[117]
Simile. This figure is one of the most used in Bisayan, even in ordinary conversations.
Examples:
1. Bagá an násirong ng̃a dila.
Applied to a person or thing intended to be kept out of the rain, but which becomes wet, like the tongue (dila) which is always wet in the mouth.
2. Canogon pa dao la—san imo catindog
maópay si báyhon—maráot an bántog
igpapananglit co—bayábas ng̃a hinóg,
maópay an panit—olóron an onód
(A popular song,)
Where the resemblance is between “maopay si bayhon” and “maopay an panit”, and also between “maráot an bantog” and “olóron an onód”.
Metaphor. It is also used, especially in poetry.
Example:
1. Cáhoy ca ng̃a linauáan
sa búquid nanauantáuan
cun canan Dyos ca pagbut-an
matopóng sa ulasiman.
(A popular song)
Applied to one who is in a high position in life, like “cahoy ng̃a linauáan”, the “lauáan” tree being one of the tallest trees.
Allegory. It is also found in Bisayan.
Example:
Ugá ng̃a cáhoy si láuas,
patáy na, layâ si dáhon [118]
nanaringsing sin casáquit
namúng̃a sin camatáyon
(A popular song)
Here the life or body (láuas) is called a dry tree (ugá ng̃a cáhoy), already dead (patáy na), whose leaves are withered (laya si dahon), and which sprouted sorrow (nanaringsing sin casáquit), and gave as fruit, the death (namúng̃a sin camatáyon).
Personification. One of the most frequent cases of personification in Bisayan is that consisting in applying to things and objects the personal article si.
Example:
Nagtitinang̃is si tucmo
cay tiarábut an bagyo.
(A popular song)
Where the turtle-dove, (tucmo) is personifed by si. The expression would lose much of its charm if the article an is employed instead of si.
Antithesis. We have this figure in Bisayan.
Example:
Canógon pa dao la—san imo catindog
maópay si bayhon—maráot an bantog, etc.
Where “maopay” (good) and “maraot” (bad), “bayhon” (face) and “bántog” (fame) are contrasted.
Epigram. This figure, in its modern meaning, is used in Bisayan.
Example:
Gumhúlat pa an naghínay.
an nagdagmit, uaráy.
Which literally means: he who went slow was awaited for; he who hastened was not waited for. Its point is equivalent to that of the English “slow, but sure.” “Guinhulat” (was awaited for) “uaráy” (was not), “naghínay” (went slow) and “nagdágmit” (hastened) are contrasted. [119]
Metonymy. It is also found in Bisayan.
Example:
An patay palang̃it, an buhi pacauít.
Literally: let the dead go to heaven; let the living go to the “cauít” (a bamboo where the tubâ wine is ordinarily placed). The figure consists in this word “cauít,” container, for “tuba wine,” the thing contained.
Synecdoche.
Example:
Pag árog hin damò nga bugás cay damo camí ng̃a babà.
Literally it means: “Prepare much rice because we are many mouths.” Here the mouths (baba) a part, is used for person, the whole.
Apostrophe. We have it also in Bisayan.
Example:
Ohoy mg̃a lang̃it—mga cahatas’an.
tabang̃i, buligui—adin may pinas’an
an iní nga pálad—con diri mabáui
nouontan dao adá—sinin quinabuhi
(A popular song)
Literally: Heavens, altitudes, protect, help this who suffers something; if this fate is not averted, it will undoubtedly affect the life.
Exclamation.
Example:
¡Pastilán bidíday,—bididay ca man la
ng̃a nacacalucmay—sinin hunahuna! …
¡ayáo pag saquita!—¡ayáo pagbidóa,
cay mag titinangis—canugon san luha! …
(A popular song)
Interrogation.
Example:
Mg̃a langit, mg̃a langit;
¿háin dao dapit an sáquit? …
[120]
sa calibutan uaráy man:
sabali sa panomdoman.
(A popular song)
Hyperbole. It is frequent in Bisayan.
