Chavacano language
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Philippine Creole Spanish (PCS) Chavacano / Chabacano |
||
|---|---|---|
| Spoken in: | Philippines | |
| Region: | Zamboanga City Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga Sibugay Zamboanga del Sur Basilan Cavite Cotabato Davao | |
| Total speakers: | 607,000 (2000) | |
| Language family: | Spanish Creole Spanish-based creole languages Philippine Creole Spanish (PCS) |
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| Language codes | ||
| ISO 639-1: | none | |
| ISO 639-2: | none | |
| ISO/FDIS 639-3: | cbk | |
| Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. See IPA chart for English for an English-based pronunciation key. | ||
Chavacano (as a proper noun, as a derivative of the Spanish adjective "chabacano," and as it is generally accepted in literature, the broadcast media, and Zamboangueños) or Chabacano (as the Spanish adjective) is the common name for the several varieties of the Philippine Creole Spanish spoken in the Philippines. The word chabacano - which the name Chavacano is derived from - is Spanish for "poor taste," "vulgar," "common," "tasteless," "tacky," or "coarse."
Chavacano speakers are concentrated mostly in Zamboanga City, in the provinces of Zamboanga, Basilan, Cavite, and in some areas of Davao and Cotabato. According to the 2000 census, there are 607,200 speakers. Speakers are also found in Semporna, Sabah in Malaysia -- not surprisingly -- because this northern part of Borneo is close to the Sulu islands and Zamboanga Peninsula, and it was once part of Spanish Philippines until the late 19th century. Some people of the Muslim ethnic tribes of Zamboanga such as the Tausugs, the Samals, and of Basilan such as the Yakans also speak the language. In the close provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi areas, there are muslim speakers of the Chabacano de Zamboanga.
Some varieties based on the nearby regions are Davaoeño spoken in Davao and Cotabateño spoken in Cotabato. There are three known varieties of Chabacano which have Tagalog as their substrate language: Caviteño, Ternateño, and Ermitaño (extinct). The other varieties have Cebuano as their substrate language. Zamboangueño is the variety with the most number of speakers, being the main language of Zamboanga City.
The vocabulary is predominantly derived from the Spanish language, while grammar is mostly based on other Philippine languages such as Tagalog and Cebuano. It is used in education, print media, television and radio.
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[edit] Chabacano? Chavacano? Chabakano?
Zamboangueños usually (but not always) spell the word as Chavacano in reference to the language or to themselves as chavacanos, and they spell the word as chabacano referring to the Spanish meaning of the word and also to the language itself. Thus, Zamboangueños generally spell the word in two different ways. Caviteños, Ternateños, and Ermitaños spell the word as it is spelled originally in the Spanish language - chabacano. Davaoeños, Cotabateños and especially those from Basilan province (de Basilan) tend to lean more on the Zamboangueño spellings. It is important to take note that the varieties of the language are geographically-related. Thus, Ermitaño, Caviteño, and Ternateño are very similar to each other having Tagalog as their substrate language while Zamboangueño, Davaoeño, and Cotabateño are very similar having Visayan or Cebuano as their substrate language. Also, a Zamboangueño would call his variety Zamboangueño or Chavacano de Zamboanga, a Caviteño would call his variety Caviteño or Chabacano de Cavite, and etc. to emphasize the difference from one another using their own geographical location as point of reference.
There are also other alternate names and spellings for this language depending on the varieties and context (whether hispanized or native). Zamboangueños also sometimes call and spell their variety as Chabakano. Caviteño is also known as Caviten while Ermitaño as Ermiteño and Ternateño as Ternateño Chabacano. Davaoeño is also Davaweño, Davawenyo, Davawenyo Zamboangenyo, Abakay Spanish, or Davao Chabacano/Chavacano. Cotabateño is also known as Cotabato Chabacano/Chavacano.
Speakers from Basilan consider their Chavacano as Zamboangueño or Chavacano de Zamboanga.
[edit] Historical development
[edit] Zamboangueño
On June 23, 1635, Zamboanga became a permanent foothold of the Spanish government known as San José Fort. Bombardment of Muslim attackers, harassments of Muslim pirates and the determination to spread Christianity forced friars to request Spanish reinforcements. Zamboanga or San José Fort was also a crucial strategic location.
The military authorities decided to import labor from Luzon and the Visayas. Thus, the construction workforce eventually consisted of Spanish soldiers, masons from Cavite-who comprised the majority, sacadas from Cebu and Iloilo, and those from the various local tribes of Zamboanga like the Samals and Subanons.
Differences in dialect and culture made it difficult for one tribe to communicate with another. To add to this, work instructions were issued in Spanish. The majority of the workers were unschooled and therefore did not understand Spanish but needed to communicate with each other and the Spaniards. A lingua franca developed and became a full-fledged language still in use today, mainly in Zamboanga City.
From then on, constant Spanish military reinforcements as well as increased presence of Spanish religious institutions and educational institutions have fostered the Spanish creole.
