Bajau Laut – Fishermen without Fish

Erik Abrahamsson is a Master’s student in Social Anthropology at Lund University, studying about B...

Learning about Freediving among the Sama

Competitive Freediving and its search for the Sama Though competitive freediving has only recently t...

Mother Tongue Based Children Songs in Sinama

I went on a short trip to Tinoto, Sarangani to inquire about the teaching efforts being made towards...

 
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by erik

Bajau Laut – Fishermen without Fish

March 26, 2013 in Addat Sama, Guest Post by erik

Erik Abrahamsson is a Master’s student in Social Anthropology at Lund University, studying about Bajau Laut. His blog is www.theaquaticape.org

Edjie with the BagahakSuddenly, Edjie reached the surface with a big smile in his face. He had caught a grouper with his speargun – and it was still alive. “Bagahak!” said Edjie, “Itu ahalga ma Chinatown” (Translation: Grouper! This is expensive in Chinatown). Immediately, we canceled the fishing trip, docked at Magsaysay Park and ran into Chinatown.  Me, Edjie and his son Loglog, with wet clothes, no shoes and a living fish in our hands. After a while we entered a jewelry store and met a Chinese man with an amazed look. He brought a scale and weighted the grouper – more than two kilo. Edjie sold it for 320 pesos (8 USD). The day was saved!

My first encounter with Bajau Laut took place in the beginning of 2010 when I was studying about indigenous peoples at Lund University. My first intention was to go to Tawi Tawi but researchers advised me not to go there … so I continued to read about Bajau and found a blog were a man wrote about his encounters with Bajau in southern Mindanao.  I asked him if he could help me and he replied that Bajau are living only 200 meter from his house in Davao City.

“Isn’t it dangerous?”, I asked and looked at the map of Mindanao.

“No, not here”, he replied. “I will assist you.”

Superb divers

Bajau Laut Community in Davao City

A few weeks later I moved in to the Bajau community in Matina Aplaya hosted by one of the leader’s families.  From the beginning I was fascinated with their amazing diving and fishing skills. We used to go fishing daily: Me, the community leader Edjie and his “sehe’” Issau. They caught fish after fish – including groupers, octopuses and muray eels.

One day, I was contacted by Prof. Erika Schagatay at Mid-Sweden University who asked me to clock their dives in order to estimate their total under water working time during a typical fishing tour. I continued the study in the end of 2010 using Ultra Sensus Dive Recorders. The result was fascinating, it shows that Bajau are spending more than 50% of their total time in the water under the surface – no matter if they stay on the sea for one, two or three hours.

The study can be found here: Underwater working times in two groups of traditional apnea divers in Asia: the Ama and the Bajau

In the end of 2010 I returned for a new field work among the Sama-Bajau. During this journey I also visited Semporna, Malaysia and remote Bajau villages in Indonesia. Now, a new world was opening for me: the language Sinama.  What I had understood as a small dialect in Davao, proved to be a wide-spread language spoken in four countries. In Semporna it is the town’s everyday language.

Study on Fish Bombing

Presently in 2013, I am making a study on dynamite fishing in Semporna.  Fish bombing is an industry driven by international demands, diminishing resources and the migration policy of Malaysia. Risking deportation, many Bajau fishermen make a living from destructive fishing methods – feeling no connectivity to the land.
Most Bajau Laut, however, are not involved in any destructive fishing. They continue to fish with the spear, the net and the hook – even if many of the spearfishers have started to use compressors.

Unique Knowledge of the Sea

Bajau Laut have a unique knowledge of the sea – they know hundreds of species, they adapt to the ocean’s tides and can harvest reefs sustainable. In hundreds of years they have co-existed with the sea using fishing methods with little impact on the marine life.

Bajau Laut Fisherman Edjie and Issau out on the OceanUnfortunately, the Bajau’s lifestyle is threatened by declined fish populations, rising temperatures, bleached corals and even chemicals spreading in the seas. In Davao City the fishermen still go fishing every day, bringing nothing but their homemade spear-guns, wooden goggles and swimming feet. But at the same time as they hunt for fish on the sea bed fishing ships return to the Fish Port after a night at sea.

The catches for Bajau get smaller every day and it is a pity to see how the new water environment is affecting people like Edjie and Issau. One day they will be fishermen without fish.

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by Luke

Learning about Freediving among the Sama

March 15, 2013 in Addat Sama by Luke

Competitive Freediving and its search for the Sama

Though competitive freediving has only recently taken the form of a sport, freediving has existed for centuries as a means of livelihood and an alternative source of income for those that have an aptitude for it. Recently I received an e-mail from Wolfgang Dafert of www.freediving-philippines.com. He has been teaching freediving for over 7 years and they recently held the first freediving competition in the Philippines. He approached me for help finding the deepest and best Badjao freediver. After explaining to him that the Badjao (Sama Dilaut) are actually part of a larger tribe, I told him that here in Davao alone I know of at least 5 very good freedivers.

Apnea, as the term is used in freediving for being able to hold one’s breath underwater, is readily translated into the Sinama language as ap’ddon.  Here in Davao, my experience is that when asking the question of who among the divers are ap’ddon, the people are often Sama from the island of Silumpak.  Though when asking Sama Silumpak they will also state that the Sama Dilaut (Badjao) are also ap’ddon.  Of the five divers here in town I knew of, all of them were at least part Sama Silumpak.  Regular dives are around 20 d’ppa (20 fathoms or about 100ft).  On occasion they have done dives reaching 40-50 d’ppa (as high as 250ft).  I also shared with Wolfgang that I knew of a story of a man who dove 105 d’ppa (525 ft).  (Content Removed: More information on the 105 d’ppa dive will be provided as it becomes verifiable).

Connecting Freediving Knowledge to Sama Freediving Practice

These things were of enough interest to Wolfgang that he came and visited us here in Davao on Saturday.  Sama divers could learn a lot from Wolfgang that would help them in their pagusaha (livelihood).  For instance when we were sitting down with a Sama Imam (community religious leader), he mentioned that sometimes he spits out blood after freediving.  It usually happens when he hasn’t been diving for a while and he goes quite deep.  The reason, we found out from Wolfgang, was that after a few weeks of not diving, lung muscles that were once stretched out and conditioned, return to a normal state.  Just like if you haven’t played basketball for a while it is easy to strain your muscles, resulting in injury.  In the same way you can damage your lungs by not stretching them properly during extended periods of rest from freediving.  Wolfgang gave an example of lung stretches that he uses when away from freediving.  That way when he starts diving again there is no blood.  This is especially important for Imam who always takes a break from freediving during Ramadan, the Muslim month for fasting.  There are also breathing techniques that can aid a freediver in using air more efficiently while underwater so that they can stay there for quite some time.  Wolfgang has done 7 minutes on one breath before.

In just a two day visit, Sama that have been my friends for years could relate better with my guest.  This is due to similar experiences that I do not yet share with them.  Wolfgang is also a spear-gun fisherman.  The Sama were quite interested in how he marks areas that have lots of fish when he goes out.  In the end I think its not so different than their own techniques.  He also mentioned that when he fishes near coral, he often goes about 20 ft or so beyond the coral in the direction of the current.  Bigger fish are often waiting out their to find smaller fish that come out from the reef.

