Dialects: Basco Ivatan, Itbayaten, Southern Ivatan.
Status Notes: De facto language of provincial identity in Batanes province.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 35,000 (1998 SIL), increasing. 3,450 Itbayatan (1996 census).
Language Use: Vigorous. Only very young and very old are monolingual. Not used in schools. Home, administration, religion, commerce, labor relations, letters. All ages. Positive attitudes. 34,300 also use English [eng]. 92% also use Filipino [fil].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 92%. Literary tradition of laji (old songs) and folklore. Letters, hymnbooks. Taught in primary schools, in the Batanes. Poetry. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1984.
Typology: VSO.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Philippines
Other Comments: Christian (Roman Catholic).