning 'why', is also commonly used especially in formal and academic papers. Considering that the language has four other dialects other than Bantoanon: Odionganon, Calatravanhon, Sibalenhon, and Simaranhon, Asi is occasionally used instead of Bantoanon to distinguish between the language and the dialect of it spoken in Banton. The term Asi has uncertain origins, and may have been coined around the 1980s–1990s. Several native Bantoanons have expressed dislike of the new name, saying that it does not represent themselves, but rather promotes something foreign.[4][unreliable source?] Speakers of dialects that have evolved through the Bantoanon diaspora prefer Asi, or just their dialect's name. In casual speech, however, native speakers often refer to the language as Bisaya, not to be confused with other Bisayan languages.
The Commission on the Filipino Language or KWF prescribes the use of Ási[5] with the acute accent on the Á, although the native pronunciation is closer to Ásì with the acute Á and a grave accent on the ì.
Bantoanon has fifteen consonant phonemes: p, t, k, b, d, g, m, n, ng, s, h, w, l, r and y. There are three vowel phonemes: a, i/e, and u/o. The vowels i and e are allophones, with i always being used when it is the beginning and middle and sometimes in final syllables, and e always used when it is in final syllables. The vowels u and o are allophones, with u always being used when it is the beginning and middle and sometimes in final syllables, and o always used when it is in final syllables.[clarification needed] This is one of the Philippine languages that do not exhibit [ɾ]-[d] allophony.
| Absolutive | Ergative | Oblique | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | akó | nako, ko | akò |
| 2nd person singular | ikaw, ka | nimo, mo | imo |
| 3rd person singular | sida | nida | ida |
| 1st person plural inclusive | kita | nato | ato |
| 1st person plural exclusive | kami | namo | amo |
| 2nd person plural | kamo | ninro | inro |
| 3rd person plural | sinra | ninra | inra |