I think Wolfgang also learned quite a bit from the Sama.  Traditionally the Sama dive headfirst when diving.   The men that knew the diver from Tinoto who dove 105 d’ppa, recalled that he would always go feet first. The reason as explained by freedivers is that it is actually easier to equalize the pressure in your body when your ears are above your lungs.  Wolfgang still can’t comprehend how the Sama equalize to relieve the pain in their ears.  They don’t tend to mention plugging their nose and blowing.  Those that are using full masks do blow out some of their air into their mask as a method to relieve pressure on the ears.  Though it is a common tale that Sama and Badjao blow their eardrums on purpose in order to dive with greater ease, no one I have met has ever confirmed that.  Imam said that none of the divers he knows even have blown eardrums, except for one.  This man blew his eardrums at a young age.  It was an accident since he was expected to provide for his family at a time when his father was sick.

I will return to the topic of the diver who dove 105 d’ppa.  Wolfgang was amazed that when he did the dive, he stopped about 3-5 d’ppa from the surface to relax his body.  Most likely this was done in an attempt to avoid decompression sickness.  Among competitive freedivers a technique like this has only recently been used and has proved helpful.

Traces of the Impact of Freediving on Sama Culture

I had thought that freedivers weren’t at risk of getting the bends, but Wolfgang corrected me.  He said that decompression sickness is especially dangerous because it doesn’t always manifest itself immediately.  I find this interesting as I have ran into several Sama men that are suffering from diving related sicknesses.  The man who dove 105 d’ppa is said to have been poisoned.  In the last few years of his life he was said to not be able to dive more than 1 d’ppa.  Stories among the Sama about poisonings are frequent.  I wonder how many of the stories might actually be rooted in diving related sicknesses that only manifest themselves over time.

There are also quite a few stories about the most ap’ddon Sama fishermen being connected to spirit beings or mermaids in the deep ocean.  Interestingly enough, Wolfgang did not deny this account, but instead noted that high levels of nitrogen in the body while deep in the ocean are known to introduce hallucinations and highly euphoric experiences.  This of course can be a very dangerous high, which is why he stressed how important it is to always dive with a partner.  The Sama in most cases already do this, especially when diving at greater depths.

Freediving can be more Effective than Scuba Diving

I learned a lot over Wolfgang’s two day visit.  I always thought that scuba divers would dive deeper than freedivers.  Scuba divers have limitations based on their air.  Its not recommended to go over 24 d’ppa (120 ft) on regular air, though some will push the limit as high as 36 d’ppa (180 ft).  This is the reason that a Sama freediver would be hired to prove the presence of a shipwreck.  For anything over 36 d’ppa the freediver is more useful than your ordinary scuba diver.

What the Increasing Popularity of the Sport of Freediving could do for the Sama

For me it was an honor to host Wolfgang for a two day visit.  Any freediving instructor in the Philippines should do as much as possible to connect the sport with its roots.  I was pleased to introduce him to some of the deeper divers among the Sama.  Too often the Sama are looked down upon by their Filipino countrymen and even their fellow Muslims.  The pearl is a parable woven into the lives of the Sama.  The pearl which once held great value has now become a cheap commodity.  Its now farmed, processed, manufactured.  It used to be strove for by diving to great depths.  The Sama are indeed a great tribe, worthy of honor, but they have been kicked about by the modern world who does not care so much about culture and heritage as it does materialism and commercial value.

I am hopeful that the sport of competitive freediving as it begins to develop in the Philippines can serve as a means to bring honor and dignity once again to this awesome tribe, the Sama.

 

 

 

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Mother Tongue Based Children Songs in Sinama

February 22, 2013 in Kalangan Sama, Reading Tools by Luke

I went on a short trip to Tinoto, Sarangani to inquire about the teaching efforts being made towards Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education.  The school there is Datu Abdulbali Elementary School.  There are over 700 students with the majority of these being Sama speakers.  The founder of the school and its first principal was a Sama from Sisangat, Sulu.

I found out the school was being used as a pilot program in MTB-MLE (Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education).  Teachers there are obviously working hard at implementing MTB-MLE.  They have created books in Sinama and written songs.  They expressed to me that they are having a bit of difficulty taking the children’s mother tongue, Sinama, and going beyond oral learning.  Reading and writing in Sinama is a key for making this Mother Tongue Based Education program effective.  It will only succeed with a good system for writing the Sinama language.

We have that system.  The Sinama orthography is well designed to represent spoken Sinama on paper.  Unfortunately, parents and teachers for the most part are unfamiliar with the Sinama orthography.  I am glad to get to partner with a 1st grade class at Datu Abdulbali.  They sang for me several great songs in Sinama and allowed me to videotape them.  My agreement with them was to give their songs back to them on both Youtube and DVD.  I added the lyrics to the songs hoping that this would help them learn written Sinama.

Here are 6 Sinama songs sung by children for whom Sinama is their mother tongue.  I have included lyrics and translations.

Kuhita’ Bata’-Bata’

Lyrics:

Si Abdul, Si Fatima’.
An’bba ma tōng kalang.
Akalanggal kuhita’.
Kuhita’ bata’-bata’.
O, Ina’, O Ina’
Pal’kkas ka pi’itu.
Mbal na ta’abutnu.
Paloklok na ni batu.

Translation:

Abdul and Fatima are collecting food at the edge of the coral.  They find an octopus.  A young octopus.  “Mother! Mother! Come quickly.  You didn’t make it in time.  It has now hidden again in the coral.

Manuk-Manuk Paleyang

Lyrics:

Si manuk, si manuk paleyang-leyang.
Si manuk, si manuk paleyang-leyang.
Dikayu’ manuk-manuk pat’ppak ma sanga.
At’kka dikayu’. Duwa na sigā.

Si manuk, si manuk paleyang-leyang.
Si manuk, si manuk paleyang-leyang.
Duwa manuk-manuk pat’ppak ma sanga.
At’kka dikayu’. T’llu na sigām.

Si manuk, si manuk paleyang-leyang.
Si manuk, si manuk paleyang-leyang.
T’llu manuk-manuk pat’ppak ma sanga.
At’kka dikayu’. Mpat na sigām.

Aniya’ Tanganku

Lyrics:

Aniya’ tanganku.
Gibang maka kowan.
Pinariyata’.
Al’ssin sidda.
Angalagpak
Issa, duwa’, t’llu.
Tanganku.
Al’ssin sidda.

Translation:

I have hands, the left and the right.  Hold them up.  They are very clean & neat.  Clap your hands.  One, Two, Three.  My hands are very clean & neat.

Sangpū’ Ambak

Lyrics:

Sangpū’ ambak palangi-langi.
Pariyata’, pareyo’. Palibut-libut.
Amūng ina’, “Atuli na.”
Amūng ambak, “Mbal. Mbal.”
Sangpū’ ambak palangi-langi.
Pariyata’, pareyo’. Palibut-libut.
Amūng ina’, “Amangan na.”
Amūng ambak, “Aho’. Aho’.”