Examples:
2. Cun totóo, intoy—ng̃a imo tinguha
pag biling la anay—sílot ng̃a may bóa.
(A popular song)
Literally: If your love is true, look for a “silot” (a young fruit of cocoanut) which has “bua” (the bulb of the old cocoanut fruit when it is old enough to be used as a seed).
Climax
Example:
¡ .….….…
nanaringsing sin masáquit,
namúnga sin camatáyon.
Irony.
Example:
¡Camaopay mo! uaray ca gud pag tuman han imo pólong̃.
Literally: How good are you! you did not keep your word.
Asyndeton.
Example:
Ohoy mg̃a lang̃it—mg̃a cahatas’an
tabang̃i, buligui, inín may pinas’an, etc.
(A popular song)
Repetition. [121]
Examples:
1. Dirì co cay yubit—diri co cay dáyao
pamahonpáhon mo—baga may parayao; etc.
(A popular song)
2. Pastilán, bididay—bididay ca man la
ng̃a nacacalúcmay—sinín hunahuña, etc.
(A popular song)
Concatenation.
Example:
Pastilán ca curi—cacuri capinan
capin ca mabide—san bido sa dughan,
dughan co pagílob—ilob calauasan,
láuas co naponò—pono casaquitan.
(A polular song).
Of the three universal important forms in prose, i.e., description, narration, and exposition nothing in general needs be observed.
At present, one of the forms most generally employed in Bisayan prose is that belonging to the class of narration, the letter.
Nothing special needs be observed about letters, at present times, apart from their external forms and the tendency to innovation prominently shown in them, more than anywhere else, by frequent barbarisms.
As to the external forms of the Bisayan letters, it is to be observed that a routinary introduction is almost universally followed. We refer to the ordinary introduction consisting in the following ideas and order: “This letter has [122]no other purpose” 2) “but to ask how you are” 3) “because as to me” 4) “I am in a good health”.
And after such an invariable introduction, the writer goes on in a paragraph apart; “And I shall add that”, etc.
Example:
Uaráy láin ng̃a tuyó hiní ng̃a acon surat cúndi an damo ng̃a mg̃a pang̃omósta co ha imo, cay cun acó in ipaquiána, calooy sa Dyos maópay.
Ng̃an isonouod co liuát, etc.
This is the introduction generally adopted. We do not hesitate to state that more than fifty per cent of the letters written in our Bisayan commence with these or equivalent ideas and in the same order.
As to the barbarisms, they are employed thruout the entire letter.
On the heading it is usually written:
Tacloban, á 2 de Octubre de 1908.
instead of:
Tacloban, ica 2 han Octubre han 1908.
On the introduction it ordinarily appears
Sr. D .….….….….….….….….….…
or
Sra. D.a .….….….….….….….….….…
Mi estimado amigo:
or
Muy estimada Señora:
The body of the letter is usually as follows:
Uaray lain ng̃a objeto hini ng̃a acon surat, sino an damo ng̃a mg̃a pangomosta ha iyo ngatanán, cay cun camí in iyo ipaquiána, calooy sa Dyos, uaray ano man ng̃a novedad. [123]
Y de consiguiente, tatay, isusunod co liuat; cun uaray mo inconveniente, gusto co cunta comadá pag vacacion; pero como guinadvertir mo man aco han nacadi ca ng̃a mag procurar acó hin pag obtener anay han titulo, por eso amo iní ng̃a dirí aco na atrever pag guican mientras dirí paca aco macacarauát han imo contestation ng̃a pag hatag hin permiso, bisan cun sobra y basta gud an acon mg̃a deseos pag visita ha iyo. etc.
Of the three main classes of poetry, epic, lyric and dramatic, the lyric is the only one preserved in Bisayan in the form of popular songs. The dramatic form is found at present mainly in the translations of Tagalog and Spanish dramas, usually employed as plays on the Patron’s days in the towns.
Rhythm and rhyme are observed in Bisayan poems.
