Tao
Tao/Yami
Austronesian (Batanic)
Tao (Yami, Tao Tao) is unique among Taiwan's recognized indigenous languages as the only Malayo-Polynesian (Batanic branch) — not Formosan — language, spoken by ~3K on Orchid Island (Lanyu, off Taiwan's southeast coast). Closely related to Ivatan of the Batanes Islands of the Philippines, reflecting prehistoric Austronesian seafaring routes. Notable for the elaborate Mivanwa flying-fish ritual cycle, sea-fishing taboos, and silver-armor warrior tradition. Latin orthography developed since 2001 alongside Taiwan's Aboriginal language education program.
Where it is spoken
31 core words in Tao/Yami
Water
ranom
/ranom/
Fire
apuy
/apuj/
Sun
araw
/araw/
Moon
vehan
/vehan/
Star
vituen
/vituən/
Mother
ina
/ina/
Father
ama
/ama/
I
yaken
/jakən/
You
imo
/ʔimo/
Name
ngaran
/ŋaran/
Eye
mata
/mata/
Hand
kamay
/kamaj/
Heart
paso
/paso/
Love
makakdeng
/makakdəŋ/
Tree
kayo
/kajo/
House
vahay
/vahaj/
Dog
ino
/ino/
Cat
koving
/koviŋ/
Eat
kuman
/kuman/
Drink
minum
/minum/
One
asa
/asa/
Two
doa
/doa/
Hello
akokay
/akokaj/
Thank you
ayoy
/ajoj/
Good
mapia
/mapia/
Sources
Words compared
Compared with related Austronesian (Batanic) languages
| Meaning | Tao/Yami | Old Tagalog | Maranao | Iriga Bicolano | Amis | Puyuma | Old Malay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ranom /ranom/ | ᜆᜓᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /tubiɡ/ | ig /iɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | nanom /nanom/ | enay /enai/ | ayar /ajar/ |
| Fire | apuy /apuj/ | ᜀᜉᜓᜌ᜔ /apuj/ | apoy /apoj/ | kalayo /kalajɔ/ | namal /namal/ | apuy /apui/ | api /api/ |
| Sun | araw /araw/ | ᜀᜇᜏ᜔ /araw/ | alongan /aloŋan/ | aldəw /aldəw/ | cidal /tsiðal/ | kadaw /kadaw/ | matari /matari/ |
| Moon | vehan /vehan/ | ᜊᜓᜏᜈ᜔ /buwan/ | bolan /bolan/ | bulən /bulən/ | folad /folað/ | bulan /buɭan/ | bulan /bulan/ |
| Star | vituen /vituən/ | ᜊᜒᜆᜓᜁᜈ᜔ /bituʔin/ | bito-on /bitoʔon/ | bitóon /bituʔon/ | fo'is /foʔis/ | vituwan /vituwan/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | ᜁᜈ /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ibu /ibu/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ᜀᜋ /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | bapa /bapa/ |
| I | yaken /jakən/ | ᜀᜃᜓ /ako/ | ako /ako/ | akó /ʔako/ | kako /kako/ | kuiku /kuiku/ | aku /aku/ |
| You | imo /ʔimo/ | ᜁᜃᜏ᜔ /ikaw/ | seka /sɵka/ | ikā /ʔika/ | kiso /kiso/ | yu /ju/ | kamu /kamu/ |
| Name | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ᜅᜎᜈ᜔ /ŋalan/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ngangan /ŋaŋan/ | ngadan /ŋadan/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ |
| Eye | mata /mata/ | ᜋᜆ /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Hand | kamay /kamaj/ | ᜃᜋᜌ᜔ /kamaj/ | lima /lima/ | kamət /kamət/ | kamay /kamaj/ | lima /lima/ | tangan /taŋan/ |
| Heart | paso /paso/ | ᜉᜓᜐᜓ /puso/ | pusoʔ /pusoʔ/ | puso /puso/ | faloko' /falokoʔ/ | kalumetan /kalumetan/ | hati /hati/ |
| Love | makakdeng /makakdəŋ/ | ᜁᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /ibiɡ/ | kalimo /kalimo/ | pagkaibəg /paɡkaʔibəɡ/ | maolah /maolah/ | ulaw /ulaw/ | sayang /sajaŋ/ |
| Tree | kayo /kajo/ | ᜃᜑᜓᜌ᜔ /kahoj/ | kayo /kajo/ | kahoy /kahɔj/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kawi /kawi/ | kayu /kaju/ |
| House | vahay /vahaj/ | ᜊᜑᜌ᜔ /bahaj/ | walay /walaj/ | baləy /baləj/ | loma' /lomaʔ/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | rumah /rumah/ |
| Dog | ino /ino/ | ᜀᜐᜓ /aso/ | aso /aso/ | ayam /ajam/ | wacu /watsu/ | suwan /suwan/ | anjing /andʒiŋ/ |
| Cat | koving /koviŋ/ | ᜉᜓᜐ /pusa/ | pusa /pusa/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ | posi /posi/ | kating /katiŋ/ | kucing /kutʃiŋ/ |
| Eat | kuman /kuman/ | ᜃᜁᜈ᜔ /kain/ | mangan /maŋan/ | kaən /kaʔən/ | komaen /komaən/ | kuman /kuman/ | makan /makan/ |
| Drink | minum /minum/ | ᜁᜈᜓᜋ᜔ /inom/ | minom /minom/ | inum /inum/ | minom /minom/ | enpa /enpa/ | minum /minum/ |
| One | asa /asa/ | ᜁᜐ /isa/ | isa /isa/ | əsad /əsad/ | cecay /tsetsaj/ | sa /sa/ | sa /sa/ |
| Two | doa /doa/ | ᜇᜎᜏ /dalaˈwa/ | dowa /dowa/ | darwā /darwaː/ | tosa /tosaʔ/ | zua /ʐua/ | dua /dua/ |
| Hello | akokay /akokaj/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜑᜌ᜔ /mabuhaj/ | kapian /kapijan/ | kumusta /kumusta/ | nga'ay ho /ŋaʔaj ho/ | marayas /maɾajas/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | ayoy /ajoj/ | ᜐᜎᜋᜆ᜔ /salamat/ | salamat /salamat/ | dyos mabalos /djos mabalos/ | aray /araj/ | kasapakan /kasapakan/ | — /—/ |
| Good | mapia /mapia/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜆᜒ /mabuti/ | mapia /mapija/ | marhəy /maɾhəj/ | kapah /kapah/ | mauruway /mauɾuwai/ | baik /baik/ |
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