Tagalog is the language of modern Philippines. Do you want to know where Tagalog is spoken, in which country the Tagalog language is most common and what are its features? This article will answer all your questions.
Where is Tagalog spoken?
Tagalog is one of the main languages of the Republic of the Philippines. More than 50 million people living in the Philippines, mainly in the southern part of the island of Luzon (the largest island in the Philippine archipelago), speak Tagalog. Other dialects are also found here, such as Cebuano, Ilokano, Warai Warai, Hiligaynon, Pangasinan, Bikol, Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug and Kapampangan. However, the official language, "Filipino", is based on Tagalog. Since 1940, Filipino has been taught in schools across the country.
Tagalog is also spoken in other countries. Thus, in the UK, it ranks sixth among all languages used in this country.
Origin
The name of the Tagalog language "Tagalog" comes from the words "taga-ilog", which literally translates as"from the river". Tagalog is an Austronesian language belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian branch. During the four centuries of colonial rule, Tagalog was heavily influenced by several other languages, such as Malay and Chinese, and later by Spanish and American English. This influence is strong in Tagalog words and writing.
Writing
The first book in Tagalog was The Christian Doctrine, published in 1593. The first Tagalog grammar rules and dictionaries were created by Spanish clerics during the 300-year occupation of the Philippines. Although it is sometimes believed that in ancient times each province in the Philippines had its own alphabet, Spanish writers of the 16th century wrote that during the contact of the Philippines with Spain, the use of writing was found only in Manila, the current capital of the state. Writing spread to other islands later, already in the middle of the 16th century.
Tagalog has its own writing system based on the ancient Baibayin script (from the Tagalog "baybay", meaning "to write"), using a syllabic alphabet. This alphabet was in use until the 17th century, when it was finally Latinized by the Spanish colonizers. Even the modern alphabet has undergone several changes, gradually appearing more and more sounds from Spanish and English. At present, sometimes you can still find the use of the Baybayin script, but mostly only for decorative purposes, although there have been attempts to revive it in history.use.
Borrowings
Thousands of borrowed words in Tagalog, in particular from Spanish. Taglish is also very common in the Philippines, especially in modern areas. This is a kind of mixture of Tagalog and English. In oral and written Tagalog, along with words of Spanish origin, English words are often used (often written completely inconsistent with the rules of Tagalog pronunciation). Some of these loanwords have their Tagalog equivalents, but they are mostly used only in formal and literary speech. However, many borrowed words still have no analogues in Tagalog. This is largely due to the fact that many things and concepts did not exist in the country before the arrival of Western people.
The following are some examples of borrowed words in Tagalog:
| kabayo | from Spanish "caballo", horse |
| Kumusta? | from Spanish "¿Como está?", How are you? |
| libró | from Spanish "libro", book |
| nars | from English "nurse", nurse |
| drayber | from English "driver", driver |
| saráp | from Malay "sedap", delicious |
| balità | from Sanskrit "berita", news |
| bundók | offKapampangan "bunduk", mountain |
However, despite all the borrowings, the richness of the Tagalog language remains unchanged. Foreign words are not included in the language just like that without changes. Borrowing words from other languages, Tagalog adapts them to its culture through a complex word-formation system that allows any borrowed noun to be turned into a verb or vice versa.
Glossary
The following are a few words and sentences that will help you maintain a simple conversation in Tagalog and help you navigate in a foreign country.
| Hello! | Kamusta, hoy, helo |
| Good afternoon! | Magandang araw |
| Goodbye! | Paalam |
| Thank you | Salamat |
| Please | Paki |
| Yes | Oo, opo |
| No | Hindi |
| Man | Lalake |
| Woman | Babae |
