The Bontoc Igorot

by Albert Ernest Jenks

Of eighty-six words in both Malay and Bontoc 32 per cent are clearly derived from the same root words, and of eighty-four words in the Sulu and Bontoc 45 per cent are from the same root words. Of sixty-eight words in both Malay and Benguet 34 per cent are from the same root words, and 47 per cent of sixty-seven Benguet and Sulu words are from the same root words. Of sixty-four words in Bontoc and Benguet 58 per cent are the same or nearly the same.

These facts suggest the movement of the Philippine people from the birthplace of the parent tongue, and also the great family of existing allied languages originating in the primitive Malayan language. They also suggest that the Bontoc and the Benguet peoples came away quite closely allied from the original nest, and that they had association with the Sulu later than with the Malay.

[In the following compilation works have been consulted respectively as follows: Malay—Hugh Clifford and Frank Athelstane Swettenham, A Dictionary of The Malay Language (Taiping, Perak; in parts, Part I appearing 1894, Part III appearing 1904); Sulu—Andson Cowie, English-Sulu-Malay Vocabulary, with Useful Sentences, Tables, etc. (London, 1893); Benguet Igorot—Otto Scheerer, The Ibaloi Igorot, MS. in MS. Coll., The Ethnological Survey for the Philippine Islands.]

