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
20 core words in Tao/Yami
Water
ranom
/ranom/
Fire
apuy
/apuj/
Sun
araw
/araw/
Moon
vehan
/vehan/
Mother
ina
/ina/
Father
ama
/ama/
Eat
kuman
/kuman/
Drink
minum
/minum/
Love
makakdeng
/makakdəŋ/
Heart
paso
/paso/
Tree
kayo
/kajo/
House
vahay
/vahaj/
Dog
ino
/ino/
Cat
koving
/koviŋ/
Hand
kamay
/kamaj/
Eye
mata
/mata/
Hello
akokay
/akokaj/
Thank you
ayoy
/ajoj/
One
asa
/asa/
Good
mapia
/mapia/
Sources
Words compared
Compared with related Austronesian (Batanic) languages
| Meaning | Tao/Yami | Old Tagalog | Maranao | Amis | Puyuma | Iriga Bicolano | Tausug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ranom /ranom/ | ᜆᜓᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /tubiɡ/ | ig /iɡ/ | nanom /nanom/ | enay /enai/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ |
| Fire | apuy /apuj/ | ᜀᜉᜓᜌ᜔ /apuj/ | apoy /apoj/ | namal /namal/ | apuy /apui/ | kalayo /kalajɔ/ | kayu /kaju/ |
| Sun | araw /araw/ | ᜀᜇᜏ᜔ /araw/ | alongan /aloŋan/ | cidal /tsiðal/ | kadaw /kadaw/ | aldəw /aldəw/ | adlaw /adlaw/ |
| Moon | vehan /vehan/ | ᜊᜓᜏᜈ᜔ /buwan/ | bolan /bolan/ | folad /folað/ | kuwalan /kuwalan/ | bulən /bulən/ | bulan /bulan/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | ᜁᜈ /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | inaꞌ /inaʔ/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ᜀᜋ /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | amaꞌ /amaʔ/ |
| Eat | kuman /kuman/ | ᜃᜁᜈ᜔ /kain/ | mangan /maŋan/ | komaen /komaen/ | kuman /kuman/ | kaən /kaʔən/ | kaun /kaʔun/ |
| Drink | minum /minum/ | ᜁᜈᜓᜋ᜔ /inom/ | minom /minom/ | minom /minom/ | enpa /enpa/ | inum /inum/ | minum /minum/ |
| Love | makakdeng /makakdəŋ/ | ᜁᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /ibiɡ/ | kalimo /kalimo/ | maolah /maolah/ | ulaw /ulaw/ | pagkaibəg /paɡkaʔibəɡ/ | lasa /lasa/ |
| Heart | paso /paso/ | ᜉᜓᜐᜓ /puso/ | pusoʔ /pusoʔ/ | faloko' /falokoʔ/ | kalumetan /kalumetan/ | puso /puso/ | pusuꞌ /pusuʔ/ |
| Tree | kayo /kajo/ | ᜃᜑᜓᜌ᜔ /kahoj/ | kayo /kajo/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kawi /kawi/ | kahoy /kahɔj/ | kahuy /kahuj/ |
| House | vahay /vahaj/ | ᜊᜑᜌ᜔ /bahaj/ | walay /walaj/ | loma' /lomaʔ/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | baləy /baləj/ | bāy /baːj/ |
| Dog | ino /ino/ | ᜀᜐᜓ /aso/ | aso /aso/ | wacu /watsu/ | suwan /suwan/ | ayam /ajam/ | iruꞌ /iruʔ/ |
| Cat | koving /koviŋ/ | ᜉᜓᜐ /pusa/ | pusa /pusa/ | posi /posi/ | kating /katiŋ/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ |
| Hand | kamay /kamaj/ | ᜃᜋᜌ᜔ /kamaj/ | lima /lima/ | kamay /kamaj/ | lima /lima/ | kamət /kamət/ | lima /lima/ |
| Eye | mata /mata/ | ᜋᜆ /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Hello | akokay /akokaj/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜑᜌ᜔ /mabuhaj/ | kapian /kapijan/ | nga'ay ho /ŋaʔaj ho/ | marayas /maɾajas/ | kumusta /kumusta/ | kumusta /kumusta/ |
| Thank you | ayoy /ajoj/ | ᜐᜎᜋᜆ᜔ /salamat/ | salamat /salamat/ | aray /araj/ | kasapakan /kasapakan/ | dyos mabalos /djos mabalos/ | magsukul /maɡsukul/ |
| One | asa /asa/ | ᜁᜐ /isa/ | isa /isa/ | cecay /tsetsaj/ | sa /sa/ | əsad /əsad/ | isa /isa/ |
| Good | mapia /mapia/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜆᜒ /mabuti/ | mapia /mapija/ | kapah /kapah/ | mauruway /mauɾuwai/ | marhəy /maɾhəj/ | marayaw /marajaw/ |
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