Visayan languages
The
Visayan languages of the
Philippines, along with
Tagalog and
Bikol, are part of the
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, spoken by 20 million people as a native language in Central Visayas, northern and eastern parts of Mindanao. Two other well-known Visayan languages are
Hiligaynon, spoken by 7 million in western Visayas and
Waray-Waray spoken by 3 million in eastern Visayas.
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
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
Malaysian Bisaya.
The Visayan languages are further divided into five subfamilies. The list below is by no means exhaustive.
Asi and
Cebuano constitute their own subfamilies. For a complete listing and information on all Bisayan languages, refer to http://http://www.ethnologue.com/show_family.asp?subid=92372
*
Asi - spoken in towns on
Tablas Island as well as the islands of Banton, Simara, and Maestro de Campo in
Romblon province..
*
Cebuano - includes Boholano.
*
Southern Visayan -
Tausug,
Butuanon, and
Surigaonon (including Jaun-Jaun).
*
Central Visayan - includes
Hiligaynon,
Waray-Waray,
Romblomanon,
Capiznon,
Masbatenyo,
Porohanon, the
Bisakol languages of
Sorsogon and
Northern Samar, and others.
*
Western Visayan - includes
Kinaray-a(the major language of
Antique),
Aklanon,
Onhan,
Malaynon,
Caluyanon,
Cuyonon,
Ratagnon, and others.
