Tagalog language
Austronesian language basis of Filipino, national language of the Philippines.
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by the ethnic Tagalog people, who make up a quarter of the population of the Philippines, and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized and codified form, Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines and one of the nation's two official languages, alongside English.
- language_family
- Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central Philippine
- speakers
- First language by a quarter of the Philippine population; second language by the majority
- official_status
- National language (as Filipino); official language of the Philippines alongside English
- writing_systems
- Baybayin (historical); Latin script (modern)
- notable_features
- Verb-subject-object order; trigger system; agglutinative; pitch-accent; syllable-timed; nine basic parts of speech
Lore & Background
The word Tagalog is possibly derived from the endonym taga-ilog ('river dweller') or taga-alog ('pool of water in the lowlands'). Linguists speculate that the Tagalogs and other Central Philippine ethno-linguistic groups originated in Northeastern Mindanao or the Eastern Visayas. Possible words of Old Tagalog origin are attested in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription from the tenth century, which is largely written in Old Malay. The first substantial dictionary was written by Czech Jesuit missionary Pablo Clain in the early 18th century, later compiled by P. Juan de Noceda and P.
Reader's Guide
The National Language Institute chose Tagalog as the basis, and President Manuel L. Under the Japanese puppet government during World War II, Tagalog as a national language was strongly promoted. The selection of Tagalog generated controversy among non-Tagalog speakers, particularly Cebuano and Ilocano communities, who viewed it as a cultural imposition. To reduce tensions, the government adopted a policy of not referring to regions and renamed the language to give it a national rather than ethnic label. In education, Executive Order No.
Did You Know?
- Tagalog is closely related to Bikol, Bisayan languages, Ilocano, Kapampangan, and Pangasinan, and more distantly to Hawaiian, Māori, Malagasy, and many others.
- Proto-Philippine *dəkət (adhere, stick) became Tagalog dikít, while in most Bikol and Visayan languages it became dukót.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tagalog and where does it fit in the language family tree?
Tagalog belongs to the Austronesian family, specifically the Malayo-Polynesian branch under Central Philippine. It is the native tongue of the ethnic Tagalog people and serves as the linguistic foundation for Filipino, the codified national language of the Philippines.
How widely is Tagalog spoken, and what is its official standing?
Roughly one in four Filipinos uses Tagalog as their mother tongue, while the vast majority of the population relies on it as a second language. In its standardized form—Filipino—it holds national-language status and shares official-language duties with English.
What makes Tagalog's grammar stand out compared to other languages?
Tagalog follows a verb-subject-object word order and employs a trigger system that marks the grammatical role of nouns. It is agglutinative, syllable-timed, carries a pitch-accent, and recognizes nine basic parts of speech.
What writing systems has Tagalog used throughout its history?
Before Spanish colonial contact, Tagalog was recorded with the indigenous Baybayin script. In modern usage, the Latin alphabet has fully replaced Baybayin for everyday writing and publication.
Why do fans and linguists consider Tagalog a pivotal entry in the Languages of the World catalog?
As the Austronesian base from which the Philippines' national language was built, Tagalog bridges an ancient archipelago heritage with a living, government-endorsed modern standard. Its trigger system and agglutinative morphology also make it a frequent reference point in comparative Austronesian studies.
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