Containing over 1800 Ilonggo phrases and translations, this book is aimed toward helping an English speaker learn to speak the Bisayan dialects, primarily Ilonggo, but it also includes 20 pages specifically designed to help a Tagalog speaker learn Ilonggo.
The initial intent of this book was to help missionaries, but anyone wishing to speak like an Ilonggo will find this book extremely helpful. Unlike a dictionary or other available materials on the subject, the focus of this book is conversational, beginning with the basics such as common greetings and phrases, then illustrating common verb usage, and finally enhancing one’s conversation by teaching correct particle usage.
Ilonggo, officially known as Hiligaynon, is the fourth most spoken Filipino dialect. It belongs to a group of dialects called Bisayan. These dialects are spoken particularly on the islands of Panay, Negros, and even some parts of Mindanao.