Tboli
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A language of Philippines
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
“Tagabili” (pej.), T’boli, Tiboli
Population
95,300 (2000). 10,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 100,000.
Location
Southwest Mindanao, South Cotabato Province, Mount Busa area and west; Sarangani Province, Celebes seacoast, Katabau west to provincial border; Sultan Kudarat Province, Kraun area and Bagumbayan minicipality.
Language Maps
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Dialects
Central Tboli, Western Tboli, Southern Tboli.
Typology
VSO; articles, adjectives, numerals all before and after noun heads; question word in sentence-initial position; maximum number of affixes: 1 prefix, 1 suffix; word order distinguishes subject, object and direct objects, given and new information, topic and comment; affixes indicate case of noun phrase; passives; causatives; comparatives; CV, CVC, CCV, CCVC; nontonal.
Language Use
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Perhaps 50%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: Perhaps 50%–60%. Literacy program in previously unreached coastal mountain range. They operate their own government school. Poetry. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2007.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Christian, traditional religion.