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INTRODUCTION

Tagalog—A Living Language

What is a living language? It is defined as a language that is “currently in use or valid.” Thus, it is alive, it is dynamic, it is vibrant.

Language is a system through which people express their thoughts, feelings and sentiments, either orally or in writing. It mirrors the kind of society they live in, their customs and traditions, and their aspirations as a nation.

Tagalog is a living language. It is the basis of the national language of the Philippines as mandated by the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines under Article XIV, Section 6, on “Language.” The provision states: “The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages. Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as a language of instruction in the education system.”

While still considered a young but nonetheless maturing national language, Filipino is constantly being developed through its usage in various fields of endeavor. As the nation develops and progresses, Filipino also grows linguistically and lexically with the assimilation of new words, concepts and ideas into the language brought about by technological advances, changes in lifestyles, globalization trends and contacts with foreign cultures, political and religious upheavals, and media developments, among others.

Historical Influences and Contacts

Tagalog as a language has very ancient roots going back thousands of years, and even had its own writing system in ancient times, borrowed from the Sanskritic writing systems of the region. According to Filipino anthropologist F. Landa Jocano, “Writing as a system of communication was fairly well-developed in many parts of the archipelago when the Spaniards came during the early part of the 16th century.”

Documents unearthed by Spanish chroniclers Pedro Chirino and Francisco Colin show different types of alphabets or syllabary writing. The writing had vowel and consonant syllable signs which, according to anthropologist Robert Fox, conform “to a common phonemic pattern of Philippine (contemporary languages).”

Comparisons with other Asian language groups indicate that the Tagalog language along with other Philippine languages belong to the Malayan branch of the great Malayo-Polynesian or Austronesian linguistic family, which includes hundreds of languages now spread across almost half the globe from Taiwan through the Philippine Islands to Hawaii, Fiji and New Zealand in the Pacific, across the islands of Indonesia and the Malay peninsula to Madagascar.

Filipino linguist Juan Francisco cited many Indian influences on Philippine language and literature. He found about 336 terms derived from Sanskrit, out of which 150 were identified and used in the Philippine languages, specifically in the names of plants and animals. Many of these appear to have been borrowed from Malay.

Loan words from China have also crept into the Philippine vocabulary, particularly standard Tagalog. Linguist Arsenio E. Manuel, in his study Chinese Elements in the Tagalog Language (1948), compiled a “list of 381 Tagalog words of Chinese origins, excluding variants, derivatives and compounds.” These words pertain to food, abstract ideas or terms, metal smithing, kinship, and words concerning agriculture, business, tools, industries and games.

The few Arabic words in Tagalog came in with the arrival of Islam from the southern Philippine islands where the religion has had a foothold since 1380. However, the defeat of a sultan in Manila in 1571 meant the subsequent extinction of the faith in Tagalog-speaking areas and many Arabic words fell into disuse.

The Spanish has contributed a great deal to the Philippine languages, and many Spanish loan words have now been thoroughly naturalized. These include religious, governmental, social, legal and abstract terms, including many terms for foreign articles and luxuries. Contacts with traders during the Spanish period also led to a few Mexican words, mainly Nahuatl or Aztec, creeping into the Tagalog lexicon. Other parts of the country, specifically in the Zamboanga provinces in the Mindanao region, the dominant language of the Zamboangueño people has evolved from the marriage of Spanish and Cebuano into what is now known as Chavacano or Philippine Creole Spanish.

In his 1,027-page Diksyunaryo Tesauro Pilipino Ingles posthumously published in 1973, Dr. Jose Villa Panganiban—who was a professor, linguist, and former director of the Institute of National Language in Manila—included 27,069 main word entries, containing almost 217,500 lexical items. He listed 12,000 loan words derived from Spanish, English, Chinese and Indo-European languages. He also included synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms with other languages along with identities and cognacies between Tagalog and 12 other Philippine languages.

While the colonization of the Philippines by the Spaniards for more than 300 years had a profound impact on the lifestyles of the Filipinos, other colonizers especially the Americans left their marks on Philippine culture and society by introducing their own brand of education and government. English words which had no exact equivalent have been adapted into the Philippine languages and given a regional treatment for suitability in the language. Although most are still quoted, some are used and spelled as they are especially with the recent modification of the Filipino alphabet. The Japanese also occupied the islands in the 1940s but seemed to have furnished no words to the Tagalog lexicon. After all these occupations, however, the construction of Tagalog does not seem to have been influenced by any of the colonizers’ languages. It has retained its essentially Malayo-Polynesian structure.

A National Language Is Born

The adoption of a national language for Filipinos came during the Commonwealth years (1935 to 1946) under the American regime. It was not easy for proponents of a national language to push Tagalog as the basis for a language that was to be used from Luzon to the Visayas and all the way down to Mindanao. The three main island groupings in the Philippines each has its own distinct identity as the archipelagic nature of the country gave rise to a wide variety of cultures and languages separated by seas and strengthened by history.