[edit] Caviteño / Ternateño
The Merdicas were a tribe of Malays of Ternate in the Moluccas which was a small Spanish colony. Before this Ternate was a Portuguese colony. In 1574, the Merdicas volunteered to come to Cavite to support the Spanish against the threat of invasion of the Chinese pirate, Limahong. The invasion did not occur but the community of Merdicas settled in a place called Barra de Maragondon at a sandbar at the mouth of the Maragondon River. Today, the place is called Ternate and the community of Merdicas continued to use broken Spanish which came to be called Ternateño or Ternateño Chavacano.
[edit] Samples
[edit] (Zamboangueño)
- Donde tu anda?
- ( ‘Where are you going?’)
- Ya mirá yo con José.
- ( ‘I saw José.’)
- Ele ya empezá buscá que buscá con el sal.
- (‘He/She began to search everywhere for the salt.’)
- Ele ya andá na escuela.
- (‘He/She went to school.’)
- Si Mario ya dormí na casa.
- (‘Mario slept in the house.’)
- El hombre, quien ya man encuentro tu, amo mi hermano.
- (The man [whom] you met is my brother.)
- El persona con quien ta conversa tu, bien bueno gayot.
- (The person you are talking to is very nice indeed.)
[edit] Another Sample of Chavacano de Zamboanga
Trenta’y cuatro kilometro desde'l pueblo de Zamboanga, el Bunguiao que un barrio chico estaba como un desierto. No hay gente quien ta queda aqui. Abundante este lugar de maga animal particularmente como puerco, gatorgalla, venao y otro mas pa. Maga pajariador lang ta visita con este lugar.
- 'Bunguiao, a small village, thirty four kilometers from the city of Zamboanga, was once a wilderness. No people lived here. The place abounded with wild animals like pigs, wildcats, deer, and still others. The place was visited only by (bird) hunters.'
[edit] (Caviteño / Ternateño)
- Nisós ya pidí pabor cun su papang.
- (‘We have already asked your father for a favor.’)
[edit] Another Sample of Chavacano de Cavite
Puede nisos habla: que grande nga pala el sacrificio del mga heroe para niso independencia. Debe nga pala no niso ulvida con ilos. Ansina ya ba numa? Debe haci niso mga cosa para dale sabi que ta aprecia niso con el mga heroe. Que preparao din niso haci sacrificio para el pueblo. Que laya? Escribi mga novela como Jose Rizal?
Translation in Zamboangueño:
- 'Quiere decir, puede nosostros habla cay el que grande sacrificio gale ya ofrece nuestro maga heroe para obtene nosotros con nuestro independencia. Entonces, no debe nosostros olvida con ellos. Ancina gane, hende ba? Necesita nosotros manda sabe con todos que nosotros ta aprecia con nuestro maga heroe y nosotros preparado tambien sacrifica para con el nacion. Quemodo ese nosotros hace? Maga clase de novela como ya escribi si Jose Rizal, el nosotros hay escribir tambien?'
In English:
- 'We can say what great sacrifices our heroes have done to achieve our independence. We should therefore not forget them. Is it like this? We should do things to let it be known that we appreciate the heroes; that we are prepared to make sacrifices for our people. How? [should we] write novels like José Rizal?'
[edit] The Lord's Prayer In The Chavacano Language
[edit] El Padre Nuestro Na Chavacano De Zamboanga
Tata de amon talli na cielo,
bendito el de Uste nombre.
Manda vene con el de Uste reino;
Hace el de Uste voluntad aqui na tierra,
igual como alli na cielo.
Dale kanamon el pan para cada dia.
Perdona el de amon maga culpa,
como ta perdona kame con aquellos
quien tiene culpa kanamon.
No deja que hay cae kame na tentacion
y libra kanamon na mal.
[edit] El Reso Del Señor Na Chabacano De Cavite Y Ternate
Niso Tata Qui ta na cielo,
quida santificao Tu nombre.
Manda vini con niso Tu reino;
Sigui el qui quiere Tu aqui na tierra,
igual como na cielo!
Dali con niso ahora,
niso comida para todo el dia.
Perdona el mga culpa di niso,
si que laya ta perdona niso con aquel
mga qui tiene culpa con niso.
No dija qui cai niso na tentacion,
pero salva con niso na malo.
[edit] Vocabulary
[edit] Forms and Style
Chabacano (especially Zamboangueño) has two levels of usage for words: The common or familiar and formal.
In the common or familiar form, words of local origin or a mixture of local and Spanish words predominate. They are used ordinarily when conversing with people of equal or lower status in society and in the family, with friends and acquaintances. Their use are of general acceptance and usage.
In the formal form, words of Spanish origin predominate. They are used when conversing with elders and those in authority. They are also used especially when conversing with people of higher status in society and family. They are used in speeches, education, media, and writing.
