Writers' groups protest KWF's 'Tagalog-based' orthography for Ilokano

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — Ilokano writers' groups and other advocates of the Ilokano language are calling for the resignation of Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino officials over orthography that they say does not conform to how Ilokano is used.

Orthography refers to how words in a language are used by convention.

The groups are calling for the resignation of KWF Chairperson Virgilio Almario and its commissioner for Ilokano language, Purificacion Delima over the KWF-proposed “Ortograpiya ti Pagsasao nga Ilokano” that was launched this month.

The Ilokano writers' groups over the weekend accused Almario and Delima of "incompetence in preparing the Ilokano orthography that didn’t conform with the existing orthography being used by the Ilokano writers and experts."

The Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas (GUMIL–Filipinas) led other groups of Ilokano writers, including the International Committee for the Protection of the Ilokano Language and NAKEM Youth and Nakem Conferences International, academicians in Regions 1, 2, 3 and Cordillera Administrative Region, in protesting the newest edition of the KWF Ilokano orthography.

KWF disregards popular standard, groups say

GUMIL-Filipinas president Vilmer Viloria said KWF's Ilokano orthography has created confusion among students.

"While we support the initiative of the KWF to develop the national language, we take exception to the move of KWF Chairman Almario to compel a regional language like the Ilokano to use the standards set by the Ortograpiyang Pambansa, disregarding in effect the existing and popular or standard Ilokano orthography."

He said that doing so would destroy the identity of the Ilokano language.

"We insist on the present Ilokano orthography, which has existed for decades, used by most Ilocano writers and has been the basis for spelling of volumes of publications such as Bannawag and the Ilocano Bible," he also said.

The groups claimed there was lack of consultation on the orthography.

'Tagalog-based' orthography
 
The Ilokano language had been standardized with the publication and distribution of the "Tarabay iti Ortorgrapia ti Pagsasao nga Ilokano (Guide to the Orthography of the Ilokano Language)" by the KWF in 2012. 

The KWF 2012 “Tarabay” was formulated by the commission upon proper consultation with language experts, writers, editors and teachers, using the standards long employed by the writers and editors of Ilokano dictionaries, existing Ilokano magazines and newspapers, and other publications and the basis of the Ilokano form as taught in the University of Hawaii, Manoa and at state universities in the Philippines offering courses in the Ilokano language.

The writers' groups said "forcing upon our Ilokano children the Tagalog-based orthography in the classroom only gives them spelling rules different from what substantial number of speakers are already acquainted with and from existing printed materials that use the long established orthography, thus sowing confusion in using the language."