Populated then by an estimated 16 million inhabitants, the Philippines had a diverse collection of 172 languages of which three are already extinct. Eight major languages (Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicolano, Waray, Kapampangan and Pangasinan) all belong to the Malayo-Polynesian linguistic family but no two are mutually comprehensible. In the 1980s, these eight languages and their dialects were spoken by 90% of the population (see Language Map of the Philippines on page 12). Even though they are separate languages, they are closely related (like French, Italian and Spanish), and some languages are much closer than others—for example, Ilocano and Pangasinan speakers might find little difficulty in learning each other’s languages in contrast to learning any of the Visayan languages. The same can be said for Visayan speakers of Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray with regards to learning each other’s languages and the opposite for learning the Northern Luzon languages.

It is thus understandable that fierce opposition from certain non-Tagalog legislators and rabid advocates of the English language delayed somewhat the entire process of adopting a national language. In the end, however, Tagalog prevailed when President Manuel L. Quezon proclaimed the creation of a national language based on Tagalog on December 31, 1937. The body which was responsible for the adoption of the national language was the National Language Institute created by President Quezon. It was composed of non-Tagalogs and Tagalog representatives from different regions in the country. The Chairman was Jaime C. de Veyra from Samar, Leyte, with the following as members: Santiago A. Fonacier (Ilocano); Filomeno Sotto (Cebu, Visayas); Casimiro T. Perfecto (Bicol); Felix Sales Rodriguez (Panay, Visayas); Madji Butin (Mindanao) and Dr. Cecilio Lopez (Tagalog).

Tagalog was chosen as the basis for the Philippines’ national language for the following reasons:

1. Tagalog is the most widely spoken and the most widely understood language in all regions of the Philippines. By 1989, 25% of the Philippine population spoke Tagalog as their mother tongue. They are scattered across the Tagalog regions, or Katagalugan , stretching from the central to the southern parts of Luzon island and covering 10 major provinces—Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Metro Manila (or the National Capital Region), Quezon and Rizal—as well as parts of the islands of Marinduque and Mindoro. Further away from these regions, there has been less exposure to Tagalog and one finds a lower competency level in the language.

Compared to Tagalog, the second most widely-spoken Philippine language—Cebuano—was spoken by 24% of the population in 1989 but is mostly understood only by its own speakers. Other major languages including Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicol and Waray are spoken by 5% to 9% of the total population. Many other languages or dialects are spoken by the remaining 22% of the population. Recent 2000 census figures reveal that around 29% of the total population speak Tagalog as their first language and 65% speak or understand the language with varying degrees of proficiency.

2. It is not divided into dialects unlike the Visayan languages. There are three major Visayan languages: Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray. Cebuano is spoken in many parts of the Visayan and Mindanao regions but residents from various provinces have their own distinct Cebuano sub-languages or dialects. There may be variations in the Tagalog language but these are still comprehensible to all native Tagalog speakers.

3. Tagalog has the richest literature . More books are written and published in Tagalog than in any other native language.

4. Tagalog has always been the language of Manila , the country’s capital city, even long before the Spanish came. As the capital city, Manila houses all the major government offices from Malacanang Palace down to the administration’s smallest bureaus. At present, economic and political decisions are decided in Manila and its surrounding provinces and cities, which also speak Tagalog. Historically, though, Cebu is the first and oldest city in the Philippines. It is also an alternate gateway to the nation from abroad.

5. Tagalog was the language of the Revolution and the Katipunan , two major events in Philippine history.

On June 18, 1938, the Philippine National Assembly created the Institute of National Language (this institute was different from the National Language Institute which was eventually dissolved). Two years after the institute was established, two monumental language books in Tagalog were presented to President Quezon: the Tagalog-English Dictionary authored by Dr. Cecilio Lopez and the Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa , a grammar book written by Lope K. Santos, then acknowledged as the Dean of Tagalog Writers and Father of the National Language. The publication of these books paved the way for the introduction of the national language beginning with the school year 1940-41 during the fourth year of all high schools and in the second year of both public and private normal schools in the whole country.

“Pilipino” Emerges

On July 4, 1946 under Commonwealth Act No. 570, independence was granted to the Philippines by the United States of America. It provided for the use of the national language as one of the official languages of the Philippines (the others being Spanish and English) in government offices. Soon, adherents of the Tagalog-based national language increased rapidly all over the islands.

In 1954, the national language was given a further boost by President Ramon Magsaysay when he proclaimed the celebration of a Linggo ng Wika (National Language Week) and the national observance annually of the birthday of Francisco Balagtas, a great Tagalog poet.

