Mandaya is an Austronesian language of Mindanao in the Philippines. It may be intelligible with Mansaka. Mandaya is a language native to some parts of Davao Oriental, Mindanao.

Geographical distribution

Ethnologue reports that Mandaya is spoken in Manay, Caraga, Baganga, and Cateel municipalities of Davao Oriental Province, as well as in Davao del Norte Province.

Varieties

Ethnologue lists the following varieties of Mandaya.

  • Carraga Mandaya
  • Cateeleño
  • Manay Mandayan
  • Mandaya
  • Cataelano
  • Karaga
  • Sangab
  • Mangaragan Mandaya

Pallesen (1985) lists the following varieties of Mandaya.

Phonology

Vowels
FrontCentralBack
Closeiu
Opena
Consonants
LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottal
Nasalmnŋ
Plosivevoicelessptkʔ
voicedbdɡ
Fricativesh
Laterallʎ
Approximantwj

/d/ can be heard as [r] in intervocalic positions.