Thursday, July 31, 2008

Ibanags of today

Why is Ibanag City written in English? The truth? Well, Ibanags of today in Tuguegarao City do not speak Ibanag. It is fading, perhaps even gone. English and Tagalog are the languages mostly used in the city. You hear more Ilocanos speak their native tongue. Why? For the simple reason that Ibanag is a difficult language. Difficult to speak, much more difficult to read and write.

If this generation (the babyboomers) die, the Ibanag language goes with them. Hopefully with this blog, it stays afloat.

Dios ta umma nikamu ngamin. (Good morning to you all.)
Dios ta fugag nikamu ngamin. (Good afternoon to you all.)
Dios ta gabi nikamu ngamin. (Good evening to you all.)
Dios y mabbalo nikamu. (Thank you.) (Direct translation - God will repay you.)

3 comments:

ITSURA said...

Hello There!

aRE YOU AN iBANAG? Join us at http://isabelaprovince.blogspot.com/

Jake said...

ibanag is not extinct in tuguegarao city. the majority living in the city still speak ibanag. it is used in masses, songs, everyday speech. moreover, it is not difficult to read ibanag. Ibanag na^ ngem ari na^ marigatan nga maguvovuk, mattura^ anna mabbibbik ta Ibanag, (I'm Ibanag, but I don't find difficulty in speaking, writing and reading in ibanag) it's only natural, it's common sense. those who are hard up with the language may not be ibanag.

nenadealban said...

Ybannag or Ibanag is getting alive everyday. We love Ibanag language. Our culture , customs and traditions are supportive of decency, family solidarity and respect for life and the rights of people. Even without the coming of foreigners, we had already believed in a God.