Reports from Correspondents:
Conference on the Iloco language: An important breakthrough in achieving unity on Iloco writing and translation

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

How do we translate the word protracted to Iloco? Following the Pilipino translation "matagalan", this would be "pangmabayagan" in Iloco. But in the treasure-trove of the Iloco language, there is a unique and more appropriate term - "naunday". It refers to a long process, but one with an end in sight, and that cannot be shortcut-just like a child's growing up to adulthood or the ripening of time.

The Iloco vocabulary is rich in words that express ideas precisely. The word for "viewpoint" in Iloco is pannirigan - which not only means "opinion" but includes the concept of "aiming". "Great" is translated as naindaklan - to mean not just "big" (dakkel) but "broad and heroic".

Nonetheless, there are many other problems. Iloco writers have long been asking how terms such as "self-reliance", "one-sided", "real estate", "underemployed", "Cold War" and others should be translated.

How should "odd jobbers" be translated? Mangmangged a kumpormi la ditan ti serserken da? (workers who enter an assortment of occupations); no anya la ditan ti panggedan da? (engaging in an assortment of livelihoods); uray no ania la't pamastrekan da? (going into any kind of venture); or should one use the Iloco idiom sangkasaang-sangkasapulan (equivalent to the Pilipino idiom isang kahig, isang tuka or "living hand-to-mouth")?

What about "pagpapanibagong-hubog" (remolding), "sahod" (wage) as opposed to "sweldo" (salary) and others?

Members of propaganda and education units and other related organs from the Ilocos-Cordillera and Cagayan Valley regions met in the recently concluded Conference on the Iloco Language held in August on the initiative of the Party regional organ in Ilocos-Cordillera. Representatives from Ang Bayan also attended the gathering. The conference strove to achieve unity on the initial guidelines and a set of conventions that would be followed on Iloco spelling, grammar and vocabulary. These guidelines and conventions would continually be enriched and serve as official rules for writing or translating statements, documents and literary works. They will be issued as a guide to Iloco much like that published by KAWSA (Kawanihan sa Pagsasalin ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas or the CPP Translation Bureau) in 1981.

Iloco is one of the major languages in the Philippines. It is used by more than 8,000,000 people in most of Northern Luzon. Iloco is also the lingua franca or common but secondary language of the various ethno-linguistic groups in Cordillera and Cagayan Valley. A significant portion of the population in northern Central Luzon also speaks Iloco. Like other indigenous languages in the country, Iloco is a relatively "young" language, compared for instance, to English. Although it was already in use as an oral language before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, it has existed in written form for only a few hundred years. Thus, various groups of writers have different rules in writing in Iloco.

There was an intense clash of ideas during the three-day discussion. Several points were not immediately or easily agreed upon, especially on spelling. Eventually, unity was achieved.

On the matter of spelling and grammar, the existence of two opposing conventions was noted-between the familiar and widespread system used by Bannawag (the Iloco version of the magazine-comics Liwayway) and translators of the Bible on the one hand and the system based on modern Pilipino and which were in accordance with the rules set by the National Translation Bureau. For instance, the matter of whether the old spelling should be changed ("rebolusion" would be spelled "rebolusyon") or whether pronouns should be separated from nouns (as in the case of dagatayo or "our land") to make two words - daga tayo - was a major point of contention. In the end, both sides reached an agreement by giving great consideration to the need to: (1) adjust to the current low level of literacy of the majority of the reading masses; (2) achieve a convergence between the local and national language; and (3) address more promptly the masses' long-standing demand for Iloco versions of revolutionary reading materials such as Ang Bayan as well as educational courses. It was agreed upon that pure Iloco words would be spelled in the old way, while "borrowed" terms would be spelled the Pilipino way.

