Dupaningan Agta - Grammar, Vocabulary, and Texts - Dissertation (Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics)

Sep 2, 2026

Dupaningan Agta is an Austronesian language of the Philippine subgroup spoken in northeastern Luzon by about 1,400 semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers from the Negrito minority. The language is endangered due to the loss of child speakers. This dissertation presents the language situation and analyzes phonology (synchronic and historical) and morphosyntax, including word order, word classes, the verb complex, aspect, case marking, nominalization, question formation, and relative clauses. It also explores the Philippine-type symmetrical voice/focus system and includes a substantial vocabulary plus selected texts with audio versions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages378

Reading Time15 h 53 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Abbreviations

Glossing Conventions

1 Background

1.1 Language location and situation

1.2 Physical environment

1.3 Dialects

1.4 Language name

1.5 Place in family tree

1.6 Dupaningan culture

1.7 Language endangerment

1.8 Borrowing

1.9 Conceptions of language

1.10 Austronesian/Negrito origin

1.11 Previous work on Dupaningan

1.12 Methodology

1.13 What's in this dissertation

1.14 Framework

2 Phonology

2.1 Historical phonology

2.2 Synchronic Phonology

5072 DUPANINGANAGTA:GRAMMAR,VOCABULARY,AND TEXTS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THEUNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THEREQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN LINGUISTICS MAY 2008 By Laura C.Robinson Dissertation Committee: Robert A.Blust,ChairpersonMichael L.FormanYuko OtsukaKenneth L.RehgNicholas A.ThiebergerAurelio S.Agcaoili 5071 We cerify that we have read this dissertation and that.in our opinion,it issatisfactory in scope and quality as a dissertation for the degrce of Doctor ofPhilosophy in Linguistics. DISSERTATION COMMIITEE untA.所ChairpersonkuQ0m-4(下xing.—2 ◎ Copyright 2008 by Laura C.Robinson Dedicated to Ronald“Ukong”Agcaoili,for sharing his language with me # ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost,I would like to thank all the Dupaningan Agta people whoshared their language with me,without whom this work would not have been possible.Iam especially grateful to Mr.Ronald “Ukong”Agcaoili,who shared not only hislanguage,but also his friendship.Thank you.My gratitude also extends to ManetAgcaoili,Gilliam“Ballek”Cabaldo,Idring“Garwet”Malingling,Lebi and AmboyAgcaoili,Nardeng “Burog”Doniego,Michael and Anit Andres,Maribel and LubyAgcaoili,Balsig Baclig,and all the Agta of Santa Ana. My sincere gratitude also goes out to those who have helped me in my academiccareer.I wish to thank Robert Blust,for his support and encouragement over the years;Ken Rehg,for sharing his knowledge of phonology and language documentation;YukoOtsuka,for asking difficult questions;Mike Forman,for asking interesting questions;Nick Thieberger,for his friendship;and Aurelio Agcaoili,for his willingness to jump onboard at the last minute.I also wish to express my gratitude to Bion Griffin,for sharinghis experiences with the Dupaningan Agta,and to Lawrence Reid,for leading me todiscover the world of Philippine Negrito languages And to everyone else who helped me along the way,thank you. # ABSTRACT Dupaningan Agta is an Austronesian language of the Philippine subgroup which isspoken in northeastern Luzon,Philippines by approximately 1,400 semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers belonging to the Negrito ethnic minority.The language is endangered,as it isbeginning to lose child speakers.This dissertation introduces the language situation anddiscusses phonology(synchronic and historical)and morphosyntax(word order,wordclasses,the verb complex,aspect,case marking,nominalization,question formation,relative clauses and other essential aspects of Dupaningan grammar).Dupaningan Agtahas a relatively simple phonological system,with fifteen consonants and five vowels.Ofnote,a has been fronted to/i/or/e/after the voiced stops/bdg/.Morphosyntactically,the language has a typical Philippine-type“symmetrical voice”or“focus”system.Thevoice system of Dupaningan Agta is explored,with special reference to an interesting"double-object"construction with two syntactic subjects.Finally,this dissertationincludes a substantial vocabulary and selection of texts.The audio versions of these textsare available as .wav files associated with this dissertation. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………………………………V ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………vi LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………xiv GLOSSING CONVENTIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………xV 1 Background………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 1.1 Language location and situatio. ………………………………………………………………………1 1.2 Physical environment……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 1.3 Dialects…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 1.4 Language name…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 1.5 Place in family tre ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8 1.6 Dupaningan culture…………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 1.7 Language endangerment……………………………………………

FAQs

Where is Dupaningan Agta spoken, and who speaks it?

Dupaningan Agta is spoken in northeastern Luzon, Philippines, by approximately 1,400 semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers belonging to the Negrito ethnic minority.

Why is Dupaningan Agta considered endangered?

It is endangered because it is beginning to lose child speakers.

What does the dissertation cover about Dupaningan grammar?

It covers phonology (synchronic and historical) and morphosyntax, including the verb complex, aspect, case marking, nominalization, question formation, relative clauses, and the symmetrical voice/focus system, including a double-object construction.

Sep 2, 2026

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