Languages of the Philippines

There are over 170 languages of the Philippines; almost all of them belong to the Austronesian language family.

Official and national languages

Throughout the Spanish colonial period, which lasted more than three centuries, Spanish was the official language of the country. After the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spanish was reaffirmed as the official language in the 1899 Malolos Constitution.

Under the U.S. occupation and civil regime, English began to be taught in schools. By 1901, public education was institutionalized, with English serving as the medium of instruction. Around 600 educators who arrived in that year aboard the S.S. Thomas replaced the soldiers who also functioned as teachers (called "Thomasites"). The 1935 Constitution added English as an official language alongside Spanish. A provision in this constitution also called for Congress to "take steps toward the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages." On November 12, 1937, the First National Assembly created the National Language Institute. President Manuel L. Quezon appointed native Waray-Waray speaker Jaime C. De Veyra to chair a committee of speakers of other regional languages. Their aim was to select a national language among the other regional languages. Ultimately, Tagalog was chosen on December 31, 1937.

Although the teaching of the national language in schools began in 1940, Tagalog was not made an official language until the restoration of its independence on July 4, 1946. In 1961, the national language was referred to as Pilipino rather than Tagalog.

The 1973 Constitution under the Marcos administration, retained English and Pilipino as official languages, dropping Spanish. There was another provision stating that the National Assembly should "take steps towards the development and formal adoption of a common national language to be known as Filipino."

The present constitution, ratified in 1987, stated that Filipino and English are both the official languages of the country. Filipino also had the distinction of being a national language that was to be "developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages." Although not explicitly stated in the constitution, Filipino is in practice almost completely composed of the Tagalog as spoken in Manila, however, organizations such as the University of the Philippines began publishing dictionaries such as the UP Diksyonaryong Filipino in which words from various Philippine languages were also included. The constitution also made mention of Spanish and Arabic, both of which are to be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis; in reality, virtually nothing is being done to this end.

Native languages

According to Ethnologue, a total of 171 native languages are spoken in the country. Except for English, Spanish, Hokkien, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Chabacano, all of the languages belong to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

There are 12 native languages with at least one million native speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Bikol, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao, and Tausug. One or more of these is spoken natively by more than 90% of the population.

Below are population estimates from the 2000 Philippine census by National Statistics Office of the Philippines on the number of Filipinos who speak the following 18 languages as a native language.

Tagalog - 22,000,000
Cebuano - 18,500,000
Ilokano - 7,700,000
Hiligaynon - 6,900,000
Waray-Waray - 3,100,000
Northern Bikol - 2,500,000
Kapampangan - 2,300,000
Pangasinan - 1,540,000
Southern Bikol - 1,200,000
Kinaray-a - 1,100,000
Maranao - 1,000,000
Maguindanao - 1,000,000
Tausug - 1,000,000
Chavacano - 607,000
Surigaonon - 600,000
Masbatenyo - 530,000
Aklanon - 520,000
Ibanag - 320,000

