Learning the Filipino Language
Advice and Intricacies of Learning Filipino Language
Filipino is the national language of the Philippines. This language was
adapted from Tagalog which is the dialect of Metro Manila and other
provinces in the northern part of the Philippines called Luzon.
Actually, Philippines have many different local dialects that differ
from one region to another. Last 1937, the late President Manuel L.
Quezon also known as the “Ama ng Wikang Pambansa (father of Philippine
National Language) created a body to study and select the official
language of the Philippines. This was called “Surian ng Wikang Pambansa”
(National Language Institute). After a thorough study, the body chooses
Tagalog to be the official language of the Philippines then in 1961 it
was named Pilipino. In 1987, the Philippine made some revisions to its
constitution and Pilipino was change into Filipino.
Filipino is taught in all high schools and elementary schools in the
Philippines and is used as medium of instruction in subjects like Music,
Arts, Civics & Culture and Physical Education. English remain as the
medium of instruction in Science and Mathematics subjects.
Learning Filipino language is fun. The Filipino alphabet was adapted
from other foreign languages like English and Spanish. It is made up of
28 letters 5 vowels and 23 consonants (a b c d e f g h I j k l m n ñ ng
o p q r s t u v w x y z). A consonant (katinig) plus a vowel (patinig)
is equals to pantig (syllables). Let say for example:
m + a = ma
p + a = pa
mapa ( map)
ng + i = ngi
t + i = ti
ngiti ( smile)
Speaking Filipino Language
There are almost 90 different dialects and languages used all over
the archipelago. Some major dialects are Ilocano (dialect in Ilocos )
tagalog ( metro manila) Ilonggo ( western visayas) Cebuano ( cebu)
Tausog ( Mindanao). Filipino and English are the unifying languages of
Filipinos. Through these two languages people from different areas of
the country can easily communicate. Due to the influenced of Spanish
regime in the Philippines, lot of Filipinos particularly those who
belong to the prominent families speak Spanish fluently.
The presence of many Filipinos all over the world has encouraged people
from other countries to learn Filipino language, for them to communicate
with their Filipino friends.
Listening to Filipino Language
Unlike other languages, Filipino language has simple pronunciations.
Have a look of this few samples:
Matalino (intelligent) is pronounce as ma- ta - li – no
Blusa (blouse) blu –sa
There are words in Filipino language that has the same spelling but
different in meaning. An accent called “diin” is place on the top of the
word to stress the correct accent. For example:
Tubo (pipe) – tubo’ (sugarcane)
Pito (whistle) – pito’ (seven)
Reading Filipino language
Filipino language has rich literature. It is called “panitikan”. It
consists of tula (poetry), maikling kuwento (short stories), bugtong
(riddle), alamat (legend) salawikain (proverbs) sanaysay (essay)
kuwentong bayan (stories that handed down from ancestors). There are
many famous Filipino writers like Lope k Santos with his book Tinging
Pahapyaw sa Kasaysayan ng Panitikang Tagalog” (A Glimpse at the History
of Tagalog Literature) “Ang Maikling Kathang Tagalog” (The Tagalog Short
Story), by Fausto Galauran; “Ang Pagkaunlad ng Nobelang Tagalog” (The
Development of the Tagalog Novel), by Inigo Ed. Regalado; “Ang Dulang
Pilipino” (Philippine Theater), by Julian Cruz Balmaseda; “Duplo’t
Balagtasan” (Duplo and Balagtasan), by Teodoro Gener.
Filipino language is easy to learn, you can start by simply
translating English words to Filipino. An English – Tagalog or Spanish –
Tagalog dictionary can be of great help. Filipino grammar is similar to
English grammar so if you are equipped with English grammar
nevertheless, learning Filipino is an easy thing for you to do. Being a
combination of different foreign languages, it is simple to learn
Filipino language than other languages around the globe.
From: www.filipinophrases.co.uk
|
