The Manobo languages are a group of languages spoken in the Philippines. Their speakers are primarily located around Northern Mindanao, Central Mindanao (presently called Soccsksargen) and Caraga regions where they are natively spoken. Some outlying groups make Manobo geographically discontiguous as other speakers can be located as far as the southern peninsula of Davao Oriental, most of Davao Occidental and coastal areas of Sultan Kudarat. The Kagayanen speakers are the most extremely remote and can be found in certain portions of Palawan.

Languages

  • Central
    • East: Dibabawon, Rajah Kabunsuwan, Agusan
    • South: Ata, Matigsalug (Tigwa); Obo
    • West: Western Bukidnon, Ilianen
  • North: Binukid, Kagayanen, Higaonon, Kinamigin
  • South: Tagabawa, Sarangani, Cotabato

Classification

Elkins (1974:637) classifies the Manobo languages as follows.

Reconstruction

Elkins (1974) includes a reconstruction of Proto-Manobo, along with 197 reconstructed etyma.

The Proto-Manobo phonemes are (Elkins 1974:616):

Consonants
Vowels

See also

  • Lumad people

References

  • Elkins, Richard E. (1974). "A Proto-Manobo Word List". Oceanic Linguistics. 13 (1/2): 601–641. doi:10.2307/3622754.

Manobo (Agusan) Language Sample Language Museum

(PDF) NONPERSONAL DETERMINERS IN MANOBO LANGUAGES

Manobo man with bird Jacob Maentz

Manobo Ati Atihan Festival Pictures Philippines in GlobalGeography

Manobo Language of the Philippines