The Development of the Abakada Alphabet: A Milestone in Philippine Language Reform

In the early 20th century, the Philippines was undergoing significant linguistic reforms to establish a standardized national language. One of the key initiatives during this period was the development of the Abakada alphabet, which aimed to create an indigenized Latin alphabet for the Filipino language based on Tagalog.

The idea of reforming the orthography of Philippine languages dates back to the late 19th century, with prominent figures such as José Rizal and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera advocating for changes. However, it wasn't until the early 20th century that the concept gained traction.

In 1935, the Philippine Commonwealth government selected Tagalog as the basis for a national language. This decision marked a significant turning point in the development of the Abakada alphabet. The new alphabet was designed to be more phonetically accurate and easier to learn than its Spanish-based predecessor.

The Abakada alphabet was officially adopted in 1940 by the Institute of National Language, which later became known as the Surián ng Wikang Pambansâ. This alphabet consisted of 20 letters, with a unique feature being the insertion of the digraph 'ng' after the letter 'n'.

One of the key proponents of this reform was Lope K. Santos, who developed a grammar book that introduced the Abakada alphabet to the public. The book played a crucial role in popularizing the new alphabet and helped to spread its use throughout the country.

Although the Abakada alphabet has since been superseded by the modern Filipino alphabet adopted in 1987, it remains an important milestone in Philippine language reform. Its development marked a significant step towards standardizing the national language and promoting linguistic unity among Filipinos.

Today, the legacy of the Abakada alphabet can be seen in the standardized Filipino alphabet used today. The story of its development serves as a reminder of the importance of language reform in shaping national identity and promoting cultural heritage.

References:

* Main article: Tagalog language § Writing system

* Santos, Lope K. (1940). Grammar Book with Abakada Alphabet.

* Institute of National Language (1987). Modern Filipino Alphabet.

Pdf abakada book