LET’S NOW proceed with the main topic.
What Tagalog seems to have lost which Hiligaynon (and many other Visayan languages) has retained are:
* the inertant focus imperative affix -A/HA (which is the imperative of the inertant focus affix -ON)
And…
* the terminal focus imperative affix -I/HI (which is the imperative of the terminal focus affix –
N)
The inertant focus affix -ON indicates that the topic is the object or the recipient of the action and expresses a momentary or immediately completed action. Its imperative form is -A/HA.
The terminal focus affix -AN indicates that the topic is the place where the action is done, or the receiver or the beneficiary of the action, or the thing or person affected by the action, or a partial recipient of the action; and expresses a momentary or an immediately completed action. Its imperative form is -I/HI.]
Example 1. -A/HA
Hiligaynon: Basaha ang sulat. (Read the letter.)
Tagalog: There isn’t any. The closest equivalent sentence would be ‘Basahin mo ang sulat’.
Hiligaynon would literally translate this as ‘Basahon mo ang sulat’. Although the latter sentence construction may be used especially if the idea the sentence purports is being emphasized, Ilonggos usually prefer just ‘Basaha ang sulat’ because it’s shorter and less awkward.
Example 2. -I/HI
Hiligaynon: Basahi siya sing sulat. (Read her a letter.)
Tagalog: There isn’t any. The closest equivalent sentence would be ‘Basahan mo siya nang sulat’.
Hiligaynon would literally translate this as ‘Basahan mo siya sing sulat’. Although the latter sentence construction may be used especially if the idea the sentence purports is being emphasized, Ilonggos usually prefer just ‘Basahi siya sing sulat’ because it’s shorter and less awkward.
***
Auther’s Note
It is unfortunate that elements of the Philippine educational system and the mass media have promoted the idea that the Tagalog language is far ‘richer’ than other Philippine languages. However, as can be seen from the above article, this isn’t true at all. At the very least, most Visayan languages are ‘richer’ than Tagalog when it comes to existentials and imperatives. record! (Send comments and suggestions to mabuhibisaya2017@gmail.com)/PN
