Chavacano, (also Chabacano or Zamboangueño), is a Spanish creole spoken in the Philippines. The name of the language stems from the Spanish word Chabacano, which according to most Spanish dictionaries is defined as meaning "vulgar".

Chavacano is concentrated mostly in the provinces of Zamboanga, Cotabato with some speakers found in Ternate in Cavite. According to a 1990 census, there are 292,630 speakers. Speakers are also said to be found in one village in Semporna, Sabah, United States, South Korea, and United Kingdom.

The vocabulary comes from the Spanish language, while the grammar is mostly based on indigenous structures. It is used in primary education, radio.

Other varieties

Some varieties based on the nearby regions are Davaeño spoken in Davao and Cotabateño spoken in Cotabato. Based on Ethnologue, there are three other known varieties of Chabacano which have Tagalog as their base are: Caviteño, Ternateño, and Ermitaño. There is also a version that is said to exist in Sabah, Malaysia. Ermitaño is said to be extinct, however a total of 210,000 speak Caviteño & Ternateño, according to the 2000 Census.

Historical development (Zamboangueño)

In 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 work force 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. Add to this, work instructions were issued in Spanish. Majority of the workers were unschooled and therefore did not understand Spanish.

From then on, constant Spanish military reinforcements as well as increased presence of Spanish religious institutions and educational institutions have fostered the Spanish creole.

Samples:

Donde andas?.

( ‘Where are you going?’)

Ya mirá yo cun José.

( ‘I saw José.’)

Nisós ya pidí pabor cun su papang.

(‘We have already asked your father for a favor.’)

Ele ya empesá buscá que buscá con el sal.

(‘He/She began to search everywhere for the salt.’)

Eli ya andá na escuela.

(‘He/She went to school.’)

Mario ya dormí na casa.

(‘Mario slept in the house.’)

El ombre, QUE ya man encontra tu, 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.)

The 'Our Father' in the Chabacano of Zamboanga

EL "PADRE NUESTRO" NA CHABACANO DE ZAMBOANGA

Tata diamon talli na cielo, bendito el di Uste nombre. Ace el di Uste voluntad aqui na tierra, igual como alli na cielo.

Dale kanamon el pan para cada dia. Perdona el diamon maga culpa, como ta perdona kame con aquellos tiene culpa kanamon. No deja que ay cae kame na tentacion Y libra kanamon del mal.

False Friends: Spanish words that changed in meaning

'Ya' denotes past tense. (Spanish: ya-already)

Siguro means 'Maybe'. (Spanish: seguro-sure, secure, stable)

Syempre means 'Of course'. (Spanish: siempre-always)

Pirmi means 'Always'. (Spanish: firme-firm, steady)

Basta - as long as (Spanish: basta enough)

maske - even (Spanish: mas que - more than)

See also

• Spanish in the Philippines

Codes

SIL code: CBK

ISO 639-2: crp

References

• McKaughan, Howard P. Notes on Chabacano grammar, Journal of East Asiatic Studies 3(1954) 205-26.

External link

• Chavacano: Ethnologue (http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=CBK) Report on Chavacano.
• Gospel mpg file (http://www.inspirationalfilms.com/av/jf/v12791.ram)
• Saavedra's speech at UP (http://www.zamboanga.org/chavacano/chabacano_by_ben_saavedra.htm)