The rhyme is not so perfect as that of the Spanish verses. Consonant words or with similar sounding endings are employed in Bisayan.
Kinds of meter. There are two kinds of meter most used in Bisayan poetry: verses of six syllables, verses of eight syllables, and verses of twelve syllables divided in two fragments of six syllables each.
Examples:
Verses of six syllables:
¿Háin ca na, punay?…
cadí na panambo,
tambo madalíay,
liaua si casbo;
basi humalayhay
[124]
inín saquit, bido
nga asay tiónay
san casingcasing co.
Verses of eight sy11ab1es:
Acó iní sugadsugad
san bánua nga tarotánglad,
bisan cun diín italad
mabubuhi cun may palad,
Verses of twelve syllables:
Togon co sa imo,—mahal nga inógay
di ca gud padará—san damo nga sangcay;
an paglacát nime—gabay magmahinay,
nga diri hatócso,—lumiscad san látay.
Note.—The verses of twelve syllables are really verses of six, the odd verses not being rhymed.
Combinations. As seen in the preceding examples the combinations are the following:
The verses of six syllables are grouped in four verses, the even verses being rhymed.
The verses of eight syllables are grouped also in four verses all rhymed.
The verses of twelve syllables are also grouped in four rhymed verses.
NOTE—In transcribing the following songs, we shall use, the orthography proposed in the note of the first page of this book using only three vowels: a, i, o.
Si nanay, si tatay di ko babayuán
kay damò ng̃a dogô an akon naotag̃
kun pag-ilsipon an siyam ka botan.
g̃a pag-inókoy ko sa kan nanay riyán.
Togon ko sa imo, mahal g̃a inógay:
di ka god padará san damò g̃a sangkay;
an paglakat nímo gabáy mag mahinay,
g̃a dirí katokao, lomiskad san látay.
[125]
Kamakaroroyag sa matá pagkit’on
sinin mag-asawa g̃a waray sin limbog,
kon daw naabot na ira kamatayon
náboká an lang̃it bási nira sadlon.
Ayaw gani kahihilig
ayaw karirikandikan,
kay di man bagyo an toig,
di man kikilá an bolan.
Mg̃a bitoón sa lag̃it
may mapawà, may mag̃itg̃it,
con sa tawo igpanag̃lit,
may malípay, may masákit.
Kahoy ka g̃a linawaán
sa bokid nanawantawan,
kon kanan Dyos ka pagbot’an
matopóg̃ sa olasiman.
Di ko ginkakasorok’an
an salapí, an bolawan;
say ko ginkikinahag̃lan
maopay g̃a ginawian.
Sogad gud akó san gamót
g̃a nailarom sa kotkot,
kon kanan Dyos pagboót
malábaw akó san ódlot
Diri ba ako pagsirig̃.
indayon, paghang̃narig̃,
kay bag̃in kitá kapadg̃an,
harayó an borogkátan.
Guin holát pá an naghinay;
an nag dagmit, waráy.
Waráy hiní balos báyad
bas’la an boót longáyad
An bató bantilis náibas, nákilot
sa toró san tóbig sa darodagínot:
¡kasig̃kasig̃ pa ba an diri homómok.
sa gógma san tawo kon sa tarinónot.
Di ba sadto ánay imo akó sig̃sig̃
sa walá g̃a kamót, todló tamoyig̃kig̃;
baman itó niyán di ka na násiplat,
¿anó an solá ko sa imo nabóhat?
An sakít sa domdom og sa honahona,
makori ilig̃kod, makori íhigda:
¿ihagád sa láng̃it? ¿itamod sa tona?…
¡A baá Dyos ko, máonan’o dao la!…
Pastilán kakori, ka kori kapinan
kapin kamabido san bido sa dóghan;
doghan ko pag-ilob, ilob kasawásan,
láwas ko g̃a ponó pone kasakitan.
