Surigaonon language

Surigaonon
Tandaganon
Native to	Philippines
Region	Surigao del Norte, most parts of Surigao del Sur, and some portion of Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental
Ethnicity	Surigaonon people
Native speakers	500,000 (2009)[1]
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Central Philippine Visayan Southern Visayan Surigaonon
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: sgd – Surigaonon tgn – Tandaganon
Glottolog	suri1274[2]
Area where Surigaonon is spoken according to Ethnologue

Surigaonon is a Philippine language spoken by Surigaonon people in the province of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and some portions of Agusan del Norte especially the towns near the Mainit Lake, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental. Though it seems related to Cebuano it was due mainly to the influx of many Cebuanos in the region and some Cebuano words were loaned, although most Cebuano speakers can hardly understand Surigaonon speakers except for Cebuanos who has been living in the region for years.

It is very closely related to the Tausug language of Sulu (specially the root Tausug language without the Arabic words influence) and the dead/extinct Butuanon vernacular of Butuan. The very close variety spoken in Tandag City, San Miguel, Tago, Bayabas, Cagwait, Marihatag, San Agustin and most part of Lianga is called Tandaganon^[3] and it can be classified as a separate language or simply just a southern variation of Surigaonon at which most of the speakers lives in the south (Surigao del Sur) and Surigaonon itself is the northern (Surigao del Norte) variation which has far more speakers than Tandaganon to which they occupies all of the municipalities of Surigao del Norte and the northern municipalities of Surigao del Sur. Surigaonon and Tandaganon can understandand each other perfectly well even if they use their own languages when talking to each other (the same treatment to Boholano dialect of Cebuano).

Surigaonon or/and Tandaganon is spoken in Surigao del Norte and most part of Surigao del Sur (except in the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lingig and Tagbina wherein most of the inhabitants are descendants of Cebuanos who migrated from Visayas who speak Cebuano and the rest are natives who speak Kamayo a different language but distantly related to Surigaonon).

Phonology

According to Dumanig (2005), Surigaonon has a similar phonological inventory as her sister Visayan languages, Cebuano and Boholano.

Vowels

Below is the vowel system of Surigaonon (Dumanig, 2005):

Table of vowel phonemes of Suriganoon

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		u
Mid	ɛ		o
Open		a

Consonants

Below is a chart of Surigaonon consonants (Dumanig, 2005).

		Bilabial	Dental	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal		m	n		ŋ
Plosive	Voiceless	p	t		k	ʔ
	Voiced	b	d		a
Fricative			s			h
Flap			ɾ
Lateral			l
Approximant		w		j

Clusters

Surigaonon has 25 consonant clusters (br, bl, bw, by, dr, dy, dw, gr, gw, kr, kl, kw, mw, my, nw, pr, pl, pw, py, sw, sy, tr, tw, ty, hw) and 4 diphthongs (aw, ay, iw, uy), which is similar to Cebuano.

