Onhan language

{{Short description|Austronesian language of the Philippines}}

{{distinguish|Ongan languages}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Onhan

|nativename=Loocnon, Inonhan

|states=Philippines

|region=Romblon

|speakers={{sigfig|85,800|2}}

|date=2000

|ref=e18

|familycolor=Austronesian

|fam2=Malayo-Polynesian

|fam3=Philippine

|fam4=Central Philippine

|fam5=Bisayan

|fam6=Western Bisayan

|iso3=loc

|glotto=inon1237

|glottorefname=Inonhan

|map=Inonhan_language_map.png

|mapcaption=Inonhan language map based on Ethnologue

}}

Onhan is a regional Western Bisayan language spoken, along with the Romblomanon and Asi languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines.{{Cite web |last=Quadra-Balibay |first=Angie |date=2020-02-06 |title=UP scientists, linguists develop online dictionary to save endangered Filipino languages |url=https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/up-scientists-linguists-develop-online-dictionary-to-save-endangered-filipino-languages/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=GoodNewsPilipinas.com |language=en-US}} The language is also known as Inunhan and Loocnon.

• The Onhan language has three variants – those spoken in the municipalities of Santa Maria and Alcantara use {{IPA|/l/}} instead of {{IPA|/r/}}. Example: {{Lang|loc|kararaw}} is {{Lang|loc|kalalaw}}, and other speakers change {{IPA|/r/}} or {{IPA|/l/}} to {{IPA|/d/}} as in {{Lang|loc|run}} or {{Lang|loc|lun}} to {{Lang|loc|dun}}.

Specifically, Onhan is spoken on the following islands within Romblon:

• Tablas: the municipalities of San Andres, Santa Maria, Alcantara, Ferrol, Looc, and Santa Fe and some upland sitios in Odiongan,.
• Carabao: the sole municipality of San Jose.

As a variant of the Kinaray-a language, some speakers are found on the island of Boracay in Aklan province as well as parts of the island of Panay, specifically in the following municipalities: Malay, Nabas and Buruanga. In the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, migrant Onhan speakers from Tablas Island brought the language to the following municipalities: San Jose, Magsaysay, Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, and some parts of Bongabong. As such, it is very much related to Kinaray-a and Kuyonon.