Ilocano

The roots of Ilocano stretch back to some two thousand years ago, when the Austronesian speaking people migrated to the Philippines. As these settlers established communities in the region, the Ilocano language would begin to develop.

Throughout its development as a local language, Ilocano has interacted with several foreign tongues, molding it into the modern language that is spoken today. First, Spanish colonization would influence the language, leaving behind some loan words. American colonization would later have a similar influence, especially as English became the official language of schools and government institutions. Nevertheless, Ilocano remained an important cultural marker and a widely spoken language in the Ilocos region. It serves as a common language across different Filipino groups today.

Languages develop to describe specific objects and concepts in specific cultures. We all come from different cultures, meaning that our languages often develop and evolve to describe different ideas. When this happens, translation between languages can be difficult, and direct translations can be practically impossible.

This is why cultural understanding in translation is critical. It is not only a prerequisite for making sure that translations are respectful and culturally sensitive, but also for making sure that the translated message is accurate and cohesive. Without the proper cultural understanding, a direct translation might be difficult to understand, if not entirely incoherent.