Translation:

10 frogs are swimming.  They go up, down, and all around.  Their mother tells them to sleep.  The frogs say, “No!”
10 frogs are swimming.  They go up, down, and all around.  Their mother tells them to eat.  The frogs say, “Yes!”

Angitung Kitam!

Manuk-Manuk Enggong-Enggong

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Pagtipunan Bangsa Sama ma Internet

February 20, 2013 in Addat Sama, Sama/Bajau Research by Luke

Aniya’ h’lling bagayku ma wordpress site-na buwattitu: “Alungay Bissala, Alanyap na Bangsa.”  B’nnal h’llingna ilu. Angkanna bang ma aku, bang akosog bissala (Bahasa Sinama), aga’os isab Bangsa.  Ma waktu tagna’ aniya’ saga paltanda’an pangilahan saga linguists bang masi akosog  bahasa dakayu’ bangsa. Ai baha’ saga paltanda’an itū? Ya na itu:

  • Aniya’ saga būk tasulat ma bahasa sigām maka aniya’ isab radju ma bahasa inān.
  • Bang bahasa sigām niusal ma tabu’, ma luma’, ma iskul, maka ma langgal.
  • Bang aniya’ saga kalangan baha’u ma bahasa itu.

Kamemon itu paltanda’an masi akosog dakayu’ bahasa.  Buwattina’an pagga yukta “high-tech” na patahunan itu, subay lagi’ ginanapan duwa paltanda’an pangilahanta akosog masi dakayu’ bahasa:

  • Kaissana, bang magtext saga a’a ma bahasa sigām ma cellphone
  • Karuwana, bang bahasa sigām niusal ma internet, ma facebook, ma youtube, maka ma saga website kasehe’an.

Ma tahun 2008 aniya’ bay palniyatanku angahinangan Bangsa Sama website ma internet.  Kabaya’anku website itu “Community website” bo’ supaya magtipun saga kasamahan min saddi-saddi lahat ma kaluha’an dunya.  Sinama isab ya bahasa niusal ma website itu. Subay du isab aniya’ saga video ma bahasa Sinama maka saga patta’ min Lahat Kasamahan. Kabaya’anku to’ongan aheka kasamahan tahinang member ma website itu maka makapagsuli-suli sigām ni saga pagkahi sigām Bangsa Sama.

Bang ma bistahanku, halam gi’ asampulna’  palniyatanku. Sogō’ minsan mbal gi’ aheka member Sinama.org, kinōgan aku sabab aniya’ tabākku ma internet saga kasamahan bay angahinang community website sigām ma bahasa Sinama.  Angkan minsan mbal pinabantug Sinama.org., pabantugku saga website sigām bo’ supaya sai-sai amassa sulatku itu makajari na ameya’ ma saga group maka website sigām.

Magtagna’ aku ma saga umpigan Kasamahan ma Facebook.

Facebook Groups for Sama PeopleTabawanians Sama Tabawan Facebook Group

1. Tabawanians | Duma’inka aku a’a  Tabawan.  Aniya’ saga bagayku a’a min Tabawan maka aheka isab lahasiya’  h’ndaku minnē’ angkan aku bay ameya’ ma group itu.  Aheya pagaddatku ma sigām sabab proud sigām ma lahat sigām, ma bangsa sigām maka ma bahasa sigām.  Minsan Bangsa Sūk, bang ma Tabawan, magsinama du isab.  Ma umpigan itu, minsan kasehe’an sigām bay na paluwa’ min lahat Pilipin, masi sigām bilahi anabang ma bangsa sigām maka ma lahat sigām.

Bahasa Group itu: English, Sinama, Melayu

Pila member: 261 (2-19-13)

Bajau Community Facebook Group

2. Bajau Community (Semporna, Sabah) | Umpigan itu aheya min kamemon Kauman Sama ma internet.  Labi araran sigām magmalayu min magsinama sogo’ addat Sama sigām.  Aniya’ isab tabākku ma umpigan sigām saga stori ma bahasa Sinama maka patta’ beya’ maka sulatna ma bahasatam Sinama.

Bahasa Group itu: Melayu, Sinama

Pila member 3,787 (2-19-13)

Anything About Sama Banguingui' Facebook Group

3. Anything about Sama Balanguinguih | Ariki’ du umpigan itu sogo’ ahāp bang paheya.  Ya pagsuli-suli saga Kasamahan ma umpigan itu pasalan history Lahat Pilipin maka saga ai-ai ma pasalan bangsa sigām, Sama Banguingi’.

Bahasa Group itu: English, Tagalog, Sinama

Pila member 51 (2-19-13)

Tawi-Tawians Sama Facebook Group

4. Tawi-Tawians(Sama)Group Chat | Bang aniya’ talistaku umpigan ma saga Bangsa Sama Banguingi’, aniya’ isab ma saga kasamahan min Tawi-Tawi.  Ya itu umpigan saga a’a min Tawi-Tawi.

Bahasa Group itu: Tagalog, Sinama

Pila member 292 (2-19-13)

 

5. Kamus Bajau | Araran aniya’ saga post min admin maitu.  Magsinama maka magmalayu saga a’a ma umpigan itu.

Bahasa Group itu: Sinama, Melayu

Pila Member: 897 (2-19-13)

 

6. Madrasa Bahasa Sinama | Ya sara’ karuwana ma umpigan sigām: Bang ka mag-post subay Bahasa Sinama.  Angkan ahāp to’ongan umpigan itu ma sai-sai bilahi anganad ma pasalan Agama Islam pasal aniya’ saga hadith maka ayat min Kura’an bay sinalin ni Bahasa Sinama.

Bahasa Group itu: Sinama, Arabic

Pila Member 139 (2-19-13)

Other Facebook Groups:

Websites for Sama People

MyTabawan.webs.com Sama Website ma Internet1. MyTabawan | Baha’u website itu.  A’a min Facebook Group Tabawanians ya bay  angahinang MyTabawan.

Website Features: Blog, Chat, Photo, Forums

 

 

 

Tawi-Tawi Patriots Sama Website

2. Tawi-Tawi Patriots | Halam na website itu.  Ahāp bay gara’ tagdapū  Tawi-Tawi Patriots.  Kaugun halam bay pinalanjal.  Buwattina’an halam aniya’ tagdapū website itu.  Bang ka bilahi, makajari ka am’lli min website grou.ps.

Website Features: Members, Blog, Chat, Photo, Videos, Forums

 

 

BangsaSama.net Website for Sama Tawi-Tawi Online

3. Bangsa Sama (Sama Tawi-Tawi) | Kamemon website itu tasulat ma Bahasa Sinama Tawi-Tawi.

 

Website Features: Dictionary, Photos, Videos, Kitab, Other Sinama Writings

 

 

Lumah Ma Dilaut Website

4. Lumah ma Dilaut Blog | Blog min Lumah ma Dilaut, dakayu’ NGO maghinang ma Sambuwangan. Saga sulat sigām ma pasalan politics maka education.

