Ivatan

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A language of Philippines

ISO 639-3
ivv
Alternate Names
Ivatanen
Autonym
Chirin nu Ibatan
User Population

35,000 (1998 SIL), increasing. 3,450 Itbayatan (1996 census).

Location

Cagayan Valley region: Batanes province; MIMAROPA region: Palawan province. Many scattered in Mindanao; Manila.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in Batanes province.

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Bashiic, Ivatan
Dialects

Itbayaten (Itbayat), Basco Ivatan, Southern Ivatan.

Typology

VSO.

Language Use

Vigorous. Only very young and very old are monolingual. Not used in schools. Home, administration, religion, commerce, labor relations, letters. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use English [eng]. Most also use Filipino [fil].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 92%. Literary tradition of laji (old songs) and folklore. Letters, hymnbooks. Taught in primary schools through grade 3. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1984–2016. Agency: Academics Foundation.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ivatan
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.