Talk:Diwata

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can anyone please confirm the ethymology of the word diwata? i'm not a linguist but i think its from the sanskrit devatta. and its not exclusively feminine. --Cloudhand 09:15, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

I cannot cite a reference explicitly explaining this, or at least not on hand. But the connection between the two words is obvious to the point where it's really beyond question. The historical linkages between Sanskrit and the Southeast Asian languages is well documented. I once found a book in the Ayala Heritage Library which cited a link between the words Diwata and Deus -- explaining a likely connection in ancient times, and offering as additional evidence the physical movements of the mouth required to utter both words, which are exactly the same. One should not ignore the similarity of Devatta(Spirit) and Diwata(Spirit) to the Tagalog word Diwa(essence), and the Bahasa "Dewa(god/spirit)". Alternativity 04:20, 8 July 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure the Deities are properly categorized as Diwatas - thoughts on this, folks? Alternativity 17:49, 27 August 2007 (UTC)