 

 

 

 

Kauman Sama Online (Website Itu) | Favorite Website kami ma Bahasa Sinama.

Website Features: Dictionary, Members, Photos, Music, Videos, Teaching on Writing Sinama, Software, News

Saga Youtube Account Bangsa Sama ma Internet

CherishMoments536               143 SMS               Aljibkhan Ladjahiran              Kauman Sama Online

Bilahi Kam Anabang?

Bang ka kabaha’uwan ma saga website itu ati kabaya’annu isab subay pinabantug Bangsa Sama maka Bahasa Sinama ma internet, kalu bilahi ka angahinang website ma Bahasa Sinama.  Makajari kami amuwanan ka’a URL bo’ ka angahinang website.  (Saupamana bang address website-nu:  tawi-tawi.sinama.org, siasi.sinama.org, pangigal.sinama.org, usulan.sinama.org).

Bang aniya’ website halam talistaku maitu, bā’in pa’in aku bo’ tapaganapku.

Bang aniya’ isab subay pinahāp atawa nihinang ma website kami Sinama.org supaya labi aheka kasamahan ameya’ atawa pasōd ni website itū, bā’in isab kami.

Ya na itu waktu subay pabantugtam Bangsa Sama ma Internet!

 

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Patta’ min Tinoto, Philippines

February 15, 2013 in Lahat Sama by Kauman Sama

Information about Tinoto

Tinoto, Sarangani is famous to foreigners in the Philippines for its beaches and biodiversity.  While foreigners may have only recently discovered Tinoto for its great scuba diving, the Sama have been living there for 50 years now.  In Sinama Tinoto should be spelled Tinutu’.  The school, Datu Abdulbali Elementary school has over 700 students.  The majority are Sama.  The Sama community in Tinoto originate from Siasi, Sulu with most being Sama Musu’.  Several times a year larger boats will travel directly from Tinoto to Siasi.  The original reason for the Sama migration was to escape war found in their homeland.  Here you can find all sorts of Sama livelihood.  Residents frequently scour the coral at low tide for shells and other food.  Fish traps, net fishing, spear fishing, & hook and line fishing are some of the fishing methods used in Tinoto.

The following are pictures collected of the Sama community in Tinoto.

Pictures of the Sama Community

Tinutu', Sarangani
By Sinama.org: Kauman Sama Online  |  View on Facebook

Please comment if you have any questions about the pictures.  If you are from Tinoto or have visited there before you should drop us a comment here at the Kauman Sama Online.

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What language do the Badjao speak?

January 4, 2013 in Language Learning, Sama/Bajau Research by Luke

Problems with identifying what language the Badjao speak

When asking Sama from Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, or Zamboanga what language do the Badjao speak, their answer is all the same.  Sinama.  However, when linguists examined the Sinama from these areas closer, they concluded that there are actually 4 languages described as Sinama.  Northern Sinama (Sama Banguingi), Central Sinama, Sinama Pangutaran, & Southern Sinama.

The largest subgroup or dialect of the Central Sama group are the Sama Dilaut who are known by most as the Badjao.  Throughout Luzon, Visayas, & Mindanao the Sama Dilaut we have met all speak Central Sinama.  I have often heard that there are two Sama Dilaut groupings: Those from Sulu & those from Tawi-Tawi.  According to Arlo Nimmo in his book, “Magosaha”, the Sama Dilaut from Siasi & Zamboanga tend to travel much farther in their houseboats than the Badjao he studied in Tawi-Tawi.

As a student of Central Sinama, I have wondered at the prospects of studying Central Sinama in Malaysia.  It is well known that Southern Sinama is more frequently found there, but the strong presence of Sama Tabawan and Sama Dilaut hints at language learning opportunities for me in Semporna.  But what Sinama do the Badjao (Sama Dilaut) of Semporna speak.

Clifford Sather in his book, “The Bajau Laut: Adaptation, History, and Fate in a Maritime Fishing Society of South-eastern Sabah” states the following, “Within the Semporna-Sibutu area, all Sama Dilaut speak the same dialect, which Walton and Moody identify as a variety of Southern Sama.”

At first it was by gut feeling that I felt this to be untrue.  After listening to Sinama spoken in several documentaries about the Bajau Laut of Semporna, my wife, a Sama Siasi, agreed that seemingly they are speaking the same Sinama as the Badjao that we know.  That is Central and not Southern.  This again was her impression when we met a family living on a houseboat in Semporna.  Unfortunately on our trip we were unable to collect a wordlist from a Sama Pala’u.

Thanks to friend, Erik Abrahamsson, we were able to get a Swadesh Wordlist Collected from a Sama Pala’u living in Semporna.  To see the actual wordlist click the following: Badjao Swadesh Wordlist.

These are my initial observations:

Most of the adjectives collected in the Swadesh Wordlist were prefixed with the a- affix.  An affix that is absent in Southern Sinama.  An example of this is the word aheka, the Central Sinama word for many as opposed to heka the Southern Sinama rendering of the same word.

Several verbs collected use the prefix aN-, also a Central Sinama prefix.  Examples of this are anginum, amangan, angutta’, ang’nda’ etc.

Several words collected are only used by Central and not Southern Sinama.  Examples are ngga’i ka being used for the word not.  The Southern Sinama would be sikeya or siraka.  Sai was the word used for the English word who.  The Southern Sinama is sayyan or seyyan.  To be afraid was atāw as collected.  The Southern Sinama is talow.  Bu’un is a Central Sinama word. Bū kōk is the Southern Sinama.

Southern Sinama would pronounce words such as daing as deyng, daun as down, ka’a as ka’u, atay as atey, togel as tegol.

There are a few words that may be closer to Southern Sinama than Central.  Ulagat is a good example of this.  Also using ongka‘ to describe music is characteristic of Southern Sinama. Alabu’ is the Southern Sinama for ahūg or ahulug, meaning to fall.

Conclusion that the Badjao (Sama Dilaut) in Malaysia are Central Sinama Speakers

Actually this wordlist even though it may have many imperfections is a very clear evidence that the Sama Dilaut, those known by Malaysians as the Bajau Laut of Semporna, are speaking Central Sinama.  This may make very little difference to the Sama people themselves.  They will go on recognizing themselves as speakers of Sinama.  For the most part they can understand across the four languages.  For researchers and also local governments in Malaysia, this is an important discovery.  One that you might be misled about when reading some of the more extensive works on the Bajau/Sama.

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by Luke

Badjao Swadesh Wordlist | Bajau Semporna

January 4, 2013 in Sama/Bajau Research by Luke

The following is a Badjao Swadesh Wordlist collected from a man named Gunani, living on a houseboat near the island Pulu Gaya, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.  Gunani is better described as a Sama Dilaut or a Sama Pala’u.  Pala’u refers to the fact that he lives on a houseboat with his family.  Gunani is somewhere between the age of 35 to 40 years old.  He was born in Semporna to parents who were also born there.  His grandparents migrated to Semporna from Tawi-Tawi.

