Ano Na Naman Ba 'To at Bakit?

In how many languages can you say "let's eat"? In the Philippines, there are between 120 to 170 languages that you can use to say it.  Sa dinami-dami ng isla (>7100 high tide/low tide?), tao (92M, estimate for 2010), at wika, maari pa kaya nating pangarapin na makapag-kwentuhan or magdaldalan man lang kahit dito sa Internet? Pwede! Ambisyosa? Oo naman.

I speak only three plus English and my Ilocano is quickly fading (I know some Itawes too). Sa kagandahang palad, ang mga wikang alam ko ay masasabi nating magagamit ko kahit saan man mapunta sa bansang 'to.

Eto ang demo:

English: Good day to you!

1. Tagalog/Filipino: Magandang araw sa inyo! 

2. Cebuano/Bisaya: Maayong adlaw sa inyo.
3. Ibanag: "Nakkasta nga aggaw nikkamu."
4. Ilokano: Naimbag nga aldaw yo

Why blog? Blogging has become a very powerful medium to share views and reach out to people. Hindi ba magandang tulay 'to para magkaintindihan tayo kahit ano man ang "native language" mo? One-third of this country's population speaks Filipino as first language. For the rest, it is just a second language. And since language is a part of culture, it would be great to know more about cultures of people outside your region.

Oops, wait! Dahil di naman po ako linguist I leave the serious side of linguistics up to them. Links are provided in this blog to the experts. Promise! Sila ang magpapaliwanag kung bakit wika o "languages"ang tamang tawag sa mga salitang akala natin ay "dialects."

This blog is called "Blog ng Wika" because, like the annual "Buwan ng Wika" when we dance, sing, write and even cook to celebrate Filipino as the national language, we will do/talk about mga wika ng Pinoy dito at kung ano-ano pang bahagi ng kulturang Pinoy (adobo, pancit, binaki at "Mara Clara"). Pati travel! How could I forget this! Opo, (ipagpaumanhin po ninyo) may English din dito dahil aminin man natin o hindi, wikang gamit din 'to ng mga Pinoy. Okay? Sure.