Family Tree of Philippine Languages

Austronesian
- Malayo-Polynesian
  - Meso Philippine
    - Central Philippine
      - Ata
      - Ayta, Sorsogon
      - Ayta, Tayabas
      - Bikol
        Coastal
        Naga
        Agta, Isarog
        Agta, Mt. Iraya
        Bicolano, Central
        Virac
        Bicolano, Southern Catanduanes
        Inland
        Agta, Mt. Iriga
        Buhi-Daraga
        Bicolano, Albay
        Iriga
        Bicolano, Iriga
        Pandan
        Bicolano, Northern Catanduanes
      - Bisayan
        Banton
        Bantoanon
        Cebuan
        Cebuano
        Central
        Peripheral
        Ati
        Capiznon
        Hiligaynon
        Masbatenyo
        Porohanon
        Romblon
        Romblomanon
        Warayan
        Sorsogon, Masbate
        Gubat
        Sorsogon, Waray
        Samar-Waray
        Waray-Waray
        South
        Butuan-Tausug
        Butuanon
        Tausug
        Surigao
        Surigaonon
        West
        Aklan
        Aklanon
        Malaynon
        Caluyanun
        Kinarayan
        Kinaray-A
        Kuyan
        Ratagnon
        Cuyonon
        North Central
        Inonhan
      - Mamanwa
        Mamanwa
      - Mansakan
        Davawenyo
        Davawenyo
        Eastern
        Caraga
        Mandaya, Karaga
        Mandayan
        Mansaka
        Mandaya, Cataelano
        Mandaya, Sangab
        Northern
        Kamayo
        Western
        Kalagan, Tagakaulu
        Kalagan, Kagan
        Kalagan
      - Tagalog
        Filipino
        Tagalog
      - Ata
      - Ayta, Sorsogon
      - Ayta, Tayabas
      - Karolanos
      - Magahat
      - Sulod
    - Kalamian
      - Agutaynen
      - Tagbanwa, Calamian
      - Tagbanwa, Central
    - Palawano
      - Batak
      - Palawano, Central
      - Palawano, Southwest
      - Palawano, Brooke's Point
      - Molbog
      - Tagbanwa
    - South Mangyan
      - Buhid-Taubuid
        Buhid
        Tawbuid, Eastern
        Tawbuid, Western
      - Hanunoo
        Hanunoo
    - Northern Philippine
      - Bashiic-Central Luzon-Northern Mindoro
        Bashiic
        Ivatan
        Ibatan
        Ivatan
        Central Luzon
        Pampangan
        Pampangan
        Sambalic
        Ayta, Ambala
        Ayta, Abenlen
        Ayta, Bataan
        Ayta, Mag-Indi
        Sambal, Botolan
        Ayta, Mag-Anchi
        Bolinao
        Sambal, Tinà
        Sinauna
        Agta, Remontado
        Northern Mindoro
        Alangan
        Iraya
        Tadyawan
      - Northern Luzon
        Arta
        Arta
        Ilocano
        Ilocano
        Northern Cordilleran
        Dumagat
        Northern
        Paranan
        Agta, Central Cagayan
        Agta, Casiguran Dumagat
        Agta, Dupaninan
        Agta, Dicamay
        Kasiguranin
        Southern
        Agta, Camarines Norte
        Agta, Umiray Dumaget
        Agta, Alabat Island
        Ibanagic
        Gaddang
        Gaddang
        Ga'dang
        Ibanag
        Atta, Pudtol
        Atta, Pamplona
        Atta, Faire
        Agta, Villa Viciosa
        Ibanag
        Itawit
        Yogad
        Isnag
        Isnag
        Itneg, Adasen
        Itneg, Moyadan

Classification of Philippine languages

Philippine languages are further divided into a handful of subgroups. The first three groups are considered to be closely related to each other.

Northern Philippine languages such as Ilokano, Kapampangan, and Pangasinan languages which are concentrated in northern and central Luzon. Some languages in Mindoro such as Iraya and Tadyawan are included in this group. The Dau language of Orchid Island in Taiwan is also a member of this group.

Meso Philippine languages are perhaps the group with the most speakers and is the most geographically widespread, covering Central Luzon, the Visayan islands and many parts of Mindanao. Certain languages spoken in Palawan and Mindoro such as Tagbanwa, Palawano, and Hanunoo constitute their own respective subgroups. The largest subgroup are the Central Philippine languages which are composed of Tagalog; Bikol languages; Visayan languages such as Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray-Waray; and Mansakan languages.

Southern Philippine languages such as Maranao, Maguindanao, Manobo languages, and Subanun languages are concentrated in Mindanao. Many Southern Philippine languages have been influenced by both Malaysian, Indonesian, Sanskrit, and Arabic words.

The final three following groups are thought to be more distantly to the previous three.

Southern Mindanao languages are languages such as Tboli and Blaan which are spoken in southern Mindanao.

Sama-Bajaw languages mainly centered in the Sulu Archipelago as well as parts of Borneo. One language, Abaknon, is spoken on Capul Island near Samar, which is far from other Sama languages. Other languages in this group are Yakan and Sama.

Sulawesi languages has only two representatives in the Philippines, the Sangil and the Sangir languages.

Mutual intelligibility

Despite not being mutually intelligible, Philippine languages tend to be referred by Filipinos as dialects.

The vast differences between the languages can be seen in the following translations of the Philippine national proverb "He who does not look back at his birthplace, will not reach his future."