I had been looking to collect a Swadesh wordlist from a Sama Dilaut from Malaysia.  In particular a Sama living on a houseboat.  The purpose of collecting such a list would be to examine whether the Sinama of the Badjao from Tawi-Tawi & the Badjao of Semporna should be classified as Central or Southern Sinama.  Interpretations of the Badjao Swadesh Wordlist can be found in our post: What Language do the Badjao Speak?

As I was not able to accomplish this task in my family’s short trip to Semporna in April 2012, I am grateful to anthropologist Erik Abrahamsson (website http://theaquaticape.org/) for collecting this Swadesh Wordlist for me on his trip this late  November 2012.

We have used the terms Badjao and Bajau only due to their recognition by outside observers.  Badjao referring to the Sama Dilaut as they are called by non-Sama in the Philippines.  Bajau referring to all Sama people as they are called in Malaysia.

As a disclaimer, I would like to note that some faults in the data may exist due to the usage of the Malay language to elicit words.  Also difficulty in spelling by the transcribers may have resulted in misinterpretation of certain words.
 

Badjao Swadesh Wordlist (Sinama) with English, Malay, & Tagalog Equivalents

No.SinamaEnglishMalayTagalog
1akuI

aku, saya

ako
2ka’ayou (singular)

engkau, kamu, awak, anda, saudara, saudari

ikaw, ka; kayo
3iyahe

dia / ia, nya

siya
4kita, kamiwekita, kamitayo, kami
5ka’amyou (plural)

kamu, kalian, engkau, anda, saudara-saudari

kayo
6sigāmthey

mereka

sila
7ituthis

ini

ito
8ituathat

itu

iyan, iyon
9maituhere

sini

dito
10mahē’theresitu
sana		Diyan, doon
11saiwho

siapa

sino
12aiwhat

apa

ano
13mainggawhere

mana

saan, nasaan
14sumiyanwhenbila
kapan		kailan, kelan
15buwattinggahowbagaimana
macam mana		paano
16ngga’i ka, mbalnot

tidak, bukan

hindi
17kamemonall

semua, segala

lahat
18ahekamany

banyak

marami
19dangay-dangaysome

beberapa

ilan, iilan
20akulangfew

sedikit

kaunti
21saddīother

lain

iba, otro
22dakayu’one

satu, esa

isa, uno
23duwatwo

dua

dalawa, dos
24t’lluthree

tiga, telu

tatlo, tres
25mpatfour

empat

apat, kwatro
26limafive

lima

lima, singko
27aheyabig

besar, raya

malaki
28ataha’long

panjang

mahaba
29aluhawide

lebar

malapad
30akapalthick

tebal

makapal, ispiso
31abuhatheavy

berat

mabigat
32ariki’small

kecil

maliit, munti, pandak
33areyo’short

pendek

maikli, maigsî
34asigpitnarrow

sempit

makitid
35anipisthin

nipis, tipis

manipis
36d’ndawoman

perempuan

babae
37l’llaman

lelaki

lalaki
38mandusiya’man (human being)

orang

tao
39onde’child

anak

anak, bata
40h’ndawife

isteri

asawa
41h’llahusband

suami

asawa
42nggo’mother

ibu, emak, induk, ina

ina, nanay, mama
43mma’father

bapa, ayah, rama

ama, tatay
44sattuwaanimal

binatang, haiwan

hayop
45daingfish

ikan

isda
46manukbird

burung

ibon
47ero’dog

anjing, asu, kuyuk,

aso
48kutulouse

kutu

kuto
49sowasnake

ular

ahas, sawa
50kalogworm

cacing

uod, bulati
51kayutree

pokok, pohon

puno, punung-kahoy
52talunforest

hutan, rimba

gubat
53batangstick

batang

patpat
54buwa’fruit

buah

prutas, bungang-kahoy, bunga
55bajabseed

benih

binhi
56daunleaf

daun

dahon
57ulagatcroot

akar

ugat
58kulit kayubark (tree)

kulit kayu

balat, bakbák
59bungadflower

bunga

bulaklak, suchil
60paranggrass

rumput

damo
61k’llatrope

tali

lubid, tali
62kulitskin

kulit

balat
63isimeat

daging

karne, laman, lamang loob
64laha’blood

darah

dugo
65to’olangbone

tulang

buto
66al’mmokefat (noun)

lemak

taba
67nt’lloegg

telur

itlog
68tandukhorn

tanduk

sungay
69togeltail

ekor

buntot
70buluffeather

bulu

balahibo
71bu’unhair

rambut (head-hair)

buhok
72kōkhead

kepala, hulu

ulo, kabesa
73talingaear

telinga

tenga, tainga
74mataeye

mata

mata
75ūngnose

hidung

ilong
76bowa’mouth

mulut

bibig
77empontooth

gigi

ngipin
78d’lla’tongue

lidah

dila
79kukkufingernail

kuku

kuko
80tape’foot

kaki

paa
81pa’aleg

kaki

binti
82kōk-tu’utkneelutut, tuhut (Brunei)tuhod
83tanganhand

tangan

kamay
84kepetwing

sayap, kepak

pakpak
85b’ttongbelly

perut

tiyan
86ususgguts

usus

bituka, laman-loob
87k’llongneck

leher

leeg
88bukut, kalompangback

punggung, belakang

likod, likuran
89jantunghbreast

payudara, titik

suso, dibdíb
90atayiheart

jantung

puso
91tina’ijliver

hati

atay, igado
92anginumto drink

minum

uminom, inumin
93amanganto eat

makan

kumain, kainin, lumamon, lamunin
94kineketto bite

gigit

kumagát, kagatin
95ssakto suck

hisap

sumipsip, sipsipin
96ludja’to spit

ludah

dumura
97angutta’to vomit

muntah

sumuka
98tiyupto blow

tiup

umihip, gulpi
99magnapasto breathe

nafas, hirup

huminga
100atittowato laugh

ketawa

tumawa
101ang’nda’to see

lihat, tengok

makita
102pakalehinto hear

dengar

Márinig, dinggin
103tahatikulto know

tahu

umalam, alamin, malaman
104pikilto think

fikir

mag-isip, isipin
105ūng, siniyummto smell

bau, cium, hidu

amuyin
106atāwto fear

takut

takot, matakot
107atulito sleep

tidur

matulog
108allumto live

hidup

mabuhay
109amatayto die

mati, meninggal, mangkat (royal term)

mamatay, pumanaw, mapaslang
110binono’to kill

bunuh

pumatay, patayin, pumaslang
111magatuto fight

lawan

lumaban
112(no response)to hunt

buru

mangaso
113kinakalto hit

pukul

tamaan, tumbukin
114pinōngto cut

potong

putulin, hiwain
115binahagi’to split

belah

magbiyak, biyakin
116nirugsu’anto stab

tikam

manaksak, saksakin
117magbono’ nto scratch

garu

kamutin
118angalutto dig

gali, korek

maghukay, hukayin
119lumangito swim

renang

lumangoy, languyin
120lumeyangto fly

terbang

lumipad, liparin
121magl’ngnganto walk

jalan

maglakad, lumakad
122at’kkato come

datang

dumating, datingan/datnan
123palegeto lie (as in a bed)

