Filipino Language

Philippines is a Southeast Asian country that is composed of 7,107 islands and islets off the Southeast coast. It is populated by around 70 millions of Filipinos, and it is said that there are as many as 300 languages and dialects in these islands. But still, Filipino words came out as the most dominant to be spoken out.

Despite of the fact that many Filipinos tend to speak in English or in any other languages instead of their own dialects, most especially those who are in the greater Manila area, a lot of Filipinos would still love to be called Filipinos which is their true nationality by heart.

One of the reasons that confuse the language situation in the Philippines is diversity. Based from the study made by the linguists, there are 75 to 150 native languages spoken by Filipinos. Although these languages are in some ways grammatically and lexically similar, they are mutually incomprehensible. Furthermore, each of the major languages has several dialects that differ in some levels. Depending on their region of origin, Filipino immigrants will speak at least one dialect among these incomprehensible languages.

Filipino is the general language of the Philippines and the enriching thread that keeps Filipinos all over the world in touch with their relatives. A wide access to the Filipino language is necessary to uphold cross-cultural and intercontinental understanding including mutual appreciation.

It is very interesting to note that after the long years of America, there are now second and third generations of Americans of Filipino lineage whose command of Tagalog is limited but who desire to access Tagalog language instruction. Number of Philippine language classes attended by the Filipino Americans are getting higher.

The birth of Filipino-American students and their increasing demands for linguistics, historical, and cultural knowledge that will allow them to get back their legacy and eventually find out that their identity have resulted in the increasing need for more Filipino language and culture courses in various academic institutions nationwide.