Pastilán, bididay, bididay ka man la
ga nakakalokmay sinín honahona:
ayáo pag sakita, ayao pag bidóa,
kay mag titinangis kanógon san loha.
Pastilán ka kori, ka kor ig̃akapin
san may pag kasákit sinin kasig̃kasig̃:
igpapanag̃lit ko sa osá ga borig̃
bisan parigóson may gihapon bilin.
Háin ka na ponay,
kadi na panambo,
tambo madaliay.
liawá si kas’bo.
basi homanáyhay
inin sakit bido
g̃a asáy tiónay
sa kasigkasig ko.
Abá Tig̃tig̃ abá Tig̃tig̃.
ioli an akon sig̃sig̃.
opayda kon logarig̃on,
kondi kanan taklobauon.
Akon iglilibaglibag̃
inin kasákit sa doghan
baman ha banig ig matag̃
sakit ga magtitilógag̃.
Kadto na, kadto na, kadto na soranga
kadto na pag bilig̃ sin ibá g̃a gogma
ayaw gad pag hig̃yap sin sogad sa akon
asáy tig̃ohán maópay ga láyhon
[126]
Kon boot ka mang̃asáwa
inín barás pag pisia,
di ka g̃ani makapisi
pag toraw na la ganoli.
Kon daw ha kasirig̃anon
tobig ka g̃a irinómon
diri sa dáhon pahonbon,
pahónbon sa doghan nakon
Kon bagá kahoy si lawas
patay na, laya si dahon
nanarig̃sig̃ sin kasákit
namóg̃a sin kamatáyon
Kap’atán ka tuig an akon paghig̃yap
pag-imasisirig̃ sa imo, binórak.
Han nákadto ka ha pantaw
akon ka gintitinan-aw
harápit ako matónaw
sa dako g̃a pag kahidlaw
Anó iní g̃a nádoróy
kamasakit, kamakapoy,
an lawas sogád sin káhoy
g̃aginhaharoharópoy
Bohi pa an bató g̃a pinamonakan
didto la katikag̃ an karokayakan
Pastilán ka kori san pag-ig̃irikan
natag̃is si inday g̃a binabayáan,
gabáy daw la habsan inín kalalawdan
g̃a diri tomólin inín pagsarakyan
Han nakadto ka ha lawdon
akon ka gintinan-awon
hapit kó ikaw karawton
ha barás diri patonbon.
Kon nag-iimót ka san imo kamathom
san pag kamabaysay san imo pamayhon,
bisan la an todló, an bohók, panapton
kon asay somirag̃, maopay na nakon,
Hiará ako magnawá
magsakaysakay sa bará
og didto ako hidagsa
sa kam g̃awan g̃a tuna
Katlóan ka tuig g̃a akon kahidlaw
sogád ka sin tobig nakon ikaóhaw
Kon baga ako si taro
tonáw na sa pag kaálo;
maopay si alimag̃o
kay may pag kalonolóno
Mga lagit, mga lagit,
¿háin daw dapít an sakit?.…
sa kalibótan waráy man
sabáli sa panomdoman
Sin pag kamamig̃aw sinín kakorolpon
waráy god nabantad bis osá g̃a dahon
bis an mg̃a tamsi sáhid mabidó an
¿say pa ba an tawo, di aipan gihapon?.…
Hinógay na intoy, siton pakalipog̃
sin kinarokanhi sinin amon libog̃
opayda kon hiro iton imo bayhon
maamog̃ ka daw la sinín bantog namon
Adto na si adlaw
linmoyó sa bokid,
oli na, indayon,
kay waray pa tóbig.
Hi nonay g̃a kawayánon
malobaylobay hag̃anon
naglilinakat ha kógon
hi hawak royokdoyókon.
Itón imo baba
g̃a nagyayabora
g̃a nagyiyinákan
sitón lonlun bowa;
kon di ko kahadlok
pághirót sin gaba
pag-oonloton ko
itón imo dila
Akó magtotóon diri ko sasabwan
mangad na maloto, diri ko sosog̃-an
si akó mátimo di ko poporoton
mangad na mabosóg, diri ko totolnon.
