Page Type: languageChavacano | Ethnologue

CBK ISO 639-3

Chavacano

Chavacano Autonym

A language of Philippines

ISO 639
cbk
Alternate Names
Chabacano, Chabakano
Autonym
Chavacano
Population
431,000 (2005 UNSD). 37,553 Caviteño Chavacano, 22,221 Cotabato Chavacano, 55,400 Davao Chavacano, 4,698 Ternateño Chavacano, 311,066 Zamboangeño Chavacano (2005 UNSD). Ethnic population: 427,000 (2010 census).
Location:
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindinao: Basilan province; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces; scattered in Alicia, Buug, Cotabato city, Ipil, Isabela, Kabasalan, Lamitan, Lapuyan, Malamawi, Malangas, Maluso, Margosatubig, Siay, and Tungawan; Cavite, Ermita, and Ternate near Manila.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Creole, Spanish based
Dialects
Caviteño (Cavite Chabacano), Ternateño (Bahra, Ternate Chabacano, Ternateño Chavacano), Ermitaño (Ermiteño), Davaweño Zamboangueño (Abakay Spanish, Davao Chavacano, Davaoeño, Davaweño), Cotabato Chavacano (Cotabateño), Zamboangueño (Chabacano de Zamboanga, Español quebrao, Southern Mindinao Creole, Zamboanga Chabacano).
Typology
Accusative actancy structure.
Language Use
Davaweño Zamboangueño dialect may have no remaining speakers. Ermiteño is extinct; Zamboangueño, Caviteño, and Cotabateño are still used. Most domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Filipino [fil]. Also use Cebuano [ceb]. Also use Tausug [tsg]. Used as L2 by Balangingih Sama [sse], Central Sama [sml], Yakan [yka].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 80%. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1981.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chavacano
Writing
Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
Other Comments
A creole with predominantly Spanish vocabulary and Philippine-type grammatical structure. Speakers in 60 of 66 provinces (1970 census). Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindinao: Basilan province; Zamboanga Peninsula region: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces; scattered in Alicia, Buug, Cotabato city, Ipil, Isabela, Kabasalan, Lamitan, Lapuyan, Malamawi, Malangas, Maluso, Margosatubig, Siay, and Tungawan; Cavite, Ermita, and Ternate near Manila.