Aklanon: Ro uwa' gatan-aw sa anang ginhalinan hay indi makaabut sa anang ginapaeangpan.
Asi: Kag tawong waya giruromroma it ida ginghalinan, indi makaabot sa ida apagtuan.
Bangon: No fuktaw hadwa bumontag idwan dasog at bato lawan.
Standard Bikol: An dai tatao maghiling sa pighalian, dai makakaabot sa padudumanan.
Cebuano: Kadtong dili molingi sa gigikanan, dili makaabot sa gipadulongan.
Ibanag: I tolay nga ari mallipay ta naggafuananna, ari makadde ta angayanna.
Ilokano: Ti saán a tumaliaw iti naggapuanna, saán a makadánon iti papanánna.
Hiligaynon: Kon sin-o ang indi makahibalo magbalikid sang iya ginta-uhan, indi makaabot sa iya padulungan.
Jama Mapun: Soysoy niya' pandoy ngantele' patulakan ne, niya' ta'abut katakkahan ne.
Kapampangan: Ing e byasang malikid king kayang ibatan, e ya makaratang king kayang pupuntan.
Obo Manobo: Iddos minuvu no konnod kotuig nod loingoy to id pomonan din, konna mandad od poko-uma riyon tod undiyonnan din.
Sambal Botolan: Hay ahe nin nanlek ha pinag-ibatan, ay ahe makarateng ha lalakwen.
Sangil: Tao mata taya mabiling su pubuakengnge taya dumanta su kadam tangi.
Tagalog: Ang hindî marunong lumingón sa pinanggalingan ay hindî makararatíng sa paroroonan.
Tausug: Amu in di' maingat maglingi' pa bakas liyabayan niya, di' magsampay pa kadtuun niya.
Waray-Waray: An diri maaram lumingi han tinikangan, di maulpot ha kakadtoan.
Yakan: Gey tau mayam sibukutan, gey tau tekka kaditaran.

Dialectal variation

The amount of dialectal variation varies from language to language. Languages like Tagalog and Kapampangan are known to have very moderate dialectal variation.

In the languages of the Bicol Region, however, there is great dialectal variation. There are towns which have their own dialects. Below is the sentence "Were you there at the market for a long time?" translated into certain varieties of Bikol. The translation is followed by the town in Bicol where they are spoken. The final translations are in Tagalog and Ilonggo.

Haloy ka duman sa saod? (Naga City; standard dialect)
Naeban ika sadto sa sa-ran? (Iriga City)
Uban ika adto sa saod? (Libon)
Huray ka doon sa saod? (Pandan)
Naegey ika adto sa sa-ran? (Buhi)
Eley ka idto sa sed? (Oas)
Dugay ka didto sa palengke? (Ticao)
Awat ka didto sa plasa? (Gubat)
Matagal ka doon sa palengke? (Tagalog)
Kadugay sa imo sa tyangge? (Ilonggo)

Major Foreign Languages

Arabic

Arabic is used by some members of the Muslim population. It is used in religious instruction in Philippine madrasahs or Muslim schools and, more rarely, for official events among Muslim peoples. Historically, Arabic, along with Malay, was used as a lingua franca in the Malay Archipelago among Muslim traders and the Muslim Malay Aristocracy throughout the Archipelago. Arabic is taught for free and promoted in some Islamic centers and used for Islamic activities.

According to the 1987 Constitution, Arabic, along with Spanish, is to be promoted on a voluntary basis.

Chinese

The islanders have been trading with China and Japan since the early 10th or 11th century. Mandarin Chinese is the medium of instruction in Chinese schools and lingua franca of the mainland and overseas Chinese. The Lan-nang variant of the Min Nan is the language of the majority the Chinese in the Philippines, who immigrated from the Fujian (pronounced locally as Fookien or Hokkien) province in China. Another Chinese language, Cantonese, is spoken among the Chinese in the Philippines who are descendants of people from Guangdong province in China.

English

English is an official language in the Philippines, imposed by Americans during U.S. colonization. The Americans gradually succeeded in taking control of urban and coastal areas by the end of 1903 and began to aggressively promote English as a universal language. Although the first exposure to English occurred in 1762, when the British invaded Manila, English from that era never had any lasting influence.

Today, English is the dominant language in business, government, the legal system, medicine, the sciences and education. The native languages are often heard in colloquial settings. Filipinos tend to want their textbooks for subjects like calculus, physics, chemistry, biology, etc. written in English rather than Filipino. In the home with family and friends however, most use their vernaculars. The use of English may be thought to carry an air of formality, given its use in school, government and various ceremonies. A large percentage of the media such as television, newspapers, and entertainment are also in English; the major television networks though in the country have since been shifting to Tagalog. English proficiency sustains a significant call center industry for American companies and valuable asset for overseas workers.

