Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Itneg language

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Native to
  
Philippines

Ethnicity
  
Igorot

Region
  
Luzon

Native speakers
  
17,000 (2003)

Itneg language

Language family
  
Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Northern Luzon South–Central Cordilleran Central Cordilleran Kalinga–Itneg Itneg

ISO 639-3
  
Variously: itb – Binongan Itneg iti – Inlaod Itneg itt – Maeng Itneg tis – Masadiit Itneg ity – Moyadan Itneg

Itneg is a South-Central Cordilleran dialect continuum found in the island of Luzon, Philippines. This language and Ilocano are spoken by the Itneg people (sometimes also referred to as the "Tingguian people") in Abra province.

Several ethnic-Itneg dialects are taxonomically part of the neighboring Kalinga language.

Locations and dialects

Ethnologue reports the following locations for each of the 5 Itneg languages.

  • Binongan Itneg: Licuan-Baay, Abra Province. 7,500 speakers.
  • Inlaod Itneg: a few villages in Peñarrubia, Lagangilang, Danglas, and Langiden municipalities, Abra Province. 9,000 speakers.
  • Maeng Itneg: Luba, Tubo, and Villaviciosa municipalities, Abra Province. 18,000 speakers.
  • Masadiit Itneg: Sallapadan, Bucloc, and Boliney municipalities, Abra Province; also in the western border strip of Kalinga Province. 7,500 speakers. Dialects are Masadiit Boliney and Masadiit Sallapadan.
  • Moyadan Itneg: Abra Province. 12,000 speakers.

    • However, Ronald Himes (1997) recognizes 2 dialects for Itneg, namely Binongan (eastern) and Inlaod (western).

    References

    Itneg language Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA