What is 'Lannang'?
June 15, 2020
By: Wilkinson Daniel Wong Gonzales
What does 'Lannang' mean? We try to show you how 'Lannang' is used and what we believe its meaning has come to be. In the Lannang spirit, our descriptions will be in English first, followed by a Manila Lánnang-uè (Philippine Hybrid Hokkien) translation.
Note:
'Lánnang-uè' here refers to a language with Tagalog, English, and Hokkien linguistic elements, particularly the Manila variety. It has been described as a mixed language (Gonzales 2018). It is commonly perceived as (broken) Hokkien. A lot of Lannangs still refer to it as the 'pure' Hokkien. We distinguish it from the the 'pure' variety of Hokkien in the Philippines, a dialect of Hokkien (Southern Min) with Jinjiang and Amoy (Xiamen) roots. We use 'Lánnang-uè' to mean the distinct mixed language.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
It perhaps came from the Hokkien phrase lán láng ‘our people’, historically used by the Chinese immigrants to identify members of their community.
TSĪGÊ TŌLÓH LAÍ È A?
Bākā tsîgé ân Hokkiên-uè 'lán láng' lai è. Lán láng tsîge dì historically sī huaí Tiōngkôk laí-e immigrânts lê ièng e dì para uhuâtthāng identify în-e community membêrs.
WHAT DOES ‘LANNANG’ REFER TO?
Individuals in the Philippines with Hokkien or Cantonese roots (late 19th to 20th century-immigrants and their descendants) who became firmly rooted in the Philippines.
‘LÁNNÁNG’ SĪ SIAMMÍH ÎSÌ A?
Tsîge sī kóng huaí mgā ân Huīdīpīn tuahàn ē láng na ū Hokkiên kâp Kúhngtāng-e hēritâge. Tsîge kāsāmà mgā 19th to 20th century immigrânts kâp în-ē descendânts.
BEYOND JUST ‘CHINESE’: ‘LANNANG’
-
A term that unifies the broad range of identities under the common experience of having a hybrid culture
-
A distinct identity that does not emphasize nationality or race but combines aspects of both Chinese and Filipino cultures (e.g. language, religion, food, etc.)
UHMSI CHINÊSE LÂNG: ‘LÁNNÁNG’
-
Tsīgē tèrm na lêh unify lóngtsòng na ū pât experience tioh hîge hybrîd-e cultùre asi u halô e heritage
-
Tsīge distînct e identity nā bō lê emphasîze nationality âsi râce, pērō u tshām Chinêse kâp Filipino culturè-e aspects.(e.g. languâge, religiòn, tsiāmíh)
SCOPE
The term Lannang does not only refer to ‘pure-blooded’ Chinese (tsiâ lánnáng), nor does it only refer to those with Filipino citizenship (Chinese Filipinos/ Chinoys/Tsinoys). It is an all-encompassing term that also includes the Filipino-Chinese (Fil-Chi) and ‘mixed blood’ Chinese/Filipinos (tshûtsi-â).
SCÔPE
Lánnáng tsîge tèrm bó lê refer to tsiá lánnáng asi huaí na u huitsiák asi Filipinō citizenshîp (Chinese Filipinos/Chinoys/Tsinoys) lâng. Tsîge si tsigē pang-longtsòng-e tèrm na kasamà Fil-Chi kâp tshûtsi-â.
WHAT TO USE LANNANG FOR?
-
The culture and heritage (e.g. Lannang heritage)
-
The people (e.g. the Lannangs)
-
The language (although, most refer to it as Lánnang-uè)
TSIÛWA IĒNG ‘LÁNNÁNG’ BÀ?
-
Kung lê refèr to huaí láng (e.g. huaí mga Lánnang)
-
Kung lê refèr to hîge cultùre kâp heritâge (e.g. Lannang heritage)
-
Kung Kung lê refèr to hîge language (kahit na láng khâ shóng lê iēng ‘Lánnang-uè’ tsîge dì)
How to cite:
Gonzales, Wilkinson Daniel Wong. 2020. What is 'Lannang'? The Lannang Archives. Retrieved from: www.lannangarchives.org
Inspiration
This poster series was inspired by the Jolo Lannangs, brought to light by @The Sulu Cultural and Historical Society.
https://www.facebook.com/suluhx/photos/a.2346452985681127/2691046054555150/?type=3&theater