Comparison between Surigaonon, Cebuano, and Tausug

English	Tausug	Surigaonon	Cebuano
What is your name?	Unu in ngān mu?	Omay imo ngayan? (Surigaonon), Unu an ngayan mu?/Unu may imo pangayan?/ Unu an pangayan nimo?/ Unu'y pangan mo? (Tandaganon)	Unsa ang ngalan/ngan nimo?
My name is Juan	In ngān ku Juan	An ako ngayan ay Juan (Surigaonon), An ngayan ku kay Juan/An ako ngayan kay Juan/ Ang pangayan ko si Juan/ An ako pangan(ngan) kay Juan(Tandaganon)	Ang ngan naku kay Juan
How are you?	Maunu-unu nakaw?	Kumusta naman kaw?/ "Kumusta na kaw?"(Surigaonon),"Kumusta nasa kaw?"(Tandaganon)	Kumusta na ka?
I am fine, (too)	Marayaw da isab	Madayaw da (sab(isab) or da nu-un) aku (Tandaganon) or Marajaw da/ra i-/sab aku (Surigaonon)	Maayo da/ra (usab)
Where is Ahmad?	Hawnu hi Ahmad?	Hain si Ahmad?(Tandaganon)/ Haman si Ahmad?	Haman/Hain man/asa si Ahmad?
He is in the house	Ha bāy siya	Sa bay siya or yaun siya sa bahay(Tandaganon) / Jaon sija sa bayay? or jadto sija sa bayay (Surigaonon)	Naa siya sa balay/bay
Thank you	Magsukul	Salamat	Salamat
‘I am staying at’ or ‘I live at’	Naghuhula’ aku ha	Yaghuya aku sa(Tandaganon)/ Naghuya aku sa(Surigaonon)or taga ___	Nagpuyo ako sa
I am here at the house.	Yari aku ha bay.	Yadi aku sa bay(Tandaganon)./ Jari aku sa bayay	Dia ko sa bay.
I am Hungry.	Hiyapdi' aku.	In-gutom aku or Paga-gutom ako(Tandaganon). / Tag gutom ako	Gi-gutom ko.
He is there, at school.	Yadtu siya ha iskul.	Yadtu siya sa iskuylahan(Tandaganon). /Jadto sija sa iskuylahan.	Tu-a sya sa iskuylahan
Person	Tau	Tao(Tandaganon)Tawo (Surigaonon)	Taw/Tawo
(Sea/River) current	Sug	Suwg(Tandaganon)Suyug (Surigaonon)	Sug/Sulog
Day	Adlaw	Buntag(Tandaganon)Buntag (Surigaonon)	Adlaw
Night	Duwm	Gabi-i/Duwm(Tandaganon)/Duyum (Surigaonon)	Gabi-i
Today	Biháun	Kuman na adlaw(Tandaganon and Surigaonon)	Karon/Karong Adlawa
Yesterday	Káhapun	Káhapun	Gahapon
The day before yesterday	Ta’kisa	Min-agi na adlaw(Tandaganon)Nin-agi na adlaw (Surigaonon)	Miaging adlaw/usang adlaw
Tomorrow	Kunsuwm	Siluwm/ Silom(Tandaganon)Silum (Surigaonon)	Ugma
The day after tomorrow	Ku’nisa	Sunod na adlaw(Surigaonon/Tandaganon)	Sunod adlaw
Tonight	Duwm ini	Kuman na duwm or Kuman duwm(Tandaganon)/ Kuman na duyum or Kuman duyum (Surigaonon)	Karong gabii
Last night	Kábi-i	Kábi-i(Surigaonon/Tandaganon)	Kagabii
Morning	Mahinaat/Maynaat	Buntag(Surigaonon/Tandaganon)	Buntag
Afternoon	Mahapun	Hapun(Surigaonon/Tandaganon)	Hapun
Noon	Mataas Suga	Gabi-i(Tandaganon)Udto (Surigaonon)	Udto
Midnight	Tungaan Duwm	Tunga-tunga nan Duwn or Tunga'y Duwm(Tandaganon)Tungay-duyum (Surigaonon)	Tunga sa gabi-i/tungang gabii
What day is today?	Adlaw unu biháun?	Unu na adlaw kuman? or Unu kuman na adlawa?(Tandaganon) Oman na adlaw kuman? (Surigaonon)	Unsa nga adlaw karon?/unsang adlawa 'ron?
What day will you leave?	Adlaw unu kaw tumulak?	Unu na adlaw kaw mu-larga or Kun-o kaw mo-larga(Surigaonon) /Kanus-a kaw mu-larga(mu-panaw)(Tandaganon)	Unsa nga adlaw ka mo-larga?/unsang adlawa ka mo-larga?
My walked last Saturday.	Miyanaw aku sin sabtu’ yaun.	An ako panaw adton sabado (Surigaonon) - An ako panaw nan sabado yadtu.(Tandaganon)	Ang lakaw naku niadtong sabado.
When did they eat?	Ka’nu sila kimaun?	Kagun-o sila nangaon? (Surigaonon), Kinun-u sila kin-maun?/Kagan-o sila nangaon(mikaon)?(Tandaganon)	Kanus-a sila mikaon?
When did you arrive?	Ka’nu kamu dimatung?	Kagun-o man kaw nin-abot? (Surigaonon), Kinun-u/Kagan-o kamu(kaw) min-abot?	Kanus-a kamo miabot?
When are going to school?	Ku’nu kaw pa iskul?	Kun-o man kaw mukadto sa iskuylahan? (Surigaonon), kinun-u/Kun-o kaw mokadto sa iskuylahan?(Tandaganon)	Kanus-a ka mo-adto sa iskuylahan?
Where are you going?	Pakain kamu manaw?	Haman kaw pasingud? or haman kaw mukadto? (Surigaonon) , Pahain kamu mamanaw?(Tandaganon)/ Hain kaw pasingud?(Tandaganon)	Asa ka pa-ingon?
Who is that guy?	Hisiyu in usug yaun?	Siman jaon? or siman jaon sija? (Surigaonon), Sin-o yaun?/ Sin-o taraw yaon(informal)?(Tandaganon)	Kinsa na nga tawhana?
Who own this shirt?	Kansiyu in badju ini?	Kanin-o ini baro? or simay tag-ija ini na baro? (Surigaonon), Kanin-o ini badu?(Tandaganon)	Kang kinsa nga sinina kini?
Where is mother?	Hain hi Inah?	Haman si mama? (Surigaonon), Hain si nanay?(Tandaganon)	Asa si mama?/hain si nanay?
When was your birth date?	Ka’nu kaw piyag-anak?	Kagun-o man kaw natawo? or kagun-o man kaw tag-anak? (Surigaonon), Kinun-u kaw in anak?/Kagan-o kaw gi-anak?(Tandaganon)	Kanus-a ka gipanganak/natawo?
Why are you crying?	Mayta’ kaw timangis?	Oman nag tuwaw man kaw? (Surigaonon) , Nasa ga-hilak(ga-tyaho) sa kaw?(Tandaganon)	Ngano nga nagahilak ka?
How do you sleep?	Biyariin kaw magtuwg?	Un-hon man nimo pagkatuyog? (Surigaonon), Paga unu mo pagkaturog?(Tandaganon)/Paga unu mo sa taraw pagkaturug?(informal)	Unsaon man nimo pagkatug/pagkatulog?
How is mother doing?	Maunu-unu na hi Inah?	Kumusta man si Mama? (Surigaonon), Ya-unu na sa si Ina?/ Kumosta na si mama(nanay)?(Tandaganon)	Kumusta na man si nanay/mama?

