Learning Tagalog should not present too great of an obstacle if you already speak basic English; its conjugation does not involve gendered clauses or cases like the dative case.
Tagalog’s vocabulary is Austronesian with borrowings from Chinese, Malay, Spanish and English languages; furthermore, its pronunciation closely resembles those of its foreign words.
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Learning the fundamentals is always an effective starting point when starting to learn a new language, and Tagalog (Filipino) belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of Austronesian language family and offers beginner learners accessible paths towards language acquisition.
Grammatically, Tagalog is relatively straightforward and most letters in its alphabet should sound familiar to English speakers. There are a few distinct pronunciation characteristics as well; such as stressing certain syllables and lengthening certain vowels. Instead of getting frustrated by its differences, try starting off by finding similarities with other languages you already speak such as Spanish; this will build your confidence as you continue learning the language.
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While most Filipinos speak some English, learning some basic Tagalog will make it easier to navigate the country and interact with locals. You’ll gain confidence greeting people, expressing emotions through words or gestures, asking directions and ordering food in restaurants.
Tagalog belongs to the Central Philippine branch of Austronesian languages and its standardized form–Filipino–is the national language. Additionally, Tagalog serves as the medium of instruction in schools as well as print and broadcast media coverage; however it is not used for formal documentation or legal proceedings as an additional auxiliary language alongside English.
Tagalog shares many lexical similarities with English, making the language straightforward for travellers who already possess some understanding of how language sounds and some basic vocabulary. Like other Austronesian languages, Tagalog places emphasis on either the last or next-to-last syllable and uses lengthened vowels to indicate tension. Furthermore, Tagalog is an ergative-absolutive language which means it treats both subjects and objects of an intransitive verb in equal fashion.
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Tagalog may have an odd name, but that doesn’t define its uniqueness. This centralized, unified language is spoken by most Filipinos and more than 24 million other people around the world today.
Taga-ilog (pronounced Tag-a-ilog, meaning “river dwellers”) is an Austronesian language with significant influences from Spanish, English, Chinese and Malaysian. As with most verb-initial languages such as this one, other components may precede or follow the verb depending on context; numbers, quantifiers demonstratives or possessive pronouns could come either before or after it depending on where in its syntax it falls.
Tagalog, written in Latin script, differs slightly from English in both spelling and pronunciation, though both should become second nature with practice. Pronunciation wise, Tagalog has an easy and clear sound which should make learning it straightforward once the basics have been covered. With TruAccent technology comparing your voice against native speakers in real time ensuring perfect pronunciation every time! Rosetta Stone provides the ideal way to get started learning this beautiful language – we make learning Tagalog simple!
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Learning Tagalog before visiting the Philippines will enrich and authenticate your travel experience. As it’s a regional language with influence from Spanish, English and Chinese – each has their own structure and vocabulary – learning some basic Tagalog can bring more immersion and authenticity.
Tagalog grammar can be described as being verb-initial with some freedom in word order, where personal pronouns are marked to distinguish their person (1st person singular and 3rd person plural) and number (singular or plural). Furthermore, adjectives often appear before nouns.
As English is one of the more accessible world languages, Tagalog should come easily for those familiar with its pronunciation; many words sound very similar when spoken out loud in Tagalog as English does, with minor accent and wording differences between the two being minor.
Tagalog, which derives its name from Malayo-Polynesian taga ‘native’ and ilog ‘river’, is one of the most spoken Austronesian languages. It is spoken as first or second language by one quarter of Philippine residents as their primary tongue while widespread use also exists across Canada, Guam, Saudi Arabia and the US.
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Are You Traveling to the Philippines? Learning Tagalog Is An Excellent Option
Tagalog borrows heavily from English, which should come as no surprise considering its long history of American occupation of the Philippines. But Spanish remains present too: for centuries upon centuries the Philippines were under Spanish control.
Example: Tatlong is composed of the Spanish words caballo and libro; while Kabayo derives its name from Spanish for horse. Furthermore, foodborne and waterborne illnesses are prevalent throughout the Philippines, so take extra caution when eating or drinking anything from these sources.
Also, it is wise to drink bottled water over tap water, since tap water in the Philippines could contain harmful bacteria and viruses like cholera and typhoid. Furthermore, don’t forget your maxi pads; they are extremely popular among Filipinos!