The Filipino Language

[joijoi]

The Filipino language or also known as Tagalog has actually a lot of foreign words. This is because we were conquered by other countries in the past centuries. The Spaniards colonized the Philippines for 333 years, the longest in our history. Can you imagine that?! Other countries that ruled us are Britain, America and Japan. Also the continuous trade with other countries in the world has influenced not only our language but also our culture.

We actually use these "borrowed" words in our daily lives. Most have retained their spelling, sounding, and original definition but there are also some changes in spelling and pronunciation (that is to make it look like a real Filipino word, well, at least) .

Here are few examples of borrowed words:

mesa (table) - Spanish(mesa)
basketbol (basketball) - English(basketball)
anak (child) - Malay(anak)
alak (wine) - Sanskrit(arak)
atsara(pickles) - Hindi(achara)
toyo(soy sauce) - Chinese(tao-iu)
kaban(sack of rice) - Japanese(kaban)
tokayo(namesake) - Aztec Mexican(toca-yo)
kudeta(coup d'etat) - French(coup d'etat)
ispageti(spaghetti) - Italian(spaghetti)


Filipino, which is the formal name of Tagalog, is the national language in the Philippines. It is centered around Metro Manila but is known almost universally throughout the country. There are 13 indigenous languages with at least one million native speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Albay Bikol, Pangasinan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a, and Tausug. One or more of these is spoken natively by more than 90% of the population. Our national language is really a help for us to understand each other in our country.

And oh, by the way, Filipinos also speak good English.