Sama, Balangingih

A language of Philippines

Baangingi’, Balanguingui, Bangingi, Bangingih Sama, Northern Sama, Northern Sinama, Sama Baangingi, Samal, Sinama Baangingi

Autonym

Bangingih, Sama Bangingih

User Population

80,000 in Philippines (2007). Ethnic population: 73,600 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 85,000.

Location

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Sulu and Basilan provinces; Zamboanga Peninsula region: coast peninsula, islands. Central Luzon region: White Beach near Subic bay (Northern Sama dialect); Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga Sibugay province, Olutangga island (Lutangan dialect).

Language Maps

5 (Developing).

Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Barito, Sama-Bajaw, Sulu-Borneo, Inner Sulu Sama

Dialects

Lutangan (Lutango), Sibuco-Vitali (Sibuku), Sibuguey (Batuan), Balangingi, Daongdung, Kabinga’an. Most Lutangan understand Bangingih Sama, the prestige dialect. Intelligibility of Central Sama [sml] 71%, 83% of Lutangan, 85% of Sibuco-Vitali. Lexical similarity: 77% with Lutangan, 75% with Sibuco-Vitali.

Typology

SVO to introduce a topic, thereafter VSO; prepositions; gender not marked; ergative; nontonal; CVC, CV, VC; 17 consonant phonemes and 5 vowel phonemes.

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Chavacano [cbk]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Filipino [fil]. Also use Tausug [tsg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 40%–45%. Most urban men are literate. Literature. Videos. NT: 2008.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Sama, Balangingih

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], plans for future development using this script. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Balangingi is the prestige dialect of Northern Sama. Muslim.