Onhan is a

regional In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

Western Bisayan language spoken, along with the Romblomanon and

Asi language Bantoanon or Asi is a regional Bisayan language spoken, along with Romblomanon and Onhan, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Asi originated in the island of Banton, Romblon and spread to the neighboring islands of Sibale, Simara, and ...

s, in the province of

Romblon Romblon ( , ), officially the Province of Romblon, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. Its main islands include Tablas, the largest, which covers nine municipalities; Sibuyan with its three towns; as ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. The language is also known as ''Inunhan'' and ''Loocnon''. * The Onhan language has three variants – those spoken in the municipalities of Santa Maria and Alcantara use instead of . Example: is , and other speakers change or to as in or to . Specifically, Onhan is spoken on the following islands within Romblon: * Tablas: the

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

of San Andres,

Santa Maria Santa María is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, in languages such as Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Santa Maria or Santa María may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * "Santa Maria" (Tatjana song), released 1995 * "Santa Mari ...

Alcantara Alcantara, Alcântara (Portuguese), Alcántara (Spanish), Alcàntara, Alcàntera, El-Qantarah and (El) Kantara are all transliterations of the Arabic word ''al qantara'' (القنطرة), meaning "the bridge". Alcantara may refer to: People * A ...

Ferrol Ferrol may refer to: Places * Ferrol (comarca), a coastal region in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain * Ferrol, Spain, industrial city and naval station in Galicia, Spain ** Racing de Ferrol, an association football club * Ferrol, Romblon, municipality in ...

Looc Looc or LOOC may refer to: Looc Looc is the name of places in the Philippines: * Looc, Occidental Mindoro, a municipality * Looc, Romblon, a municipality * Looc, a barangay in Calamba * Looc, a barangay in Mandaue City LOOC LOOC may refer to: ...

, and Santa Fe and some upland sitios in

Odiongan Odiongan, officially the Municipality of Odiongan ( Asi: ''Banwa it Odiongan'', Filipino: ''Bayan ng Odiongan'', is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 49,284 peo ...

,. *

Carabao The carabao ( es, Carabao; tgl, Kalabaw; ceb, Kabaw; ilo, Nuang) is a domestic swamp-type water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis'') native to the Philippines. Carabaos were introduced to Guam from the Spanish Philippines in the 17th century. They ...

: the sole municipality of San Jose. As a variant of the

Kinaray-a language The Karay-a language ( krj, label=none, Kinaray-a, krj, label=none, Binisayâ nga Kinaray-a or krj, label=none, Hinaraya; en, Harayan) is an Austronesian regional language in the Philippines spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique, Il ...

, some speakers are found on the island of

Boracay Boracay (; often locally shortened to Bora) is a resort island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located off the northwest coast of Panay. It has a total land area of , under the jurisdiction of three barangays in Malay, Aklan ...

Aklan Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan (Akeanon: ''Probinsya it Akean'' k'ɣan hil, Kapuoran sang Aklan; tl, Lalawigan ng Aklan), is a province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Its capital is Kalibo. The province is situate ...

province as well as parts of the island of

Panay Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City o ...

, specifically in the following municipalities:

Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...

, Nabas and

Buruanga Buruanga, officially the Municipality of Buruanga ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Buruanga''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Buruanga''; tl, Bayan ng Buruanga), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the farthest town of Akla ...

. In the provinces of

Oriental The Orient is a term for the East in relation to Europe, traditionally comprising anything belonging to the Eastern world. It is the antonym of '' Occident'', the Western World. In English, it is largely a metonym for, and coterminous with, the ...

and

Occidental Mindoro Occidental Mindoro ( tl, Kanlurang Mindoro), officially the Province of Occidental Mindoro, is a province in the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. The province occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro. Its capital is Mambur ...

, migrant Onhan speakers from Tablas Island brought the language to the following municipalities: San Jose,

Magsaysay Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay Sr. (August 31, 1907 – March 17, 1957) was a Filipino statesman who served as the seventh president of the Philippines, from December 30, 1953, until his death in an 1957 Cebu Douglas C-47 crash, aircraft disaster ...

Bulalacao Bulalacao, officially the Municipality of Bulalacao ( tgl, Bayan ng Bulalacao), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,366 people. It is formerly ...

Mansalay Mansalay, officially the Municipality of Mansalay ( tgl, Bayan ng Mansalay), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 59,114 people. This town is notable ...

Roxas Roxas may refer to: Places in the Philippines Cities and municipalities * Roxas City * Roxas, Isabela * Roxas, Oriental Mindoro * Roxas, Palawan Roads * Roxas Boulevard * Paseo de Roxas Others * Roxas Airport People with the surname Ro ...

, and some parts of

Bongabong Bongabong, officially the Municipality of Bongabong ( tgl, Bayan ng Bongabong), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 76,973 people. The town is home t ...

. As such, it is very much related to

Kinaray-a The Karay-a language ( krj, label=none, Kinaray-a, krj, label=none, Binisayâ nga Kinaray-a or krj, label=none, Hinaraya; en, Harayan) is an Austronesian regional language in the Philippines spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique, Ilo ...

and Kuyonon.

Grammar

Pronouns

Numbers

Literature

The

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

was translated into Bisaya-Inunhan by

Eldon Leano Talamisan Eldon may refer to: Places Australia * Eldon Range, Tasmania, a mountain range Canada * Eldon, Alberta, a locality * Eldon Parish, New Brunswick * Eldon Township, Ontario, a former municipality * Eldon, Ontario, a former railway stop * Eldon, P ...

and published in 1999. ''The Harrow'' (), an official publication of

Romblon State University Romblon State University is a public higher education institution in Romblon, Philippines. It has eight satellite campuses and its main campus is located in Odiongan, Romblon. History 1914: Tracing its roots back in November 1914, during the dis ...

, publishes Inunhan poems, stories and other genres of literature.

References

Languages of Romblon Visayan languages {{Languages of the Philippines