English	Malay	Sulu	Benguet Igorot	Bontoc Igorot
Ashes	Abu	Abū	Dĕ-pok	Cha-pu′
Bad	Jăhat (wicked)	Mang-i, ngi	…	Ngag
Black	Hîtam	Ītam	An-to′-leng	Ĭn-ni′-tĭt
Blind	Buta	Būta	Sa-gei a ku′-rab[4]	Na-ki′-mĭt
Blood	Dârah	Dūgūh	Cha′-la	Cha′-la
Bone	Tūlang	Bûkog	Pu′-gil	Ung-ĕt′
Burn, to	Bâkar	Sūnog	…	Fĭn-mi′-chan
Chicken	Ânak âyam	Anak-manok	…	Mo-nok′
Child	Ânak	Batah, anak	A-a′-nak	Ong-ong′-a
Come	Mâri	Mārī	…	A-li-ka′
Cut, to	Pôtong	Hoyah	Kom-pol′	Kû-ke′-chun
Day	Hâri	Adlau	A-kou	A-qu′
Die, to	Mâti	Matāi	…	Ma-ti′
Dog	Anjing	Erok	A-su′	A′-su
Drink, to	Mînum	Hinom, minom	…	U-mi-num′
Ear	Tĕlinga	Tāīnga	Tañg-i′-da	Ko-wĕng′
Earthquake	Gĕmpa tânah	Linog	Yêk-yêk	Ye′-ga
Eat, to	Mâkan	Ka-aun	Kanin	Mang-an′, Ka-kan′
Eight	Dilâpan	Wālū	Gua′-lo	Wa-lo′
Eye	Mâta	Māta	Ma-ta	Ma-ta′
Father	Bâba	Amah	A-ma	A′-ma
Finger nail	Kuku	Kūkū	Ko-go	Ko-ko′
Fire	Âpi	Kāyu	A-pui	A-pu′-i
Five	Lîma	Līma	Di′-ma	Li-ma′
Foot	Kâki	Sīki	Cha-pan	Cha-pan′
Four	Ămpat	Opat	Ap′-pat	I-pat′
Fruit	Bûah	Būnga-kāhōl	Damös	Fi-kûs′-na
Get up, to	Bangun	Bāngun	…	Fo-ma-ong′
Good	Baik	Maraiau	…	Cûg-a-wis′
Grasshopper	Bi-lâlang	Ampan	Chu′-ron	Cho′-chon
Ground (earth)	Tânah	Lōpah	Bu′-dai	Lu′-ta
Hair of head	Rambut	Būhōk	Bu-ög	Fo-ok′
Hand	Tângan	Līma	Di-ma	Li-ma′, Ad-pa′
Head	Kĕpâla	Ō	Tok-tok	O′-lo
Hear, to	Dĕngar	Dŭngag	…	Chûng-nĕn′
Here	Sîni	Dī, di-ha-īnni	Chiai	Īs′-na
Hog	Bâbi	Baboi	Ke-chil	Fu-tug′
I	Shaya	Aku	Sikak; Sidiak	Sak-ĭn′
Kill, to	Bûnoh	Būnoh	Bunu′-in	Na-fa′-kûg
Knife	Pisau	Lāding	Ta′-ad	Kĭ-pan′
Large	Bĕsar	Dākolah	Abatek	Chûk-chûk′-i
Lightning	Kîlat	Kīlat	Ba-gi′-dat	Yûp-Yûp
Louse	Kutu	Kūtu	Ku-to	Ko′-to
Man	Ôrang	Tāu	Da′-gi	La-la′-ki
Monkey	Mûnyit, Kra	Amok	Ba-ges	Ka-ag′
Moon	Bûlan	Būlan	Bu′-lan	Fu-an′
Mortar (for rice)	Lĕsong	Lūsong	…	Lu-song′
Mother	Mak, ību	Īnah	I-na	I′-na
Night	Mâlam	Dûm	Kal-leian, A-da′-wi	Mas-chim, la-fi′
Nine	S’ambîlan	Sīam	Dsi′-am	Si-am′
No	Tîdak	Wāim di	…	A-di′
Nose	Hîdong	Īlong	A-dĕng	I-lĭng′
One	Sâtu, suâtu, sa	Īsa	Sa-gei′	I-sa′
Rain	Hûjan	Ūlan	U′-ran	O-chan′
Red	Mêrah	Pūla, lāg	Am-ba′-alañg-a	Lang-at′
Rice (threshed)	Padi	Pāi	…	Pa-kü′
Rice (boiled)	Nasi	K’aun-an	I-na-pui	Mak-an′
River	Sungei	Sōbah	Pa′-dok	Wang′-a
Run, to	Lâri	Dāg-an	…	Ĭn-tûg′-tug
Salt	Gâram	Āsin	A-sin	Si′-mut
Seven	Tûjoh	Pĕto	Pit′-to	Pi-to′
Sit, to	Dûdok	Lingkūd	…	Tu-muck′-chu
Six	Anam	Ûnom	An-nim	I-nĭm′
Sky	Langit	Lāngit	Dang-it	Chay′-ya
Sleep, to	Tîdor	Ma-tōg	…	Ma-si-yĭp′
Small	Kĕchil	Asīvī	O-o′-tik	Fan-ĭg′
Smoke	Âsap	Aso	A-sok	A-sok′
Steal, to	Mĕn-chûri	Takau	Magibat	Mang-a-qu′
Stone	Bâtu	Bātu	Ba-to	Ba-to
Sun	Mâta-Hâri	Māta sŭga	A-kau, Si-kit	A-qu′
Talk, to	Bĕr-châkap	Nŭg-pāmong	…	Ĕn-ka-li′
Ten	Sa’pûloh	Hangpoh	Sam-pu′-lo	Sĭm-po′-o
There	Di-sîtu, Di-sâna	Ha ietu, dūn	Chitan, Chiman	Ĭs′-chi
Three	Tîga	Tō	Tad′-do	To-lo′
To-morrow	Êsok, Besok	Kin-shûm	Ka-bua-san	A-swa′-kus
Tree	Pôko’kâyu	Kăhōi	Po-on	Cha-pon′, Kay′-o
Two	Dûa	Rūa, Dūa	Chu′-a	Chu′-wa
Walk, to	Bĕr-jâlan	Panau	…	Ma-na′-lûn
Water	Âyer	Tūbig	Cha-num	Chĕ-num′
White	Pûteh	Ma-pūtih	Am-pu-ti′	Ĭm-po′-kan
Wind	Angin	Hangin	Cha-num	Chĕ-num′
Woman	Prĕmpûan	Babai	Bi-i, a-ko′-dau	Fa-fay′-i
Wood	Kâyu	Kāhōl	Ki′-u	Kay′-o
Yellow	Kûning	…	Chu-yao[5]	Fa-kĭng′-i
Yes	Ya	…	…	Ay
You (singular)	Ankau	Ēkau	Sikam	Sĭk′-a

Bontoc vocabulary

The following vocabulary is presented in groups with the purpose of throwing additional light on the grade of culture the Igorot has attained.

No words follow which represent ideas borrowed of a modern culture; for instance, I do not record what the Igorot calls shoes, pantaloons, umbrellas, chairs, or books, no one of which objects he naturally possesses.

Whereas it is not claimed that all the words spoken by the Igorot follow under the various headings, yet it is believed that the man’s vocabulary is nearly exhausted under such headings as “Cosmology,” “Clothing, dress, and adornment,” and “Weapons, utensils, etc.:”