 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Bantoanon | |
|---|---|
| Asi | |
| Binantoanon | |
| Native to | Philippines |
| Region | Romblon |
Native speakers | 75,000 (2011)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin (Bantoanon Alphabet) Baybayin locally known as Suyat (historical) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | bno |
| Glottolog | bant1288 |
 Bantoanon language map | |
Bantoanon[1] or Asi is a regional Bisayan language spoken, along with Romblomanon and Onhan, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Asi originated in the island of Banton, Romblon and spread to the neighboring islands of Sibale, Simara, and the towns of Odiongan, San Andres and Calatrava on Tablas Island. The Asi spoken in Odiongan is called Odionganon, Calatravanhon in Calatrava, Sibalenhon in Concepcion, Simaranhon in Corcuera, and Bantoanon in Banton. The Asi language is closer to Western Visayan language like Karay-a than to Cebuano and Waray
Specifically, it is spoken on the following islands within Romblon:
- Tablas: the municipalities of Odiongan, San Andres and Calatrava, situated respectively on the western and northern parts of the island. The Odiongan dialect has more outside influences and is more widely used in literature.[2]
- Banton, encompassing the whole municipality of Banton
- Simara, encompassing the whole municipality of Corcuera
- Maestre de Campo, also known as Sibale, encompassing the whole municipality of Concepcion
Linguist David Zorc notes that Bantoanon speakers may have been the first Bisayan speakers in the Romblon region. He also suggests that Asi may have a Western Visayan substratum and that many of its words may have been influenced by the later influx of other languages such as Romblomanon.[3]
- ^ a b Bantoanon at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ Gordon, M. Ruth; Kilgour, Heather J. (1986). Sociolinguistic Survey of Bantoanon. Studies in Philippine Linguistics, vol. 6, no. 2.
- ^ Zorc, David Paul (1977). The Bisayan Dialects of the Philippines: Subgrouping and Reconstruction. Pacific Linguistics, Series C, No. 44. Canberra: Australian National University. doi:10.15144/PL-C44. hdl:1885/146594. ISBN 0-85883-157-0.