In 1961, the Office of the Secretary of Education introduced the term “Pilipino” when referring to the national language. It gained wide acceptance in schools and among the general public, thus the Tagalog-based national language was soon called Pilipino. By 1974, the Pilipino movement stirred the public to “think Pilipino.” School teachers were encouraged to attend seminars in Pilipino, the Department of Education started issuing memos, circulars and bulletins enjoining school organs to include sections in Pilipino in their publications, translate English and other foreign materials into Pilipino, use Pilipino on school diplomas and certificates, and sing the national anthem only in Pilipino. In schools, Pilipino was introduced at the tertiary level and in the teaching of civics and culture at lower levels. In 1990, then Philippine President Corazon Aquino ordered government offices to use Pilipino as a medium of communication. The government was encouraged to use Pilipino in naming their departments and buildings, and to print Pilipino text on their letterheads, seals and signages. Government employees were also enjoined to attend seminars on Pilipino to broaden their knowledge and skill in the use of the national language.

The Medium of Instruction and Communication

The Department of Education and the schools have continuously promoted Pilipino, now called Filipino, as a medium of instruction and communication. Other supportive forces have joined them in the propagation and enrichment of the language. Radio and television, for instance, use Filipino in a majority of their programs to reach out to the masses. Of late, more dubbing and subtitling of foreign-produced programs has been done in Filipino and has contributed much to the promotion of the language.

In the print media, the number of publishers who produce and circulate books, magazines, comics, broadsheets and tabloids in Filipino is increasing. Songs in Filipino are also “in” and played over the airwaves, sung in concerts and in theatrical performances. Composers in Filipino are now enjoying recognition and patronage from a growing audience.

Masses and services in Catholic and Christian churches are now said in Filipino. There are Filipino versions of the bible and other religious books. And when it comes to campaigning during elections, Filipino has become the language to attract voters and certainly the language that an ordinary citizen on the street is most comfortable with. At present, Filipino as a subject is taught all over the country from pre-school (3 years) up to grade school (6 years) and high school (4 years). Considering that the basic literacy rate in 2003 is high at nearly 90% (wherein 9 out of 10 Filipinos are able to read and write), it is not a surprise that Filipino is understood and spoken by most Filipinos now.

Enriching the National Language

More positive moves are being undertaken to strengthen and enrich Filipino as a national language. National language advocates and institutions like the Commission on the Filipino Language, Sentro ng Wikang Filipino of the University of the Philippines, along with many teachers, administrators, researchers, writers, authors and linguists are working hard to improve the quality of the Filipino language. They host and sponsor seminars, workshops, forums and conferences to discuss ways of translating works, produce adequate and well-researched Filipino books for schools, enrich and infuse Filipino with more words and terms from other major Philippine languages like Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Kapampangan and others, that are fast becoming part of the Filipino vocabulary. With their concerted efforts, these formidable groups will certainly help enliven the use of Filipino in the daily lives of the people and keep alive a national language that fosters genuine nationalism and unity among Filipinos.

Understanding the Filipino Character

Learning Tagalog becomes more enjoyable and meaningful if one understands the culture of the Philippines as well as the temperament and character of its people. The Philippines is populated by more than 80 million people living on 7,101 islands, which are abundantly blessed by nature. Pristine beaches, verdant mountains and rainforests, a treasure-trove of exotic fauna and flora attract tourists and locals alike. Colorful customs and traditions in the country are brought to the forefont when people celebrate their lively and spectacular fiestas and showcase their innate creativity, spirituality, culinary skills and well-renowned hospitality.

In the book Living in the Philippines (1980) published by the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and intended for the use of foreign business representatives, expatriates and their families, it is stated that “one of the best things about the Philippines is the Filipino people themselves; reams have been written about their warmth and hospitality—all of it is true.” The book also presented the Filipinos as a versatile and talented people, stating that “nowhere is this evident than in the music and the arts. Museums and galleries abound, and even the smallest pub features a talented musician.”

Filipinos are very friendly, loving and caring people. They go out of their way to help others in time of disaster and in crisis they manage to keep their sense of humor and survive despite the economic and political challenges that face them. Filipinos, however, have their own idiosyncracies. Their strengths may also often be their weaknesses. An indepth study made by a Philippine senator in 1998 detailed the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino character as follows:

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao (a basic sense of justice and concern for others)

2. Family orientation

3. Joy and humor

4. Flexibility, adaptability and creativity

5. Hard work and industry

6. Faith and religiosity

7. Resiliency (or the ability to survive)

Filipino weaknesses which surfaced were: extreme personalism; extreme family centeredness; lack of discipline; passivity; colonial mentality; kanya-kanya syndrome (selfishness or to each his own— the literal translation is his-his or hers-hers); and lack of analysis and self-reflection.

A trait which puzzles a lot of foreigners in the country and which affects relationships, negatively, is the relaxed attitude toward time. Coming late for appointments, not meeting deadlines, and not starting parties or programs on time all result in irritation and even embarrassment not only among foreigners but also among fellow Filipinos who observe punctuality.

As to dealing with Filipinos, language learners should learn to read the body language and movements of the locals. What do they really mean when they say yes or no or perhaps ? What are the meanings of some peculiar signs and sounds they make? All these certainly represent a big challenge to the learner or student of Tagalog. For the appreciation of the language student and for the better understanding of the Filipino character, more Filipino traits and characteristics will be discussed in the subsequent lessons and exercises.