Since Filipinos are very well oriented with English, a large influx of English words has been assimilated into Tagalog and the other native languages. It is customary to substitute English words even if the word exists in the original vernacular.

Although the Philippines is widely reputed as the third largest English-speaking nation in the world, only 32,802 people were reported to speak it as a first language, the majority of which are in fact American citizens residing in the Philippines.

South Asian languages

Since pre-Spanish times, there have been small Indian communities in the Philippines. Indians tend to be able to speak Tagalog and the other native languages, and are often fluent in English. Among themselves, Sindhi and Punjabi are used.

Japanese

There is a small Japanese community and a school for Japanese in Metro Manila due to the number of Japanese companies. Also there is a large community of Japanese and Japanese descendants in Laguna province and in the Davao region.

Malay

Spoken among Muslim peoples in the southern Philippines.

Old Malay and Indonesian cultures and civilizations in ancient Sumatra and Java have had a large influence on the history, lifestyles, and culture of various Philippine peoples, Old Malay has also had an immense influence on many if not most of the languages spoken in the Philippines. Roughly a third of all commonly used verbs and nouns used in the Philippines are of Old Malay origin.

When the Spanish had first arrived in the Philippines in the 16th Century, Old Malay was spoken among the aristocracy.

It is believed that Ferdinand Magellan’s Moluccan slave Enrique could converse with local leaders in Cebu island, confirming to Magellan his arrival in Southeast Asia. An example of Old Malay and Javanese languages spoken in Philippine history can be seen in the language of the Laguna Copperplate Inscription.

Spanish

Spanish began to be the first language in the archipelago from 1565, when the Spanish Conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi founded the first Spanish settlement on Cebu.

In 1593, the first printing press was founded. A great portion of the colonial history of the Philippines is written in Spanish. Many land titles, contracts, newspapers and literature are still written in Spanish. There are thousands of Spanish loanwords in Tagalog, Cebuano, and other languages. Spanish numbers are usually used with dates, times, measurements, and other occasions.

After World War II and during the Marcos administration, many of the old Spanish-speaking families in Philippines migrated to Europe and the Americas. There were 6 million Spanish speakers in the Philippines in 1940. The 1950 Census stated that the Spanish-speaking Filipinos made up 6% of the population. By 1990, the census reported that the number had dwindled down to 2,500. The common consensus is that Spanish speaking is doomed in the Philippines. However, as of 2005, there is a growing interest due to demand in call center industries.

Spanish ceased to be an official language in 1973 and a college requirement in 1987 during the Aquino administration . However the language is still spoken today by numerous Spanish and Spanish Mestizo families who are mainly concentrated in Metro Manila. It remains a required subject in many universities, such as the University of Santo Tomás.

There are also several Spanish-based creole languages in the Philippines, collectively called Chavacano:

Chavacanos of Luzon:
- Caviteño, spoken in Cavite.
- Ternateño, spoken in Cavite.
- Ermitaño, formerly spoken in Ermita, Manila, now extinct.
Chavacanos of Mindanao:
- Zamboangueño (360,000 native speakers, the most spoken creole)
- Cotabateño
- Davaoeño

Philippine Languages Comparison Chart

Below is a chart of Philippine languages. While there has been misunderstandings on which ones should be classified as language and which ones should be classified as dialect, this chart confirms that most have similarities but are not mutually comprehensible with each other. These languages are arranged according to the regions they are natively spoken (from north to south, then east to west).

