The Language

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Phillanguages.jpg 

The language of the Tausugs often includes riddles (tigum-tigum).  These are either asked in casual conversation or sung during celebrations; but in either case, the answer is volunteered as soon as the audience has given up guessing.  Riddles, in the Tausug society, function mainly as a form of entertainment, especially during weddings and wakes, and in the month of Ramadan, when it becomes a duel of wit and wisdom.  It also serves a pedagogical value by training children to think and be aware of nature and the objects around them.

Tausug proverbs often reveal dominant ethnic characteristics of the people.  The following are some common proverbs:

Gam muti in bukug, ayaw in tikud-tikud

(It is better to die rather than run away from trouble.)

In usug ha way akkal way guna.

(Courage without discretion is useless.)

In halli’ subay wajib mangadjang ha di’ patuma’ in ulan.

(One must always be prepared to have a roof ready before the rainfalls.)

Tuhan in paunahun, ha unu unu hinangun, minsan kaw malaung, maluhay kaw maapun.

(God must be first before you do anything else; even if you make a mistake, you will be forgiven.)

In manussiya magparuparu, sawa in Tuhan in magbaya.

(Man plans but God decides.)

Kitbita in pais mu, ban masakit kaymu, masakit da isab ha kaibanan mu.

(Pinch your own skin; if it is painful to you, it is also painful when done to your fellows.)  

Tausug is spoken principally on the Island of Jolo (Sulu) by approximately more than 764,000 speakers.  The following is the Tausug alphabet, which contains 21 letters:

There are there vowels:

A  –  Apu’ Usug – A-pu’ U-sug – meaning grandfather

            I   –   Iru’ – I-ru’ – meaning dog

U  –  Ulan -U-lan – meaning rain

There are eighteen consonants:

            B  –  Babai – Ba-ba-i – meaning girl

Ch – Bitchara –Bit-cha-ra meaning talk

D  –  Dagan – Da-gan – meaning run

            G  –  Gaddung – Gaddung meaning green

            H  –  Hayup – Ha-yup meaning animal

            J  –   Jambatan – Jam-batan meaning wharf

            K  –  Kaha’ – Ka-ha’ –meaning frying pan

            L  –  Lansa – Lan-sa –meaning boat

            M  – Malaggu’ – Ma-lag-gu’- meaning big

            N  –  Nanam – Na-nam –meaning flavor

            Ng – Ngan – Ngan- meaning name / Banga’- Ba-nga’ meaning pot

            NY –Bunyug – Bun-yug meaning companion

            P  –  Panyu’ – Pan-yu’ meaning handkerchief

            R  –  Ruku’ – Ru-ku’- meaning bent

            S  –  Sudlay –Sud-lay meaning comb

            T  –  Talam – Ta-lam meaning tray

            W – Waktu – Wak-tu meaning time

            Y  – Yattu – Yat-tu meaning there