Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Antsi language

The Antsi (Anchi) language or Mag-antsi is a Sambalic language with around 4,200 speakers. It is spoken within Philippine Aeta communities in the Zambal municipalities of Botolan, San Marcelino, and Castillejos; in the Tarlaqueño municipalities of Capas and Bamban; in Mabalacat, Pampanga; and in Angeles City. The use of the language is declining as its speakers are shifting to Kapampangan or Ilocano. The language is mutually intelligible with Mag-Indi Ayta (77%) and Ambala Ayta (65%).

Last revised
Jul 25, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
355 w
Citations
11
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Antsi
Mag-antsi
Native toPhilippines
RegionZambales, Tarlac, Mabalacat, Angeles City
Native speakers
4,200 (2005)1
Language codes
ISO 639-3sgb
Glottologmaga1263

The Antsi (Anchi) language or Mag-antsi (also Mag-Anchi Ayta) is a Sambalic language with around 4,200 speakers.1 It is spoken within Philippine Aeta communities in the Zambal municipalities of Botolan, San Marcelino, and Castillejos; in the Tarlaqueño municipalities of Capas and Bamban; in Mabalacat, Pampanga; and in Angeles City. The use of the language is declining as its speakers are shifting to Kapampangan or Ilocano. The language is mutually intelligible with Mag-Indi Ayta (77%) and Ambala Ayta (65%).2

Phonology

Consonants3
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive voiceless p t c k ʔ
voiced b d ɡ
Nasal m n ŋ
Fricative s h
Lateral l
Rhotic ɾ
Approximant w j
Vowels3
Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u
Mid e o
Open a

Grammar

Ayta Mag-antsi Case Markers4
Nominative Genitive Oblique
Common ya, anote 1, -ynote 2, ∅note 3 hên, -nnote 4, ∅note 3 ha
Personal singular hi ni kan
plural hilan lan kallan
  1. "Ya" is reflected as "a" after words ending in consonants.
  2. "Ya" is suffixed as "-y" after words ending in vowels.
  3. "Ya" and "hên" are reflected as null if marking a fronted noun.
  4. "Hên" is suffixed as "-n" after words ending in vowels. However, it is reflected as "hên" after words ending in vowels in slow careful speech.
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Storck & Storck (2005).
  2. Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2022). "Ayta, Mag-antsi". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (Twenty-fifth ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  3. Kitano & Pangilinan (2003), p. 172.
  4. Storck, Kurt & Storck, Margaret. 2005. "https://www.webonary.org/ayta-mag-antsi/ [Ayta Mag-antsi-English Dictionary (Webonary version)]". Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Further reading

Further reading

  • Kitano, Hiroaki; Pangilinan, Michael Raymon Manaloto (2003). "Overview of Aita Mag-Anchi in Central Luzon, Philippines: A Preliminary Grammatical Analysis". Descriptive Theoretical Studies in Minority Languages of East and Southeast Asia 3. Tokyo: ELPR. pp. 169–223. hdl:10108/75449.
  • Storck, Margaret; Storck, Kurt (2005). Ayta Mag-Antsi–English Dictionary. Manila: Summer Institute of Linguistics, Philippines.
External links