Central Philippine languages

Overview

The languages are generally subdivided thus (languages in italics refer to a single language):

Tagalog (at least 3 dialects found in southern Luzon)

Bikol (8 languages in the Bicol Peninsula)

Visayan (18 languages spoken in the whole Visayas, as well as southeastern Luzon, northeastern Mindanao and Sulu)

Mansakan (11 languages of the Davao Region)

Manide–Inagta (2 languages)

There are in addition several Aeta hill-tribal languages of uncertain affiliation: Ata, Sorsogon Ayta, Tayabas Ayta, Karolanos (Northern Binukidnon), Magahat (Southern Binukidnon), Sulod, and Umiray Dumaget.

Most of the Central Philippine languages in fact form a dialect continuum and cannot be sharply distinguished as separate languages. For instance, in the Sorsogon and Masbate regions of the Philippines, the Bikol and Visayan languages transition into each other, forming the Bisakol languages. Blust (2009) notes that the relatively low diversity found among the Visayan languages is due to recent population expansions.

Zorc (1977)

The expanded tree of the Central Philippine languages below is given in David Zorc's 1977 Ph.D. dissertation. The Visayan subgrouping is Zorc's own work, while the Bikol subgrouping is from McFarland (1974) and the Mansakan subgrouping from Gallman (1974).

Individual languages are marked by italics, and primary branches by bold italics.

Tagalog

Standard Filipino

Marinduque

Lubang

Bikol

Pandan (North Catanduanes)

Inland Bikol

Iriga (Rinconada Bikol)

Albay Bikol

Coastal Bikol(Naga City Dialect)

Central Bikol

Virac (South Catanduanes)

Visayan

1. South (spoken on the eastern coast of Mindanao)

Butuan–Tausug

Tausug

Butuanon

Surigao

Surigaonon, Jaun-Jaun, Kantilan, Naturalis

2. Cebuan (spoken in Cebu, Bohol, western Leyte, northern Mindanao, and eastern Negros)

Cebuan

Cebuano, Boholano, Leyte

3. Central (spoken across most of the Visayan region)

Warayan

Waray–Samar

Waray, Samar-Leyte

Northern Samar

Gubat (South Sorsogon)

Peripheral

Sorsogon (North), Masbate

Camotes

Bantayan

Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Capiznon, Kawayan

Romblon

Romblomanon

4. Banton/Asi (spoken in northwestern Romblon Province)

Banton

Banton, Odionganon, Simara, Calatrava, Sibale

5. West

Aklan (spoken in northern Panay)

Aklanon

Kinarayan (spoken in Panay)

Pandan, Kinaray-a, Gimaras

North-Central (spoken on Tablas Island and the southern tip of Mindoro)

Bulalakaw, Dispoholnon, Looknon, Alcantaranhon

Kuyan (spoken in the archipelagos west of Panay and Romblon, as well as the southern tip of Mindoro)

Datagnon, Santa Teresa, Semirara

Kuyonon

Mansakan

North Mansakan

Kamayo (North) and Kamayo (South)

Davaw

Davawenyo (Davaweño)

Eastern Mansakan

Isamal

Caraga (Karaga)

Kabasagan, Boso, Mansaka, Mandayan

Western Mansakan

Kalagan and Tagakaolo

Mamanwa

Mamanwa

Gallman (1997)

Andrew Gallman (1997:4, 103) classifies the Central Philippine languages as follows:

Tagalog

Bikol

South Central Philippine (Bisayan)

West Bisayan

Banton

Central Bisayan

Cebuan

East Mindanao

North East Mindanao

Cebuano

Mamanwa

Surigaonon

Butuanon-Tausug

Central East Mindanao

Kamayo

Davawenyo Banganga

Davawenyo Digos

South East Mindanao

Mandaya Kabasagan

Mandaya Caraga

Mansaka, Mandaya Maragusan, Mandaya Boso

(Branch)

Mandaya Islam

Kalagan Kaagan, Kalagan Tagakaulu

Greater Central Philippine (Blust)

Blust (1991) notes that the central and southern Philippines has low linguistic diversity. He expands the Central Philippine branch with South Mangyan, Palawan, Mindanao, and Gorontalo–Mongondow languages, the latter found in northern Sulawesi. (See Philippine languages.) The 2008 study fully supported a similar group that included South Mindanao and Kalamian, but excluded Gorontalo–Mongondow.