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People

The Ibanags are an ethnic minority numbering a little more than half a million people, who inhabit the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya. They are one of the largest ethnic minorities in the Philippines. However, due to the Philippine government's attempts at displacing minority languages and imposing Tagalog as a lingua franca, Ibanag is no longer taught in schools. Thus while there may still be Ibanags around, the language is slowly being displaced. In addition to this, many if not most Ibanags speak Ilocano, which has over the years, supplanted Ibanag as the more dominant language in the region.

Ibanag is also known as "Ybanag" and "Ybanak" or "Ibanak".

Language

The Ibanag language is distinct in that it features phonemes that are not present in many other neighboring Philippine languages. It is related to Itawit, Gaddang, Malaueg and others. As an example the "f","v","z" and "j" sounds. inafi - rice, bavi-pig, kazzing-goat, or madjan-maid.

In addition to this, Ibanag also features doubled consonants. Therefore making the language sound "hard" or gutteral. For example: Gaddua, Pronounced gad-dwa, meaning half. Mappazzi, Pronounced Map-paz-zi', meaning to squeeze or squeezing.

This is an example of an Ibanag proverb, that is also known throughout the archipelago. Y tolay nga ari mallipay ta pinaggafuananna ari makange ta angayananna. He who does not look back into his past, cannot reach his destination.

Pronouns

I - Sacan

You - Sicau

He, She, It - Yayya

We (inclusive) - Sittam

We (exclusive) - Sicami

You (plural/polite) - Sicamu

They - Ira

Simple Greetings

Good morning - Dios nicau ta umma

Good afternoon - Dios nicau ta aggaw

Good afternoon/near dusk - Dios nicau ta fugak

Good evening/night - Dios nicau ta gabi

How are you? - Cunnasi ca ngana?

I'm good and you? - Mapya gapa, sicau?

I'm just fine thank god - Mappya gapa, mabbalo' ta dios

Thank you - Mabbalo'

Where are you going? - Sitau ca umay?

I'm going to...- Umay na' ta...

What are you doing? - Anni kuammu?

Oh, Nothing in particular. - Awan gapa.

Numbers

0-awan

1-tadday

2-dua

3-tallu

4-appa'

5-lima

6-annam

7-pitu

8-walu

9-siyam

10-mafulu

--69.108.118.249 11:29, 12 Mar 2005 (UTC) Owen Layugan