There was recognition of the fact that it was easier to follow the old rules of Iloco spelling because of their internal logic, which required few exceptions. Old rules on spelling and grammar are not changed without basis and without necessity. Otherwise, our writings may look funny to those who are used to the old rules, or worse, may not be understood. For instance, it would be better to maintain the spellings "diario" and "industrialisasion" instead of switching to "dyaryo" or "industriyalisasyon" because the masses are more familiar with the former. On the other hand, it was recognized that many words from other languages have already been incorporated into Iloco.

Certain improvements were also agreed upon regarding some old Iloco words. In terms of spelling, major consideration was given to the elegance or beauty of sound (euphonics) and appearance. One example would be the way the Iloco translation of panginoong maylupa or "landlord" should be spelled. Apotdaga (from apo ti daga or "a lord who owns land"), which is patterned after the English word "landlord", looks inelegant and seems to have become an entirely different word. Apo nga addaan-daga, which is spelled in Pilipino style, is just as devoid of elegance in sound and appearance. It was agreed upon that it would be more appropriate to use apo't daga (contracted form of apo ti daga) for the singular form. It was possible to use appo't daga for the plural form, but it could cause confusion due to its similarity to apput-daga which means "covering for the soil". Besides, it was not euphonically correct. Thus, it was agreed that dagiti apo't daga ("landlords") would be the plural form.

There was recognition of the need to put a premium on precision in translating the content of the revolutionary message. In this regard, the conference recognized the need to develop the use of language and revolutionize it as well, even in the way the masses use it. There was particular recognition of the revolutionary movement's many contributions to the enrichment of language. Many ordinary people as well as Red fighters learn to read and write within the revolutionary movement. In the process, the masses have imbibed revolutionary abbreviations such as SI (social investigation), CSC (criticism-self-criticism), "agrev" (agrarian revolution) and DA (disciplinary action). There is also widespread use among the Ilocano masses of Pilipino words such as "ulat" (report), "lagom" (summing up), "sangay" (branch) and "hukbo" (army) as well as borrowed words such as "pasista", "kumprador burgesya" and "imperyalismo".

Along with this, there was recognition of the need to likewise adjust the use of language to the way the masses use it vis a vis their literacy level, culture and practice. In this regard, there was recognition of the wide range of flexibility in importing, "borrowing" and incorporating terms to broaden the reach of the masses of readers. There was consensus that the masses do not let a "small matter" such as spelling get in their way. As examples, there are words that the masses have gotten used to such as dyonson (junction), bormil or bolmil (ball mill), pista-im (peace time) and bakwit (evacuate). There were also differences in pronouncing and spelling the sounds represented by "i" or "e" and "o" or "u", depending on one's province of birth, but these were considered minor points. What was important was for readers to recognize and understand terms.

In the process of translating, the conference agreed to abide by the following general rules, stated in order of importance:

• Look for the nearest equivalent to Iloco. If there are many to choose from, make a choice on the basis of precision and popularity.
• If there is no Iloco equivalent, use and propagate the Pilipino equivalent, such as "lagom", "sining" (art) and others.
• If there is no Pilipino equivalent, one may instead define the word in a simple manner.
• If there is no appropriate translation, use the original.

It is expected that Iloco writers and readers may find it a bit unsettling at first to use and propagate the conventions agreed upon by the conference. But this is all part of the process of familiarization towards eventual popularization. The conference also agreed on the importance of seeking out feedback from the masses of readers on the new rules to be followed.

The conference achieved a major victory. The revolutionary movement is determined to reach out to, arouse and raise the consciousness of the broad masses of the people - through their own language, aside from Pilipino. The value of the revolutionary movement's efforts to develop the use of local languages is undeniable - this, along with propagating and developing the use of the national language.

The unities arrived at by the conference are expected to be a big help to the advancement of revolutionary work and struggle in Ilocos-Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, northern Central Luzon and other areas where Iloco is widely spoken. In particular, the translation and publication of revolutionary reading materials and overall education and propaganda work in Iloco will be revitalized and developed.

September 2001
English Edition

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