baring

humiga
124aningkō’to sit

duduk

umupo
125an’nggeto stand

diri

tumayo
126pabalitooto turn

belok, pusing, putar

lumiko, bumilíng
127alabu’pto fall

jatuh

bumagsak
128nde’in, pamuwanto give

beri, bagi

magbigay, ibigay
129amalutto hold

pegang

humawak, hawakan, tanganan, tangnán
130anaksuyqto squeeze

perah

pisilin, pigas
131kinusu-kusuto rub

gosok

magkuskos, kuskusin
132angose’to wash

cuci

maghugas, hugasan
133saputo wipe

lap

magpunas, punasan
134hella’to pull

tarik

bumatak, batakin, humila, hilahin
135ijujalanrto push

tolak

magtulak, itulak
136tinimananto throw

baling, campak, lempar, lontar

maghagis, ihagis
137engkotto tie

ikat

magtali, itali
138angala’itto sew

jahit

tahiin
139itungto count

kira, hitung, bilang

bumilang
140ah’lling, angistorito say

kata, cakap, tutur

sabihin
141angongka’to sing

nyanyi

umawit, awitin
142angongka’to play

main

maglaro, laruin
143palantun-lantunto float

apung

lumutang
144(no response)to flow

alur, alir, salur, salir

umagos, iagos
145amatuwasto freeze

beku

maging yelo, mabuô manigas
146am’ngkongto swell

bengkak

mamaga
147mata-llawsun

matahari

araw
148bulanmoon

bulan, cendera

buwan
149mamahistar

bintang

bituin
150bohe’water

air

tubig
151ulanrain

hujan

ulan
152sowangriver

sungai, batang

ilog
153danawlake

tasik, danau,

lawa
154dilautssea

laut

dagat
155asinsalt

garam

asin
156batustone

batu

bato
157gusungsand

pasir

buhangin
158baliyu agabutdust

habuk

alikabok
159tana’earth

tanah

lupa
160ma tonga’an, tai’-baliyucloud

awan

ulap
161kabusufog

kabus

ulap na hamog
162ma tonga’ansky

langit

langit, kalangitan
163baliyuwind

angin

hangin
164saljivsnow

salji

niyebe
165aesice

air batu, air beku, ais

yelo
166humbusmoke

asap

aso, usok
167apifire

api

apoy
168abuash

abu

abo
169tinunu’to burn

bakar

magsunog, masunog, sunugin
170lānroad

jalan

daan, kalsada, lansangan
171būdmountain

gunung

bundok
172keyatred

merah

pula
173gaddunggreen

hijau

lunti(an), berde
174baningwyellow

kuning

dilaw
175pote’white

putih

puti
176ettomblack

hitam

itim
177sangomnight

malam

gabi
178llawdaysiang, hariaraw
179tahunyear

tahun

taon
180apasu’warm

panas, hangat

Mainit, maligamgám
181t’nnecold

sejuk

malamig, magináw
182ap’nno’full

penuh

puno
183baha’unew

baharu

bago
184ato’a, ma’asold

lama, tua (life-age)

luma, matanda
185ahāpgood

baik, bagus

mabuti
186busuk, abuhukbad

buruk, teruk

masama, maldito/a
187abuhukrotten

busuk

bulok, panis
188al’mmisdirty

kotor, kumuh

marumi
189abontol, atiludstraight

lurus

tuwid
190palikongxround

bulat

bilog
191atalomsharp

tajam

matalim
192atompoldull

tumpul

pudpod, mapuról
193(changed) angalu’udysmooth

licin

makinis
194abase’wet

basah

basa
195atoho’dry

kering

tuyo
196b’nnalcorrect

betul

tama, tumpak
197asekotnear

dekat, hampir

malapit
198atāfar

jauh

malayo
199kowanright

kanan

kanan
200gibangleft

kiri

kaliwa
201maat

di

sa
202mareyomin

di dalam

sa
203makawith

dengan

kasama
204makaand

dan, serta

at
205bangif

kalau, jikalau, jika

kung
206pasalbecause

kerana, sebab

dahil, sapagkat, kasi
207ōnname

nama

(pa)ngalan

Footnotes concerning possible issues with the Swadesh Wordlist

If you are a Sama speaker from Sabah, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu or Zamboanga, we would appreciate your feedback on the concerns that we have listed below with the Badjao Swadesh Wordlist.

a This appears to be a mistake in word elicitation derived from the Malay word itu meaning that. In Sinama the word would most likely be either inān, ina’an, or ilu.

b We do not recognize the word baja. It could also be baya. The transcriber used “j” for the “y” sound one other time in the wordlist.

c This might be a dialect difference or an issue with word elicitation using the Malay language. Gamut seems like a better choice unless there is a dialect difference. The word ugat can also mean root in Sinama. Sama Dilaut would possibly have it rendered as ulagat.

d Bunga is the Malay for flower. Most likely this is an error in elicitation where the Sama assumed that bunga meant fruit. Another possibility is that the Sama in Semporna have started borrowing the Malay word for flower, bunga. We would expect this word to be sumping.

e Al’mmok is the adjective for a fat person. We would expect this word to be l’mmok or taba‘.

f Bulu is certainly the Malay for feathers. We are more familiar with the term bū, which is a contraction of bulu. Sama Dilaut have a tendency of not contracting words that other Central Sama contract.

g This appears to be a mistake in word elicitation derived from the Malay word usus meaning guts. In Sinama the word would most likely be either tina’i or longon-longon.

h The words for breast, heart and liver seem to be confused here. Most likely the Sama word for breast would be duru’ or daggaha’. Heart should be jantung and liver should be atay. The word tina’i fits better the description of guts.

i The words heart and liver are readily confused in various Austronesian languages due to the difference between these words anatomically and as they are used to describe emotion. In the past atay anatomically would be the liver, but is also the seat of emotion or from where Sama speakers think of feelings coming from.

j (see footnotes h & i)

k We do not recognize the word ssa in this sense. We would expect this word to be an’ssop from the root s’ssop.

l Maybe better rendered as kata’uwanku instead of tahatiku. The difference is between knowing and understanding.

m This appears to be a mistake in word elicitation. Ūng is the Sama word for nose. Siyum is the Sama word for kissing. Sama kissing involves smelling as opposed to contact with an individuals lips. We would expect nihamut to be the appropriate term here.

n This appears to be a mistake in elicitation. We would expect this to be magkatol, magkaskas, or magkamas.

o Pabalito: Unrecognized word.

p Alabu’:

q Anaksuy: Unrecognized word.

r The prefix i- as found in ijujalan is unfamiliar. Most likely it is a mistake in transcription. More likely the word should be nijujalan.

s Dilaut means deep sea. It is very possible that eliciting this word list using the Malay language influenced this answer. Tahik would be a more generic term.

t Baliyu agabu seems to be better rendered as baliyu angabu. This may have been a transcription error.

u Kabus is the Malay word for fog. We do not recognize it. It may very likely be used by Sama from Malaysia as a borrowed word.

v Salji is the Malay word for snow. We do not recognize it. It may very likely be used by Sama from Malaysia as a borrowed word.

w Baning was not found in Kemp Pallesen’s Central Sinama Dictionary.  It is recognized as a dialect variant of the word biyaning.

x Palikong: Unrecognized word.

y Angalu’ud: This word was transcribed angalaud We assume this as a transcription error and corrected it to angalu’ud a Central Sinama word meaning slippery in connection to something being smooth.