Anó man in akon kon diin ka kadto,
di mo la pag dad-on an tubig, kalayo:
di mo mam binohi ini g̃a lawas ko
tinmobo si inday kosóg san amáy ko.
[127]
An tansman nimo mandig̃
ginsisinólod san kand g̃
an taranman nakikil g̃
kay gin bobowad san baktin.
¿Ano ba, Dyos ko, an nakakasógad,
an isda sa dagat g̃a nagkakalópad?…
¿ano ba, Dyos ko, iní ga nadoróy,
inin katamsihan g̃a nagkakalag̃oy?…
Kanogon pa daw la san imo katindog
maópay si bayhon, maráot an bantog:
igpapanag̃lit ko, bayabas g̃a hinóg,
maópay an pánit, oloron an onód.
Ambot daw ada maorán
si dampog nag̃o odtóhan
bisan la inin pag̃ánod
doróyog tipailáwod
Busa, bayái, balitaw,
ayáw gad tood kay tíaw
iní g̃a akon pagbolaw
igpapahaoli g̃ahaw.
Hilag̃kag kitá, hilag̃kag
sinín palawán g̃a pankag
kay bag̃in, idáy, makárag
dó loktan sinín alámag.
Makadí kamí maoli,
maoli g̃a bagá diri,
naghihiawil pa g̃ani
san ka maopay sangawi
An di ko iginpinólog̃
an kabasólan in akon:
si kahoy di mag torópog̃
may balíko, may matadog̃
Anó man in akon kon diín ka hanoy
di mo la pagdad-on an tobig, an kahoy
iní g̃a lawas ko g̃a makalolóoy
tinmobo kan tatay, kan nanay g̃a iróy
Diri ko kay yóbit, diri ko kay dayaw
pamahonpáhon mo bagá may paráyaw;
an imo pamálod pagkasadag̃ana,
baga nagkokori an akon ginhawa.
Ayáw gad hin tamay, ayáw gad hin yóbit
kay magsáma man la inín aton pánit;
an aton logárig̃ ginkakalainan,
kay diri mag-osá inín aton g̃aran.
Busa, bayái, bayái,
bayái ayáw baliki,
bisan dahon sin kamoti
mabobohi kami dinhi.
Abá Lolay, abá Lolay
ligid ligid sinin baybay
kon igkita ka sin away
dalagan, ayaw papátay
Makadí kami maoli
sa baláy g̃a sinorambi
bisan la mawaráy bóg̃bog̃
maoli kay logarig̃on
Nag sisirom na daw inín kakorolpon
g̃atanán g̃a tamsi sa káhoy na hapon
kitá man an tawo ga may isip domdom.
máoli sa balay g̃a kalogarig̃on
[128]
It is beyond any question that most of the Filipino dialects are derived from a common origin: the Malay tongue.
For this reason many Bisayan words are exactly the same in other Filipino dialects, and many others bear some local dialectal differences, thus always showing a common origin.
The following lists are short collections of such words.
Differences in the vowels i, o.
| BISAYAN | TAGALOG | ENGLISH |
| Akon | Akin | my, mine |
| Amon | Amin | our |
| Aslom | Asim | acidity |
| Aton | Atin | our |
| Atóp | Atíp | roof |
| Bitóon | Bitúin | star |
| Bokog | Bikig | fish-bone, bone |
| Bogás | Bigas | rice |
| Bog-at | Bigat | weight |
| Bolad | Bilad | to sun |
| Bog̃ol | Big̃í | deaf |
| Kan-on | Kanin | cooked rice |
| Kaon | Kain | to eat |
| Katol | Katí | to itch, itching |
| Dámò | Dami | amount, much |
| Datóg̃ | Datig̃ | to arrive |
| Dokót | Dikit | to adhere, adhered |
| Dolóm | Dilim | dark |
| Gorót | Gilit | slice |
| Hábol | Habi | to weave |
| Harok | Halik | kiss, to kiss |
| Hatod | Hatid | to accompany |
| Horám | Hiram | to borrow |
| Iuomon | Inumin | potable water |
| Itom | Itim | black |
| Liog | Liig | neck |
| Pawod | Pawid | weaved nipa |
| Salóg | Sahig | floor |
| Sandig | Sandal | to lean |
| Takóp | Takíp | cover |
| Tanom | Tanim | plantation |
| Taróm | Talim | edge of a sword, etc. |
| Tindok | Tundok | a kind of banana |
| Tindog | Tindig | to stand |
| Tonok | Tiník | thorn |
[131]
Differences in k, h, l, r, d, t.
