Filipino language

Filipino is the national language of the Philippines. It also serves as the main lingua franca, which is a common language used between people who speak different native tongues. Alongside English, Filipino is one of the two official languages of the country. It is a standardized form of Tagalog, specifically the version spoken in Metro Manila and other urban centers. The 1987 Constitution mandates that Filipino must be enriched by other languages within the Philippines. This ensures the language remains a living, growing tool for all citizens.

The structure of Filipino is quite unique. It is an agglutinative language, which means words are often formed by adding different parts together. It also displays inflection, where word endings change to show meaning. In terms of sentence structure, it commonly uses a verb-subject-object order. However, it can also use a subject-verb-object order. Filipino follows a trigger system of morphosyntactic alignment. This is a specific way that words relate to each other in a sentence. It is also a syllable-timed language and uses pitch-accent rather than being a tonal language. It contains nine basic parts of speech.

The Philippines is a deeply multilingual state. There are 175 living languages spoken by various ethno-linguistic groups. Many of these languages descend from a common Malayo-Polynesian source. This connection exists because of the Austronesian migration from Taiwan. Over time, these languages split into many different forms. Many adopted terms from Malay, which was the lingua franca of maritime Southeast Asia. Other influences include Japanese, Hokkien, Sanskrit, and Arabic. These words often entered the language through merchants and ruling classes.

History shows how foreign influence shaped the islands. Spanish presence began in 1565 with the fall of Cebu. Manila eventually became the capital of the Spanish settlement. This happened after the capture of Manila from the Muslim Kingdom of Luzon and the Hindu-Buddhist Kingdom of Tondo. The first Tagalog dictionary was written by the Franciscan Pedro de San Buenaventura. It was published in 1613 by Tomás Pinpin in Pila, Laguna. Later, the Czech Jesuit Paul Klein wrote a dictionary in the early 18th century. This work was later expanded by Juan de Noceda and Pedro de Sanlúcar. Their version was published in 1754 and re-edited as late as 2013.

Creating a national language was a long process. In 1936, the Commonwealth Act No. 184 created the Institute of National Language. This group studied all native languages to find a base for a national tongue. On December 30, 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon approved Tagalog as the basis for the national language. He chose Tagalog because it was widely understood across the regions. He also noted its rich literary tradition and its role in Manila. In 1940, the Abakada alphabet was introduced. This was a 20-letter alphabet created by the grammarian Lope K. Santos.

The name and status of the language changed many times. In 1959, the name became Pilipino to distance it from the Tagalog ethnic group. This did not always please everyone, especially Cebuano speakers. In the 1960s, a "purist" movement tried to create new words to replace foreign loanwords. This led to movements like MOLAM, which wanted a more inclusive "Manila Lingua Franca." The 1973 Constitution designated both English and Pilipino as official languages. It also called for a common national language to be developed. Finally, the 1987 Constitution designated Filipino as the national language.

Today, the Commission on the Filipino Language, or KWF, manages the language. The KWF was created by Republic Act No. 7104 in 1991. This commission reports directly to the President of the Philippines. Its job is to research, coordinate, and promote the development of Filipino. It also works to preserve the many other languages found in the country. By studying and protecting these languages, the KWF helps maintain the diverse culture of the archipelago. This work ensures that the many voices of the Philippines are heard and respected.