The original Malay Swadesh wordlist used for eliciting the Badjao Swadesh Wordlist can be found at: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Malay_Swadesh_list

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by Luke

To the depths- Sama & Badjao Diving

December 10, 2012 in Addat Sama, Sama/Bajau Research by Luke

Lessons learned about Sama & Badjao Diving

Badjao diving has received a lot of attention from several documentaries about the ocean and the Badjao tribe.  I’ve met scientists that have come to take data with a focus only on the “Badjao” people.  Sadly this overlooks that the Badjao are actually part of a larger group, the Sama.  It is not only the Sama Dilaut (our term for Badjao) that are experienced divers, but several of the Sama subgroups are known for being quite capable divers.  I convinced a scientist to take measurements of a Sama friend’s spear fishing dives.  My friend did at least 5 consecutive dives of over 80 ft each.  He stayed underwater for over 50% of his time within a 1 hour period.

That happened over a year ago.  Since then I have learned some interesting things about Sama diving.

  • Sama dive in order to shoot fish with their spear gun.  They will also look for oysters, pearls and other edible/sellable things on the ocean floor.
  • Distances are measured in d’ppa.  One d’ppa is a fathom, in other words it is the distance between the fingertips of a person with their arm’s outstretched.  A traditional fathom is said to be 6 ft.  I would estimate the Sama d’ppa at about 5.
  • Near shipping yards they will dive for scrap metal.  Here in Davao that is 12 d’ppa (approximately 60 ft).  Diving at the wharf stretches the limits of the newer inexperienced Sama divers.
  • The channel between Davao City and Samal Island is about 20 d’ppa (approximately 100 ft).  Around Ligid or Talikud Island the ocean depth can be as high as 30 d’ppa (approximately 150 ft).  Near General Santos and Sarangani depths are much deeper.
  • There are several Sama Silumpak in Davao that have reached as deep as 50 d’ppa when diving.
  • The Sama word that describes a person with a strong capacity for reaching great depths while diving is ap’ddon.
  • Sama Silumpak are most certainly ap’ddon.  They also describe the Badjao as ap’ddon at diving.
  • Though you will find many Bisayans fishing in Davao, the Sama say they are not ap’ddon and only the Sama tend to find their livelihood through diving.
  • Bapa’ Mabini, a Sama from Tinutu in the Sarangani province, is said to have dove 105 d’ppa on two occasions (possibly 525 ft!).  He did it twice on a bet and received  ₱8,000.  This far surpasses the world record of 126 meters (413 ft) for free diving set by Alexey Molchanov.
  • Bapa’ Mabini as well as many other Sama divers suffered from lung complications before he died in 2012.

Article on Badjao Diving Study

Freedivers set world records

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by Kauman Sama

Thy Womb: Starring Tawi-Tawi & Sama Culture

November 29, 2012 in Addat Sama, News Updates by Kauman Sama

Shooting Sama Culture Up Close

After watching the movie Thy Womb in Gaisano Mall, Davao, a newspaper editor approached my Sama wife asking, “Is that really how it is?” The response was, “Yes, with only a little bit of exaggeration.” Reviews that have called the film more of an ethnography than a drama, ring with some bit of truth. Brillante Mendoza in the film, Thy Womb, was privileged to get to shoot Tausug & Sama culture up close and promote it throughout the Philippines and the world.

The movie opens inside a home, presumably with an ocean view, and kids jumping off of what looks like the porch into the ocean. Shaleha, Nora Aunor’s character, is helping with a home birth. This isn’t all that uncommon of a sight in the Philippines, an island nation with many homes built on stilts over the ocean. Zoom out the shot and you find out you were viewing one of the increasingly rare houseboat communities of the Sama in Tawi-Tawi. Shaleha and her husband Bangas-an, played by Bembo Roco, drive off in their papet, a Malaysian boat common among the Sama in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Next snapshot of Sama culture: Your in their home where the couple is weaving tepo‘, the Sama banig or mat that has reached high enough demand that SM sells them. The whole process of dying the mats and starting the weaving is abbreviated into about a two minute conversation about searching for a second wife because Bangas-an is childless.

Gender Roles in Sama Culture

In this case the relationship of Bangas-an and his wife Shaleha seems unnatural.  The making of a tepo’ from start to finish would most likely be done solely by women, not a joint work of husband and wife. In Sama culture there is usually a clear separation of the sexes when working.  Usually a man and wife would not go out to sea together fishing.  Of course, Bangas-an has no son to do this with.  Certainly the husband of a midwife would not be there at a birth and most likely the father would be sent out as well.  Other than that the birthing scenes, the fishing scenes, and the process for making the Sama tepo’ follows the culture.

Dangers in Tawi-Tawi

The next scene is for the viewers who disdain the Bajau that you’ve seen begging for money in the Philippine’s major cities. Many have the impression that the Bajau are lazy and don’t work for their own living.  In contrast to many of your perceptions of Bajau, throughout the film you will see how hard working the Sama are. This couple earn a living from Shaleha’s work as a midwife, they sell mats, they dry and sell fish and they search for food at low tide. Here you see the couple net fishing and pleased with their large catch. Suddenly they are chased down by bandits. Bangas-an is shot before jumping into the water. When the bandits leave Shaleha must help her husband back into the boat. This cultural reality of the Sama is what causes many Sama fishermen to carry guns when fishing or not to fish at all.  Many of the more ocean based Sama (Sama Dilaut/Badjao) have fled their sea based lifestyle to live in the Philippines larger and safer metropolitan areas. What often gets sacrificed is their traditional ways of supporting themselves.

The scene with the bandits attacking Bangas-an in his boat is also one of the biggest cultural bloopers in the film. For all that I can tell the bandits take the fish and not the motor. In real life they throw the fish and take the motor.  Bangas-an and Shaleha would be forced to paddle home.  Later, however, we see that they must sell the motor of their boat in order to pay for the dowry that it costs to marry a second wife.

Sama Dowries

The searching for a second wife and preparing to pay the dowry make up the majority of Thy Womb’s plot.  I heard gasps from the audience when the number P200,000 was mentioned as the dowry for one of the brides.  To non-Muslim Filipinos this may come as a shock.  Bride price may vary depending upon social status as well as individual tribal custom, but the stated P200,000 is considered a reasonable amount for a college graduate, especially among the Tausug.  The film showed well the struggle that a man’s family, wishing to marry, must go through in order to pay the price.  Gold jewelery may be pawned or exchanged. They must approach close and distant family members for help. Often several family members will go into debt just to help their relatives pay a dowry.