	one	two	three	four	person	house	dog	coconut	day	new	we (inc.)	what
Ivatan	asa	dadowa	tatdo	apat	tao	vahay	chito	niyoy	araw	va-yo	yaten	ango
Ilokano	maysa	dua	tallo	uppat	tao	balay	aso	niog	aldaw	baro	datayo	ania
Pangasinan	sakey	duara	talora	apatira	too	abong	aso	niyog	agew	balo	sikatayo	anto
Ibanag	tadday	dua	tallu	appa'	tolay	balay	kitu	inniuk	aggaw	bagu	sittam	anni
Gaddang	antet	addwa	tallo	appat	tolay	balay	atu	ayog	aw	bawu	ikkanetem	sanenay
Kapampangan	metung	adwa	atlu	apat	tau	bale	asu	ngungut	aldo	bayu	ikatamu	nanu
Tagalog	isa	dalawa	tatlo	apat	tao	bahay	aso	niyog	araw	bago	tayo	ano
Bikol	saro	duwa	tulo	apat	tawo	harong	ayam	niyog	aldaw	ba-go	kita	ano
Kinaray-a	sara	darwa	tatlo	apat	taho	balay	ayam	niyog	adlaw	bag-o	kita, taten	ano
Ilonggo	isa	duha	tatlo	apat	tawo	balay	ido	lubi	adlaw	bag-o	kita	ano
Cebuano	usa	duha	tulo	upat	tawo	balay	iro	lubi	adlaw	bag-o	kita	unsa
Waray-Waray	usa	duha	tulo	upat	tawo	balay	ayam	lubi	adlaw	bag-o	kita	ano
Tboli	sotu	lewu	tlu	fat	tau	gunu	ohu	lefo	kdaw	lomi	tekuy	tedu
Tausug	hambuuk	duwa	tu	upat	tau	bay	iru'	niyug	adlaw	ba-gu	kitaniyu	unu

False friends among Philippine languages

Compounding the problem of mutual intelligibility among Philippine languages, there are lots of false friends among them.

Legend: Ilocano(ILO), Kapampangan(PMP), Tagalog(TGL),Cebuano(CEB),Ilonggo(HIL), Waray-Waray(WRY), Pangasinense (PANG).

bukid:field (farm)(TGL), hill/mountain(CEB, WRY,& HIL).
gamot:medicine(TGL), roots of plants (CEB& WRY).
gubat:forest(TGL), battle/war(CEB).
habol: pursue(TGL),blanket(CEB),dulled(CEB).
hilo : become nauseous(TGL),poison or thread(CEB).
hipon: prawn/shrimp (TGL),shrimp paste (=bagoongCEB)).
ilog : river(TGL), quarrel over something(CEB).
irog : loved one(TGL), move over(CEB).
ibon : 'ebun'-egg(Kp), bird(TGL).
hubad: translate(CEB), naked(TGL).
kadyot : copulate(TGL), a moment(CEB).
katok: knock a door(TGL), silly/senseless(CEB).
kayat: want(ILO), copulate(CEB).
kumot: blanket(TGL), to crumple (CEB & WRY)
laban: against/opposed to(TGL), in support of(CEB)
lagay: put(TGL), male genitals(HIL & CEB),mud(WRY)
langgam:ant(TGL), bird(CEB).
libang: do leisurely things(TGL& WRY), defecate(CEB)
libog: lust(TGL), be confused(CEB).
paa : foot(TGL), leg (CEB& HIL).
pagod: tired(TGL), burnt/scorched (CEB).
palit: change/exchange(TGL), buy(CEB).
pagong: turtle(TGL), frog (HIL).
sabot: pubic hair(HIL),to understand(CEB).
sili : chili(TGL), chili(CEB), penis (WRY).
tapak: step on(TGL), patch a hole(CEB).
tete : bridge(PMP), Mammary glands(TGL, also titi -male penis ).
tulo : drip and Syhilis(TGL),three(CEB& WRY).
usa : deer(TGL),one(CEB& WRY).
usap : talk(TGL), chew(CEB).
utong: nipple(TGL), holding one's breath(CEB).
wala : nothing(TGL, HIL,& CEB), there is(PANG).

External links

Lawrence R. Reid webpage of Dr. Lawrence R. Reid. Professor emeritus of linguistics at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Has researched Philippine languages for decades.
Carl Rubino webpage of Dr. Carl Rubino. A Filipino linguist who has studied Philippine languages.
Literatura hispanofilipina: siglos XVII al XX by Edmundo Farolan Romero, with a pretty Philippine poetry anthology in Spanish.
Salita Blog by Christopher Sundita. A blog about a variety of issues concerning the languages of the Philippines.
Philippine Language Tree

References

Languages of the Philippines | Lists of languages | Philippines

Philippinische Sprachen | Idiomas de las Filipinas | Langues des Philippines | Dagiti Pagsasao iti Filipinas | Tala ng mga wika sa Pilipinas

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