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Visayan languages
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The '''Visayan languages''' of the
Languages of the Philippines Philippines, along with
Tagalog language Tagalog and
Bikol language Bikol, are part of the
Central Philippine languages Central Philippine language family. Most Visayan languages are spoken in the
Visayas region but they are also spoken in the
Bicol Region (particularly in
Sorsogon and
Masbate), islands south of
Luzon such as those that make up
Romblon, the northern and western areas of
Mindanao, and the province of
Sulu located southwest of Mindanao.
There are over at least thirty languages that constitute the Visayan language family. The Visayan language with the most speakers is
Cebuano language Cebuano, spoken by 18 million people as a native language in Central Visayas, northern and eastern parts of Mindanao. Two other well-known Visayan languages are
Hiligaynon language Hiligaynon, spoken by 7 million in western Visayas and
Waray-Waray language Waray-Waray spoken by 3 million in eastern Visayas.
Visayan is ''not'' a single language
Native speakers of Visayan languages, especially Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Waray-Waray not only refer to their language by their local name, but also by ''Bisaya'' or ''Binisaya'', meaning ''Visayan language''. This is misleading or may lead to confusion as different languages may be called ''Bisaya'' by their respective speakers despite their languages being mutually unintelligible. However, languages that are classified within the Visayan language family but spoken natively in places outside of the
Visayas do not use the self-reference ''Bisaya'' or ''Binisaya''. To speakers of Butuanon, Suriganon, and Masbatenyo, the term ''Bisaya'' usually refers to Cebuano. Since
Tausug language Tausugs are mostly Muslims, they view the term ''Bisaya'' as a religious term referring to Christian Filipinos (mostly referring either to Cebuano or Hiligaynon as they are the neighboring languages). One must also recognize the distinction between this Bisaya language and people and that of the
Bisaya (Sarawak) Malaysian Bisaya.
The Visayan languages are further divided into five subfamilies. The list below is by no means exhaustive.
Asi language Asi and
Cebuano language Cebuano constitute their own subfamilies. For a complete listing and information on all Bisayan languages, refer to
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=1030
*'''
Asi language Asi''' - spoken in towns on
Tablas Island as well as the islands of Banton, Simara, and Maestro de Campo in
Romblon province..
*'''
Cebuano language Cebuano''' - includes Boholano.
*'''
Southern Visayan languages Southern Visayan''' -
Tausug language Tausug,
Butuanon language Butuanon, and
Surigaonon language Surigaonon (including Jaun-Jaun).
*'''
Central Visayan languages Central Visayan''' - includes
Hiligaynon language Hiligaynon,
Waray-Waray language Waray-Waray,
Romblomanon language Romblomanon,
Capiznon language Capiznon,
Masbatenyo language Masbatenyo,
Porohanon language Porohanon, the Bisakol languages of
Sorsogon and
Northern Samar, and others.
*'''
Western Visayan languages Western Visayan''' - includes
Kinaray-a language Kinaray-a(the major language of
Antique Province Antique),
Aklanon language Aklanon,
Onhan language Onhan,
Malaynon language Malaynon,
Caluyanon language Caluyanon,
Cuyonon language Cuyonon,
Ratagnon language Ratagnon, and others.
Category:Languages of the Philippines
Category:Austronesian languages
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