Sama Cultural Ceremonies

Director Mendoza catches on film several cultural ceremonies.  When dead fish are found floating around their community they perform the Sama custom of Tulak Bala’.  It literally means, “The departure of a plague.”  They say Arabic prayers while members of the community are washed and cleansed in the ocean.  A local imam burns incense in a dried out coconut shell before they send the shell and handcrafted miniature boats out to sea, thus asking that the plague that has come to their community would leave.

The Sama wedding scene that took up a major portion of the film truly captured the essence of the Sama ceremony.  As the groom is prepared you hear the traditional chanting, loved by many Sama, called lugu’.  The groom is dressed in his best attire.  He is carried on the shoulders of his groomsmen and shielded from the sun by an umbrella.  The bride is wearing the makeup of a Sama bride.  All that she lacks is the painted uni-brow, kilay langgung, that Sama culture finds beautiful.  Mercedes Cabral does a great job of imitating Sama Pangigal in the film (Later you will see that Nora & Bembo don’t).  She is to be commended for this considering that unlike every Sama girl from Sulu & Tawi-Tawi, she didn’t grow up dancing the pangigal.  Midway through the wedding it is disrupted by gunshots.   This is certainly not unheard of happening at weddings in Tawi-Tawi and the wedding participants manage to carry on almost as if nothing even happened.

Also filmed in Thy Womb is the engagement ceremony of Bangas-an and his  soon to be second wife Mersila.  Culturally the ceremony is natural although something to be noted is that multiple wives, though allowed in Islam, is not common in Sama culture.  Much more common would be the divorcing of a wife due to her inability to provide a child.  As seen in the movie, it takes a groom three times to profess that he accepts his wife.  It also takes the same three times to say, “I divorce you” and thus be divorced.  This indeed becomes one of the things demanded of Bangas-an, that if Mersila can provide him a child, he will divorce his first wife, Shaleha.

In the End

The movie ends with a shocked and unsatisfied audience pondering the injustice of putting away a wife that sacrificed so much for her husband and yet there is no clean ending to the film, just as their is no clean ending in divorce and betrayal.

Whether it is the various run-ins with the Philippine military, the shots of sea turtles giving birth, the slaughtering of a cow in accordance with Islamic law, the beautiful shots of Sama communities and serenity of Tawi-Tawi’s islands, the ceremonies, or the everyday living of the Sama, we commend the movie Thy Womb and director Brillante Mendoza for its portrayal of what it means to be a Sama.  I personally thank him as I end in quoting his speech at the SM Lanang Premiere Showing, “I would like to thank the people of Tawi-Tawi, the Bajau, to whom I dedicate this film.”

Here are some pictures we took from the Premiere Showing at SM Lanang, Davao: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151288853135091.515517.225592355090

Brillanted Mendoza & Nora Aunor Speeches at SM Lanang Showing

Muslim Pangigal

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by Luke

The Movie Thy Womb’s Languages Experiment

November 24, 2012 in Addat Sama, FrontPage, News Updates by Luke

November 23 Showing of “Thy Womb” at SM Lanang, Davao

Linguists were not the first to come to mind when making the invitations to the premier showing of Brillante Mendoza’s “Thy Womb” on November 23 at SM Lanang, Davao City. Yet all things considered, I’m quite pleased to have been able to squeeze my name and two Sama mother tongue translators’ names on to the list that included the French ambassador, the vice governor of Tawi-Tawi, the mayor of Davao, film critics, and members of the press.  Before you watch the film this December, let me introduce you to the languages you will be exposed to in “Thy Womb”.  Director Mendoza dedicated the film to the Bajau people, the more commonly recognized name for the Sama, speakers of the Sinama language from Tawi-Tawi and the entire Sulu archipeligo.  The beauty of the Sama homelands is undeniably a major attraction of the film but the beauty of its languages will most likely go undetected by its viewers, especially for its international audience which must rely solely on the English subtitles.

6 Languages found in the Filipino Independent Film, Thy Womb

The six languages in the film are an accurate reflection of the linguistic diversity of the region as well as the entire Philippines.  This is my first time to see so many languages woven into one film so seamlessly. It better reflects the cultural reality of language swapping that occurs in the Philippines than the usual all Tagalog programming found in Philippine movies and TV.  The film’s stars use Tagalog for almost all of their conversations, but I would like to think of Sinama as the starring language of the film. Often you hear children speaking in Sinama in the background. Also frequently in the conversations of the movie you have a lead actor or actress speak in Tagalog and receive a Sinama response. The imam (an extra) who helps Bangas-an (Bembo Roco) and his wife search for a second wife delivers all his lines in Sinama. Vendors speak in Sinama. Sinama words are often borrowed to describe cultural concepts unique to the Sama, such as the Sinama word “ungsud” used for the dowry or bride price that is necessary for Bangas-an to marry a second wife.

Actually there are two distinct Sinama languages in “Thy Womb”, even though your average Sama may be unaware of the linguistic classifications of their language.  Both Southern Sinama, the more common Sinama in Tawi-Tawi and Central Sinama, a language more common in Sulu and Zamboanga are spoken at various times throughout the film.

Besides Tagalog and Sinama, Arabic is also used for the Muslim prayers and greetings. Mersila, Lovi Poe’s role has a Tausug name and indeed when marriage arrangements are made at her home, her family members speak in Tausug. Tausug is also used in passing conversations with ladies that are coming out from worship in the mosque. Finally English is used throughout the film in its subtitles as well as in the counting of money received by Bangas-an when he sells his boat’s motor in order to raise the needed payment for his dowry.

Tawi-Tawi’s Linguistic Diversity

In summary I was quite pleased with how the film covered Tawi-Tawi’s linguistic diversity. The two mother tongue translators with me, one from Tawi-Tawi, one from Sulu, speak 5 of the 6 languages of the film. They are familiar enough with the 6th language, Arabic, at least in all the contexts which it was used. I was also impressed with the vice governor of Tawi-Tawi, Ruby Sahali-Tan’s use of the Sinama language being that she is a Tausug. My previous misconception was that the leaders of this Sama province only used Tausug and Tagalog, but Vice Governor Ruby demonstrated that she speaks at least 3 Sinama languages: Central, Southern, and Jama Mapun from Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi.

Learn some Sinama from the Movie, “Thy Womb”

Many readers might be wondering how I could get this far into an article about “Thy Womb”, without mentioning the movie’s superstar Nora Aunor. Most of you are aware of her acting talent and professionalism.  I however appreciate how several times she makes use of the Sinama language in this film. My favorite line of the whole film being, “Magey-magey na kow?” a Sinama line spoken by Ate Guy meaning “How are you?” or “Kamusta?” She delivers the line very naturally with proper tone.  Other basic Sinama phrases can easily be learned when watching the film such as  “Kamaya” meaning “Take Care” or “Ingat” in Tagalog and “Palanjal kam” meaning “Welcome” or “Tuloy po kayo”.

I greatly appreciate the inclusion of the Sinama language in “Thy Womb” and its integration with the other languages of the region.  Director Mendoza you bring great honor to the people of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.  I hope that other Filipinos and the international community will appreciate your efforts as well.

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