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Diverse Philippine Languages: Funny, Fascinating, Formidable

Editor’s Notes
By Marivir R. Montebon

 

It is August, the month of Philippine languages. Do not be lost in translation, or try not too.

 

If the 7107 islands of what compose the Philippine archipelago is spectacular, wait till you hear our 120 plus native languages or dialects. You will be fascinated.

Our native tongues, from the Malayo-Polynesian roots, are diverse and remain alive to this day, defying the imposition of English language and inspite of the Spaniards’ successful erasure of our ancient alphabet, the alibata.

With each ethnicity comes a unique language – Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Ilonggo, Kinaray-a, Waray, Tagalog, Bantagueno, Ilokano, Igorot, Maranao, Tausug, Bikolano, Kapampangan, Surigaonon, and a lot more. They are furiously spoken in the comfort of homes, in intense expressions of love or anger. Filipinos go back to their mother tongues as they leave work or school, all colonially established, at the day’s end.

The Philippines has 1707 islands and at least 120 languages. Diversity at its best.

The Philippines has 1707 islands and at least 120 languages. Diversity at its best.

Here is a funny journey in the Philippines through words.

Langgam means ant in Tagalog, the language spoken in Manila and nearby provinces. But when you reach Cebu and Central Visayas, langgam means bird.

The langgam that crawls in Manila flies in Cebu, we would always say in jest.

Libog in Cebu means confusion. But do not say libog in Tagalog, it means sexual arousal.

So while Cebuanos are confused, the  Tagalogs are aroused, with that word libog. ‘Nalibog ko’ in Cebuano means I am confused. But say that in Tagalog, it means I am aroused. Be careful, don’t get in trouble.

In the Tagalog language, buto means bone but when you reach Visayas and Mindanao, buto means vagina. Be careful using that word too. Make sure to appropriately use it where you are.

Payag in Tagalog means to agree while in the Visayas and Mindanao, it is the nipa hut.

Oftentimes, the same words are spoken differently in syllabic emphasis, and the word changes its meaning.

Okay, but there are lovely words that are common in the regions. Gugma means love to the Sugbuano and Ilonggo and among many Mindanaoanon. Salamat or thank you is spoken by Tagalog and Visayans alike. Langit means heaven or figuratively happiness in these regions.

Come to think of it. Love, gratitude, and heaven – such lovely words that find common ground among peoples in my home country.

Well, patay or death is a common term too for all regions. And tulog or sleep. Ina, ama, and anak or mother, father and child are terms universally shared.

The pronouns of our ethnic languages are gender-free. Ako, ikaw, siya, sila, and kita respectively means I, you (both ikaw and siya), they, and we/us without the gender-construct.  Siya in English will specifically mean a he or a she. That sense of ‘patas’ or equality and uniformity, although undermined, is alive in us now, something that the western colonialists do not have in their translations.

 

 

 

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fiestAsia

Aug 4, 2016Admin
For Ethnic Media to Thrive Anywhere, Upholding Ethics is KeyRobredo: Break Poverty Cycles, No to Summary Killings
Comments: 2
  1. Tes Silverman
    5 years ago

    Hi Marivir,
    Great post! This was send to me by my aunt, May Rodriguez as a way of introduction. Would love to know how long this post took you to write. Was it fun or challenging? Since I grew up speaking Tagalog and English, this was such a great way for me to be introduced to other meanings of words I grew up with. I, myself, am a writer/blogger for various publications and am always looking for ideas to write about, with the intention of sharing my observations to readers abroad.
    My blog is blog.pinayperspective.com and I write for the World Voice Section of World Moms Network, worldmomsnetwork.com
    Again, thank you for the great post and I hope to hear from you.

    Best,
    Tes Silverman
    World Moms Network
    The Pinay Perspective

    ReplyCancel
    • Admin
      5 years ago

      Hi Tes,
      Thank you for your appreciation. I am glad this article helped you. Your aunt May Rodriguez was my managing editor in my first job as journalist. I owe her a lot in terms of skills and confidence.

      I spent about three hours writing this. But was already thinking and framing it in my mind for a week, in preparation for the Buwan ng Wika. Would be glad to read your blogs soon.

      Cheers,
      Marivir

      ReplyCancel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Admin
5 years ago 2 Comments Art & CultureBantagueno, Bisaya, Cebu, Hiligaynon, igorot, Ilokano, Ilonggo, Karay-a, Luzon, Malayo-Polynesian roots, Manila, Maranao, Mindanao, Philippine archipelago, Sugbuanon, Tagalog, Tausug, Visayas, Waray468
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