Editing Ivatan language (section)

==Variations in language==

In the capital of Basco and the surrounding northern half of Batan, the area encompassed by Ivasayen, ''t'' is prominent, whereas in the Isamurongen zone to the south (Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan and Sabtang) that phoneme becomes a ''ch''.

Examples of the more visible variations of the Ivasayen and Isamurongen words and pronunciations are:
* {{Lang|ivv|tiban}} ('to look') in Basco is {{Lang|ivv|chiban}} in the southern towns
* {{Lang|ivv|antiyaw}} ('later') in Basco is {{Lang|ivv|anchiyaw}} in the southern towns
* {{Lang|ivv|kabatiti}} ('patola') in Basco is {{Lang|ivv|kabachichi}} in the southern towns
* {{Lang|ivv|timoy}} ('rain') in Basco is {{Lang|ivv|chimoy}} in the southern towns

Itbayaten is sometimes also considered a dialect.  2% of the total vocabulary does not occur in Ivatan dialects.  Examples of different Ivasayen, Isamurongen and Itbayaten words that have the same English translation:
* {{Lang|ivv|adkan}} ('to kiss') in Basco and the southern towns is {{Lang|ivv|umahan}} in Itbayat.
* {{Lang|ivv|arava}} ('none') in Basco and the southern towns is {{Lang|ivv|aralih}} in Itbayat.
* {{Lang|ivv|bago}} ('pig') in Basco and the southern towns is {{Lang|ivv|kuyis}} in Itbayat.
* {{Lang|ivv|otioyan}} ('nest') in Basco is {{Lang|ivv|ochoyan}} in the southern towns and {{Lang|ivv|hangtay}} in Itbayat.
* {{Lang|ivv|ipes}} ('tail') in Basco is {{Lang|ivv|vochivot}} in the southern towns and also {{Lang|ivv|ipes}} in Itbayat.

Ivatan and [[Filipino language|Filipino]] words are sometimes combined, as in the Ivatan word {{Lang|ivv|mapatak}}. It is derived from {{Lang|fil|marunong}} (Filipino) and {{Lang|ivv|chapatak}} (Ivatan), literally 'someone who knows', which were then compounded to form the word {{Lang|ivv|mapatak}}. This is the result of the influence of non-Ivatans who tend to speak the language and were then eventually adopted.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Examples of [[Metathesis (linguistics)|metathesis]] in Ivatan include {{Lang|ivv|iskarayla}} for {{Lang|ivv|iskalayra}} ('stairs') and {{Lang|ivv|tumaraya}} for {{Lang|ivv|tumayara}} ('going up').

Ivatan slang includes examples such as {{Lang|ivv|tanchew}}, coined from {{Lang|ivv|mirwa ta anchiyaw}} – literally 'we’ll meet again later', and {{Lang|ivv|nganmu}}, coined from {{Lang|ivv|jinu ngayan mu}}, literally 'where are you going'. These are results of shortening Ivatan phrases or sentences into one or two words, depending on usage.

Common Ivatan expressions have various origins such as:{{Clarify|reason=this doesn't describe origins|date=November 2022}}
* {{Lang|ivv|Dios mamajes}} or {{Lang|ivv|Dios Mamajes nu mapia}}<br>Literally: 'God reward you with goodness' or 'God bless you'<br>Usage: Used to show gratitude to someone
* {{Lang|ivv|Dios mavidin}}<br>Literally: 'May God remain with you'<br>Usage: Used by the person who is leaving
* {{Lang|ivv|Dios machivan}}<br>Literally: 'May God go with you'<br>Usage: Used by the person who is staying behind