The following examples show a contrast between the usage of formal words and common or familiar words in Chabacano:
- Legend
- Formal - Common/Familiar - English
- Resbaloso - Malandug - Slippery
- Morisqueta - Kanon (from local word 'kanin') - Rice
- Aguacero/Aguasero- Ulan - Rain
- Vianda - Ulam - Dish
- Orgulloso - Hambugero/Bugalon - Braggart/Boastful
- Coche - Auto/Awto- Car
- Muchacho/muchacha - Ayudante/Ayudanta - Housemaid (However, in Zamboanga, the term "Muchacha" is the one most used.)
- Papa - Tata - Father
- Mama - Nana - Mother
- Abuelo - Lolo - Grandfather
- Abuela - Lola - Grandmother
- Chico/Chiquito - Diutay - Small
- Fastidio - Malihug - Nuisance or one who cannot stay still
- Testaduro - Duro Cabeza/Duro Pulso - Hard-headed
- Chancla/Changcla - Chinelas - Slippers
[edit] Grammar
[edit] Pronouns
Chavacano pronouns are based on native (Tagalog and Cebuano) and Spanish sources; many of the pronouns are not used in either but may be derived in part.
In Chavacano de Zamboanga, there are three different levels of usage for certain pronouns depending on the level of familiarity between the speaker and the addressee, the status of both in family and society, or the mood of the speaker and addressee at the particular moment: common, familiar, and formal. The common forms are, particularly in the second and third person plural, derived from Cebuano while most familiar and formal forms are from Spanish. The common forms are used to address a person below or of equal social or family status or to someone is who is acquainted. The common forms are used to regard no formality or courtesy in conversation. Its use can also mean rudeness, impoliteness or offensiveness. The familiar forms are used to address someone of equal social or family status. It indicates courteousness, and is commonly used in public conversations, the broadcast media, and in education. The formal forms are used to address someone older and/or higher in social or family status. It is the form used in writing.
Additionally, Zamboangueño is the only variety of Chavacano which distinguishes between the inclusive we (kita) - including the person spoken to (the addressee) - and the exclusive we (kame) - excluding the person spoken to (the addressee) - in the first person plural except in the formal form where nosotros is used for both.
Below is a chart comparing the personal pronouns in three varieties of Chavacano.
| Zamboangueño | Caviteño | Ternateño | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | iyo yo |
yo | |
| 2nd person singular | evo(s) (common) vo(s) (common) tu (familiar) uste(d) (formal) |
tu vo uste |
vo uste |
| 3rd person singular | el ele |
eli | |
| 1st person plural | kame (exclusive) kita (inclusive) nosotros (formal) |
nisos | mijotro motro |
| 2nd person plural | kamo (common) vosotros (familiar) ustedes (formal) |
vusos | ustedi tedi |
| 3rd person plural | sila (common & familiar) ellos (formal) |
ilos | lojotro lotro |
[edit] False Friends and False Cognates: Spanish words that have changed in meaning
- En denantes - a while ago (Spanish: hace un tiempo)
-
- Take note that "En denantes" is an archaic Spanish phrase. Modern Spanish would express the phrase as "poco antes de hoy" or "hace un tiempo," but Chabacano still retains this archaic Spanish phrase and many other archaic Spanish words.
Chabacano has preserved plenty of archaic Spanish words in its vocabulary that modern Spanish no longer use, that has evolved, or that has acquired a totally different meaning. Hence, some of these words have become false friends.
- 'Ya' denotes past tense. (Spanish: ya - already)
- Siguro/Seguro means 'maybe'. (Spanish: seguro - sure, secure, stable)
- Siempre means 'of course'. (Spanish: siempre - always)
- firmi means 'always'. (Spanish: firme - firm, steady)
- Basta means 'as long as'. (Spanish: basta - is enough)
- Masquen means 'even (if)'. (Spanish: más que - more than)
The word cerilla is a fine example of a false cognate:
- Cerilla means 'earwax'. (Spanish: cerilla - match)
[edit] Trivia
Chabacano is apricot for Mexican Spanish speakers. Although apricot is albaricoque in Spanish, in Mexico 'chabacano' is an apricot variety, to be exact.
[edit] See also
[edit] Codes
[edit] References
- McKaughan, Howard P. Notes on Chabacano grammar, Journal of East Asiatic Studies 3(1954) 205-26.
- Chambers, John, S.J. (2003). Wee, Salvador, S.J., editor, English-Chabacano Dictionary. Ateneo de Zamboanga University Press. OCLC 61254160.
[edit] External links
- Early History of Chavacano de Zamboanga A Perspective on Chavacano de Zamboanga's Evolution
- Chavacano: Ethnologue Report on Chavacano.
- Chavacano information
- "Jesus" A two-hour religious film in RealVideo, dubbed in Chavacano
- Chavacano samples More Samples of the Chavacano language
- FilipinoKastilaThe Spanish and Chabacano Situation in the Philippines
- Saavedra's speech at UP
- El Chabacano en español
- Austronesian Elements in Philippine Creole Spanish (pdf)
- Spanish world-wide: the last century of language contacts (PDF)
- Chavacano of Cavite
- Swearsaurus - Chabacano
- Simple grammar
