Baybay language

The Baybay language, also known as Baybayanon, Utudnon, Waya-Waya or Leyte, is a distinct regional language that was spoken on the island of Leyte in the Philippines before the arrival of Waray and then later, Boholano and Cebuano. It is still spoken around the city of Baybay. It is part of the Bisayan language family and is closely related to other Philippine languages.

Baybay
Utudnon
Baybayanon
Native to	Philippines
Region	Baybay, Leyte
Native speakers	10,000 (2009)[1]
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Philippine Central Philippine Bisayan Central Bisayan Warayan Baybay
Language codes
ISO 639-3	bvy
Glottolog	bayb1234
Areas where the Baybay language is spoken.

Classification

Baybayanon was originally a Warayan language that has been relexified and overlaid by a Cebuano (Leyteño) superstratum.^[2] The Warayan substratum is characterized by Baybayanon's more Waray-like deictics, and various other features.^[2]

Geographic distribution

Utudnon is spoken by about 10,000 people in five barangays of Baybay municipality,^[3] central Leyte, namely Utúd (also called Utod or Guadalupe), Gábas, Kilím, Pátag, Pangasúgan and Hibunawan.^[2]