Bantoanon
Asi
Binantoanon
Native to	Philippines
Region	Romblon
Native speakers	75,498 (2015)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Central Philippine Bisayan Bantoanon
Dialects	Bantoanon Odionganon Calatravanhon Sibalenhon Simaranhon
Writing system	Latin (Bantoanon Alphabet) Baybayin locally known as Suyat (historical)
Language codes
ISO 639-3	bno
Glottolog	bant1288
Bantoanon language map
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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:

• Tablas: the municipalities of Odiongan and Calatrava, situated respectively on the western and northern parts of the island. The Odiongan dialect has more outside influences and is more widely used in literature.^[2]
• Banton: the island's sole municipality of Banton.
• Simara: the island's sole municipality of Corcuera.
• Maestre de Campo (also known as Sibale): the island's sole municipality of Concepcion.

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]

Nomenclature

While Bantoanon is the original and most common name of the language, the name 'Asi', meaning "Why", is also commonly used especially on formal and academic papers. Considering that the language has 4 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 80's to the 90's. Several native Bantoanons have expressed dislike to the new name, saying that it does not represent themselves, but rather promotes something foreign.^[4] Speakers of dialects that have evolved through the Bantoanon diaspora prefer 'Asi', or just their dialect's name. In casual speech, however, native speakers oftenly refer to the language as 'Bisaya', although 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.

Sounds

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.

Grammar

Pronouns