- Walt Kelly
Bagong Alpabetong Filipino
June 19, 2009I have an issue with the Bagong Alpabetong Filipino. Or even the old Alpabetong Filipino. It says “Ng/ng” is a letter. In her Filipino subject Daughter Cheska was marked wrong when she answered “g” as the last letter of “hinirang”.
Excuse me.
“Ng” are letters “n” and “g”. Ng is a consonant blend – when 2 letters combine to create a single sound. That’s according to Cheska’s language book “Grammar in Focus”. However, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digraph_(orthography) says that “ng” is a consonant digraph which represents /ŋ/ (velar nasal). A digraph or digram (from the Greek: δίς, dís, “double” and γράφω, gráphō, “write”) is a pair of characters used to write one phoneme (distinct sound) or a sequence of phonemes that does not correspond to the normal values of the two characters combined.
The English language also uses “ng” particularly in the present participle forms of verbs. Walking, talking, eating, writing. The last letter of those words is “g”. Because “ng” are two letters. Why does the Alpabetong Filipino consider “ng” as a letter and why doesn’t the English alphabet? Does it make a difference that the Filipino language has a word that start with “ng” as in “ngayon” ?
Paging Surian ng Wikang Pambansa. I think you should review the Bagong Alpabetong Filipino.
Ngayon na.
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This has long been the case in the Filipino alphabet. Although, I think, not all Filipino words with ng’s are considered as a letter; just as you asked with the word “ngayon.” Of course, I am not an expert in Filipino language, especially with the alphabet. I think, the same rules/explanation apply between the letters “ng” and “ll.”
I must say, though, it is probably not right to compare this phenomenon with the English alphabet. It is like comparing apples and oranges.
By the way, have you discussed this with the teacher? Maybe, she can better explain and will give time to your concerns than the surian.
In any case, please tell Cheska that I miss her, and I am always proud of her. Dami nang utang ni ninong niya!
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Posted by richard at June 20, 2009, 4:53 am