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Hiligaynon (sometimes also
known as "Ilonggo") is an
Austronesian language
spoken in Western Visayas
in the Philippines.
Hiligaynon is concentrated
in the provinces of Iloilo
and Negros Occidental. It
is also spoken in the
other provinces of the
Panay Island group, such
as Capiz, Antique, Aklan,
Guimaras, and many parts
of Mindanao like Koronadal
City, South Cotabato,
Sultan Kudarat and many
parts of North Cotabato
(It is spoken as a second
language by Karay-a in
Antique, Aklanon and
Malaynon in Aklan, Cebuano
in Siquijor, and Capiznon
in Capiz.). There are
approximately 7,000,000
people in and outside the
Philippines who are native
speakers of Hiligaynon,
and an additional
4,000,000 who are capable
of speaking it with a
substantial degree of
proficiency. The languages
is know for its sweet and
melodic intonations.
It is a member of
the Visayan language
family.
The language is
referred to as "Ilonggo"
in Negros Occidental and
in Iloilo. More precisely,
"Ilonggo" is an
ethnoliguistic group
referring to the people
living in Panay and the
culture associated with
the people speaking
Hiligaynon. The boundaries
of the dialect called
Ilonggo and that called
Hiligaynon are unclear.
The disagreement of where
what name is correct
extends to Philippine
language specialists and
native laymen.
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