Sample words and phrases

• -ambaw - rat
• -diin – where
• -kun-o – when, future
• -kagan-o – when, past
• -uno – what
• -sin-o or siman – who
• -tag-uno – how
• -"salamat karajaw" – Thank you very much
• -na ay, unja na (the actual word is "ngaj'an") – later
• -"ay ay na bata ini!" – Tsk tsk this child!
• -"uman kaw?" (contraction of "na uno man kaw?") – What happened to you?
• -ajo-ajo/amping (Cebuano "ayo ayo") – Take care
• -"na buang na" – This is crazy
• -"Simba ko" – "Knock on wood"
• -"Pag hilom ngad-on" or "saba did-on" – Be silent there
• -maradjao (Surigaonon) or madayao (Tandaganon) – good
• -maradjao na buntag – Good morning
• -maradjao na hapon – Good afternoon
• -haman kaw? (composed of "hain" and "man") – Where are you?
• -ngayan (Surigaonon) or ngan(Tandaganon) - name
• -uno may imo ngayan?/unoy ngayan mo? – What is your name?
• -pila may imo edad? (Tandaganon)or "pila may edad mo?" (Surigaonon) – How old are you?
• -grabehi sa nimo ka gwapa (Tandaganon) "gulpi man kaw kagwapa"/ "grabeh nimo ka gwapa"(Surigaonon) – You are so beautiful
• -gwapahi – very beautiful
• -arang - very
• -arang ka tignaw - very cold
• -"grabehi nimo ka yaot/taru" or grabe nimo kayaot (Surigaonon) – You're so ugly
• -tagad (Tandaganon) huyat (Surigaonon) – wait
• -ihap – count
• -"tabangi ko" (same as Cebuano), in Norte "tabangi ako" – Help me
• - pagpaspas/pagdali (same as Cebuano) – be fast
• -"maradjao (madayao) na duyom dijo nahurot" – Good evening to all
• -"hain man (ha'man) kaw pasingod?" – Where are you going?
• -kuman – now
• -silom – tomorrow
• -mahagkot, tignaw,pakukog– cold
• -paso, malangka – hot
• -wayong - face
• -alima – hand
• -sike – leg
• -"taghigugma ta kaw" – I love you
• -mangita nan sine – watch a movie. . .atud (old Surigaonon word)
• -"mupanaw na ako kuman" – I will leave now
• -inday uno or waya ako mahibayo – I don't know
• -jaon – that
• -"uno yaon (jaon)?" or "uman yaon (jaon)?" – What is that?
• -manguyab – courting
• -kalasangan or guyangan(surigaonon)/guwangan(tandaganon) - forest
• -doot - the other side of the river
• -baro (Surigaonon)- dress
• -dayag/kat-kat - climb
• -kayajo(Surigaonon)/kayo(tandanganon) - fire
• -buyod(Surigaonon)/Bud(tandaganon) - mountain
• -hilam - mosquito
• -duyod(Surigaonon)/duwd(tandaganon) - to approach
• -yaon (Tandaganon) or jaon (Surigaonon)- have
• -ingod or tungod - beneath the house (in Cebuano "silong")
• -adja(Surigaonon)/aya(Tandaganon) - just or only ( e.g. "adja ra man kaw magsinaoy saoy" You are just interrupting)
• - bakoy(Surigaonon)/baku'(tandaganon) - thumb
• - puyo(Surigaonon)/Puro(Tandaganon) - island
• - kayajo - fire
• - miya - cat
• - ilaja - farm

References

1. Surigaonon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
   Tandaganon at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
2. Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "Surigao". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
3. http://www-01.sil.org/iso639-3/cr_files/2009-087_tgn.pdf

• Dumanig, Francisco (2005). A descriptive analysis of Surigaonon language. [online article]. Retrieved December 4, 2008: http://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/jakarta/seals/Dumanig_SEALS_XVI_Abstract.pdf
• Rubrico, J. G.(1999). Magbinisaya kita: Cebuano primer I. Quezon City: IJR Links and Consultant.
• Surigaonon.(2000). [online article]. Retrieved August 28, 2003: http://www.flw.com/languages/surigaonon.htm