Favorlang is an extinct Formosan language closely related to Babuza. Although Favorlang is considered by Taiwanese linguist Paul Jen-kuei Li to be a separate language, it is nevertheless very closely related to Babuza. In fact, the name Favorlang is derived from Babuza. Alternatively, Favorlang may also have represented a dialect of Babuza at an earlier stage, since Favorlang was documented in the mid-17th century, while Babuza was documented only around the turn of the 20th century by Japanese linguists.
Phonology Favorlang has gone through the following sound changes. Except for the *t, *s, *Z > merger, all of these sound changes are shared by the five Western Plains languages Taokas, Babuza, Papora, Hoanya, and Thao. Merger of PAn *n and *ŋ as Merger of *t, *s, *Z as Merger of *N and *S1 as Complete loss of *k, *q, *H Partial loss of *R, *j, including the loss of final *-y and *-w *s (in initial and medial positions) >
Sources Favorlang data sources are: Later translated into English:
5 sermons and various prayers, questions, and answers on Christianity by (1647–1651), a Dutch pastor Word lists collected by Naoyoshi Ogawa in the early 1900s (unpublished manuscripts dated 1900, 1901, and 1930; others are undated) Notebooks 1, 2, 3, and 5, now kept by ILCAA (Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa) and TUFS (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies) – call number "OA052" Notebook 4, now kept at the Anthropological Institute, Nanzan University – call number "v. 1-2-1"
Syntax Case markers include: ja 'nominative marker' ta 'personal name marker' o, no 'oblique (genitive and accusative, common noun)' i 'oblique (personal noun)' de 'locative' i 'directional'
Agent-focus verbal affixes include: Agent-focus -um- ~ -umm- (after consonant-initial verb stems) or um- ~ umm- (before vowel-initial verb stem except i-) -im-, -em- (lexically conditioned) m- p-
Past tense (AF) -in-umm-, in-umm m-in- -in-
Future tense (AF) Reduplication of the first stem syllable
Imperative (AF) -a
Non-agent-focus verbal affixes are: -an 'locative focus' -en, -in, -n 'patient focus' ipa- ... -a 'imperative (non-agent-focus)' -in-, in- 'past tense (non-agent-focus)' ino- 'future tense (non-agent-focus)'
When -in- and -umm- appear together in a word, -in- usually precedes -um- ~ -umm-, as in Ilokano, Bontok, and some Dusunic languages in Sabah (Rungus Dusun and Kimaragang Dusun). Occasionally, -umm- precedes -in- in several Favorlang lexical forms, but this is not very common.
Pronouns All of the following personal pronouns are free forms. All genitive pronouns end with -a.
+Favorlang Personal Pronouns Type of Pronoun Neutral Genitive Nominative/Accusative 1s. ka-ina na-a ina 2s. ijonoë joa, oa ijo 3s. icho choa icho 1p. (incl.) torro torroa – 1p. (excl.) namono namoa namo 2p. imonoë imoa imo 3p. aicho-es dechonoë choa decho
Examples
Favorlang Translation Our father, which art in Heaven, let Thy Name be praised! Ka-ina paga ta Jehova oa Deosoe, tamasea pina-ijor ijo.... I am the Lord, thy God, who led thee....
The Lord's Prayer
References
Bibliography