Tinggian: What If There Is No Standard Dialect?

Abstract

The Tinggian language spoken in the province of Abra has at least ten dialects. The Philippine Bible Society was requested to assist the community to produce Scriptures in their language. Because Tinggian does not seem to have a standard dialect, the speakers of each of the ten dialects wanted a translation in their own dialect. It was explained that this was not economically viable. During the workshop to train translators, the people themselves volunteered the information that Inlaud and Binungan could be a good choice of dialects to be used to translate the Gospel of Mark, as a test project. Inlaud is spoken in eight lowland towns while Binungan is spoken in two upland towns. In events when the community naturally breaks out into a chant, Inlaud is always the dialect used. During the workshop, three translators representing Inlaud and Binungan were chosen. After translating Mark 1–4, the translation was tested by having speakers from two other dialects read the draft. It was understood and appreciated by the speakers from Adasen and Maeng dialects.