12 Questions
What is the meaning of the term 'Austronesia'?
It refers to the languages spoken in the southern hemisphere.
Which of the following is NOT true about the Austronesian language family?
It includes languages spoken in Europe and the Americas.
What is the primary geographic region where the Cebuano Visayan (Binisaya-Sinugbuanon) language is spoken?
Parts of Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Mindanao.
What are the two primary subgroups of the Austronesian language family?
Formosan and Malayo-Polynesian.
Which of the following is a distinguishing physical characteristic of the Austronesian language speakers?
They have a diverse range of physical appearances, different from their neighbors in Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuata, New Caledonia, and Fiji, as well as Polynesia and Micronesia.
Which of the following statements about the Cebuano Visayan (Binisaya-Sinugbuanon) language is NOT true?
It is the primary language spoken in the entire Philippines archipelago.
Which of the following is NOT a language included in the Western branch of the Malayo-Polynesian languages?
Fijian
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an isolational language?
Words are composed of a sequence of morphemes
Based on the information provided, which of the following statements about the Cebuano Visayan language is INCORRECT?
It has 8 diphthongs
Which of the following is a bound morpheme in Cebuano Visayan that indicates plurality?
mga
Which of the following statements about the syntactic structure of English and Cebuano Visayan is CORRECT?
Both languages have a subject-predicate dominated syntax
Based on the information provided, which of the following statements about the Proto-Austronesian numerals is CORRECT?
All of the above
Study Notes
Austronesian Language
- Austronesian language originated from two words: Latin "austro" meaning southern or southern wind, and Greek "nesos" meaning island.
- It is possibly the largest language in the world, comprising over 1200 languages.
- There are approximately 300 million speakers of Austronesian languages.
- Austronesian languages are spoken in various countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Madagascar, and Pacific Island nations.
Cebuano Visayan Language
- Cebuano Visayan language is spoken in some parts of Negros, the whole island of Cebu and Bohol, and some parts of Leyte and Mindanao in the Philippines.
- It is an Austronesian language, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian branch.
Classifications of Austronesian Language
- The two primary subgroups of Austronesian languages are the Formosan and Malayo-Polynesian branches.
- The Malayo-Polynesian branch is subdivided into three: Western, Central, and Eastern (or Oceanic) branches.
Austronesian Origin
- Primitive Austronesian words are compared with their equivalents in other languages:
- Abara (Primitive Austronesian) = Abaga (Cebuano Visayan) = Shoulder (English)
- Tijan (Primitive Austronesian) = Tiyan (Cebuano Visayan) = Belly (English)
- Manuk (Primitive Austronesian) = Manok (Cebuano Visayan) = Chicken (English)
Language Types
- Isolational language: each word form consists of a single morpheme.
- Agglutinative language: words are composed of a sequence of morphemes, each representing a single grammatical category.
- Inflectional language: the change in the form of a word to mark distinctions such as tense, person, number, gender, mood, voice, and case.
Cebuano Visayan and English Comparison
- Cebuano Visayan has 3 vowels (a, u, i), 4 diphthongs, and 15 consonants, while English has 5 vowels, 8 diphthongs, and 21 consonants.
- Cebuano Visayan has a syllable-timed rhythm, while English has a stressed-timed rhythm.
- In syntax, Cebuano Visayan has a subject-predicate dominated syntax, similar to English.
- In morphology, Cebuano Visayan has congregated free morphemes.
Test your knowledge on the historical overview of the Cebuano Visayan language, including its roots, dynamics, and unique characteristics. Explore the origins of the language, its relation to Austronesian languages, and the eccentricities that define it.
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