| BISAYAN | TAGALOG | ENGLISH |
| Adlaw | Araw | Sun, day |
| Aram | Alam | Wisdom |
| Badò | Barò | Chemise |
| Balay | Bahay | House |
| Balo | Bao | Widow, widower |
| Balon | Baon | Provision |
| Barahibo | Balahibo | Feather, dawn |
| Bari | Bali | To break |
| Bolan | Bwan | Moon, month |
| Kagód | Káyud | To scrath |
| Kalot | Kámot | To scratch |
| Kamó | Kayó | You |
| Koló | Kukú | Nail |
| Dalan | Daan | Path, road |
| Daraga | Dalaga | Young girl |
| Digò | Ligò | To bath |
| Dirì | Hindì | Not |
| Hadì | Harì | King |
| Halabà | Mahaba | Long |
| Halarom | Malalim | Deep |
| Harayò | Malayò | Far |
| Higdà | Higà | To lay down |
| Iróg | Ilog̃ | Nose |
| Lakát | Lakad | To walk |
| Lawod | Láot | Ocean |
| Mahínis | Malinis | Clean |
| Namok | Lamok | Mosquito |
| Napolo | Sampù | Ten |
| Parabol | Palaboy | Favor, grace |
| Pirit | Pilit | To force |
| Poro | Pulò | Island |
| Roag̃ | Lwag̃ | Broad |
| Salod | Sahod | To receive |
| Sarapati | Kalapati | Pigeon |
| Sarowal | Salawal | Pants |
| Sira | Sila | They |
| Sirag̃ | Silag | To appear |
| Sirog̃ | Silog̃ | Beneath |
| Sodlay | Suklay | Comb |
| Sorat | Sulat | Letter |
| Sorok | Sulok | Corner[132] |
| Talig̃a | Taig̃a | Ear |
| Tarog̃ | Talog̃ | A plant |
| Torò | Tulò | Drop |
| Torog | Tulog | To sleep |
| Toktok | Togtog | To sound, to play |
Differences in the accent, and in the separation of the syllables.
| BISAYAN | TAGALOG | ENGLISH |
| Bálik | Balík | to come back |
| Kohà | Kuha | to take |
| Gaód | Gáod | oar |
| Hipág | Hípag | sister-in-law |
| Laón | Láon | old, ancient |
| Sábay | Sabáy | simultaneous |
| Tawá | Táwa | laugh |
| Kab-it | Kabít | connected |
| Kam-aw | Kamao | a dish |
| Kan-on | Kanin | cooked rice |
| Koan | Kwán | so and so |
| Gab-i | Gabí | evening, night |
| Sab-a | Sabá | a kind of banana |
| Sab-it | Sabit | to hook |
| Tan-aw | Tanaw | to look |
| Tig-a | Tigás | hardness |
| Tul-id | Twid | straight |
Transformation from a to o, and viceversa.
| Alapoop | Alapaap | cloud, fog |
| Kamót | Kamay | hand |
| Doha | Dalawá | two |
| Habobò | Mababà | low |
| Sokól | Sukat | measure |
| Toló | Tatlo | three |
| Onóm | Anim | six |
| Opat | Apat | four |
| Otok | Utak | brain |
[133]