Wikijunior:Languages/Kapampangan

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Languages

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What writing system(s) does this language use?

Kapampangan and almost all of the languages in the Philippines are written using the Latin alphabet. However, Kapampangan phonology lacks the sound of the letter H as in hat.

Upper case	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	I	J	K	L	M	N	Ñ	NG	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	Z	X	Y	Z
Lower case	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	i	j	k	l	m	n	ñ	ng	o	p	q	r	s	t	u	v	w	x	y	z

The Kapampangan alphabet includes all of the same letters we use in English, along with 'Ñ' (enye), which the Filipinos borrowed from the Spanish, and 'Ng', a digraph already available as a single character in Baybayin.

Engraved — to carve into a material.

Colonize — to migrate and settle a place and occupy as a colony.

digraph — when two letters are used to show one sound.

How many people speak this language?

As of 2008, there are 2.8 million native speakers of Kapampangan language.

Where is this language spoken?

Location in the Philippines where Kapampangan is spoken

Kapampangan is an Austronesian language, and one of the eight major languages of the Philippines. It is the primary and predominant language of the entire province of Pampanga and southern Tarlac, on the southern part of Luzon's central plains geographic region, where the Kapampangan ethnic group resides. Kapampangan is also spoken in northeastern Bataan, as well as in the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales that border Pampanga. It is further spoken as a second language by a few Aeta groups in the southern part of Central Luzon.

What is the history of this language?

Kapampangan is an Austronesian Language. It was thought that the Austronesian language came from Taiwan and migrated southwards through sailing. They first reached Batanes islands, by around 2200 BCE.

Soon after the Age of Contact came and the Philippines started trading with other people like Persians, Arabs, Malays, Indians, Japanese, and Chinese. The people who traded with the Filipinos also introduced their language and culture, and soon after the Filipinos started using words from their languages and dressed, ate, and lived like them.

The Spaniards came and introduced Spanish, taught the Filipinos Spanish, and soon after many Spanish words entered the Language. The Americans came and introduced English and encouraged the use of English, so English words also entered Kapampangan. Kapampangan therefore is one of the most diverse languages of the world, with Sanskrit, Malay, Javanese, Mandarin Chinese, Nahuatl, Persian, Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, and English loanwords.

loanwords — words in a language that have been borrowed from other languages.

Who are some famous authors or poets in this language?

• Juan Crisóstomo Caballa Soto was a poet, dramatist, journalist and newspaperman. He was also known as Crissot, the “Father of Pampango Literature.” Soto was born in Santa Inés, Bacolor, Pampanga to Santiago Soto and Marciana Caballa.

What are some basic words in this language that I can learn?

Pamakibat	Responses
wa	yes
ali	no
siguro	probably, perhaps
Mga Pagbati	Greetings
Kumusta?	Hi, how are you?
Masalese na ku man, salamat.	I'm fine, thank you.
Mayap a yaldo.	Good day.
Mayap a yabak.	Good morning.
Mayap a yugtu.	Good midday.
Mayap a gatpanapun.	Good afternoon.
Mayap a bengi.	Good evening.
Nukarin ka ibat?	Where have you been?
Dakal a salamat	Thank you
Alang nanu man.	You're welcome.
Ume na ku.	Good-bye.
	Basic phrases
Byasa kang mag-Ingles?	Do you speak English?
Nukarin ya ing banyu?	Where is the bathroom?
Buri ko ya ing . . .	I like . . .
E ke buri . . .	I don't like . . .
Yaku i . . .	My name is . . .
Nanu ing lagyu mu?	What's your name?
Numero	Numbers
metung	one
adwa	two
atlu	three
apat	four
lima	five
anam	six
pitu	seven
walu	eight
siyam	nine
apulu	ten
	Counting Units
gatus	hundred
ribu	thousand
milyon	million

What is a simple song/poem/story that I can learn in this language?

Atin Ku Pung Singsing is a Kapampangan folk song. This song is simple and has many rhymes.

Atin ku pûng Singsing,
Métung yang Timpúkan,
Ámána ké Iti,
King Indûng Íbatan,
Sangkan kéng Sinínup,
King métung a Kaban,
Me-Aláya Iti,
É ku kamaláyan.

Ing súkal ning Lúb ku,
Súsukdul king Banua,
Píkurus kóng Gámat,
Bábo ning Lamésa,
Nínu mang Manákit,
King Singsing kung Mána,
Kalúlûng púsû Ku,
Mánginu ya Kéya.

And here's the English translation of it.

I had a ring
With a beautiful gem
I inherited it
From my mother
I kept it very well
In a chest
But it just disappeared
Without my noticing.

The heartache within me
Is as high as the sky
My crossed hands
Are upon the table
Whoever can find
That ring I inherited
My poor heart
Shall forever worship