Philippine Units of Measurements
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1 Philippine Units of Measurements (3 pages) -by Frederick Victor Paredes Añana Below is a table of various units of measurements used by early Filipinos. Each measuring unit has a corresponding foreign equivalent. Since early Filipinos used mostly their body parts for measuring, I used my body parts as my basis for finding the estimated foreign unit equivalent. For example, in finding the length/distance (foreign equivalent), I used the ruler to measure parts of my body. For the term salok (to fetch water), I used my both hands to fetch water to the measuring cup. Page 2 shows the literal definition of each Philippine measuring unit. LENGTH / DISTANCE MASS / WEIGHT Philippine measuring units Foreign equivalent (estimate) Philippine measuring units Foreign equivalent (estimate) piranggot ½ inch dakot 10 grams sandamak 4 inches guhit 100 grams dangkal 8 inches kagitna ½ kilo talampakan 12 inches gatang 1 kilo bisig 16 inches chimanta 6 kilos dipa 68 inches kaban 25 kilos VOLUME TIME Philippine measuring units Foreign equivalent (estimate) Philippine measuring units Foreign equivalent (estimate) salok 80 ml kisapmata 0.5 second saro 250 ml saglit 1 second
description
About the various units of measurements used by early Filipinos. Each measuring unit has a corresponding foreign equivalent. Since early Filipinos used mostly their body parts for measuring, I used my body parts as my basis for finding the estimated foreign unit equivalent. For example, in finding the length/distance (foreign equivalent), I used the ruler to measure parts of my body. For the term salok (to fetch water), I used my both hands to fetch water to the measuring cup. Page 2 shows the literal definition of each Philippine measuring unit.
Transcript of Philippine Units of Measurements
1
Philippine Units of Measurements(3 pages)
-by Frederick Victor Paredes Añana
Below is a table of various units of measurements used by early Filipinos. Each measuring unit has a corresponding foreign equivalent. Since early Filipinos used mostly their body parts for measuring, I used my body parts as my basis for finding the estimated foreign unit equivalent. For example, in finding the length/distance (foreign equivalent), I used the ruler to measure parts of my body. For the term salok (to fetch water), I used my both hands to fetch water to the measuring cup. Page 2 shows the literal definition of each Philippine measuring unit.
LENGTH / DISTANCE MASS / WEIGHT
Philippine measuring
units
Foreign equivalent(estimate)
Philippine measuring
units
Foreign equivalent(estimate)
piranggot ½ inch dakot 10 gramssandamak 4 inches guhit 100 grams
dangkal 8 inches kagitna ½ kilotalampakan 12 inches gatang 1 kilo
bisig 16 inches chimanta 6 kilosdipa 68 inches kaban 25 kilos
VOLUME TIME
Philippine measuring
units
Foreign equivalent(estimate)
Philippinemeasuring
units
Foreign equivalent(estimate)
salok 80 ml kisapmata 0.5 secondsaro 250 ml saglit 1 second
mangkok 400 ml sandali 60 seconds
Note: The word guhit (100 grams) is a very recent unit of measurement. This unit was first used by market vendors probably when the modern weighing scale was introduced. Guhit literally means line. It also refers to the small lines seen in between the numbers of a weighing scale.
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Definition of Terms
A.) Length/Distance
piranggot - a very small piece
sandamak - the width of the hand with the five fingers pressed together dangkal - the span from tip of thumb to tip of middle finger talampakan - sole of foot, a foot length
bisig - arm, forearm
dipa - the span of two extended arms
B.) Mass / Weight
dakot – handful
guhit – a line, a line or lines seen in between the numbers of a weighing scale
kagitna – ½ ganta
gatang – unit of measure for rice and other grains, dry measure
chimanta (look for page 261 of Encyclopaedia of scientific units, weights, and measures)
kaban - a measure of rice, a sack
C.) Volume
salok – to fetch, as in fetching water
saro – mug, ewer
mangkok – bowl
D.) Time
kisapmata – wink of an eye, wink
saglit – instant, moment
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sandali – in a moment, in a minute, in a short time
Online References:Webster’s Online Dictionaryhttp://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/
Bansa.orghttp://www.bansa.org/dictionaries/tgl/?type=search&data=cooked+rice
W3Dictionaryhttp://tl.w3dictionary.org/index.php?q=gilit
Google Translatehttp://translate.google.com/#
Philippine Historyhttp://junemaessaga.blogspot.com/2005/10/chapter-4-our-malayan-heritage.html
Encyclopaedia of scientific units, weights, and measures By François Cardarelli http://books.google.com.my/books?id=6KCx8Ww75VkC&pg=PT290&lpg=PT289&ots=F2NLttj3xv&dq=obsolete+philippine+unit+measurement#v=onepage&q=&f=false
