Tagalog
Translation Services

Boost your brand value in the Philippines by delivering engaging and relevant customer experiences across all media channels

Tagalog Localization

With a large population, political stability, and impressive economic growth figures, the Philippines presents major opportunities for companies investing in ASEAN. For those considering entry into the Philippine market, Tagalog isn’t considered to be a particularly challenging language in localization terms. Tagalog uses the Latin alphabet; therefore font selection isn’t a challenge like in other emerging Asian languages, so the language is supported across virtually all programs and platforms. English proficiency is high, so often Tagalog translators are able to translate to and from English, as well as have a deeper understanding of English language source materials than compared with other Asian linguists.

Translators must carefully select vocabulary and terminology that is appropriate to the target audience and industry, and ensure that local-specific grammar and colloquial language is considered. However, provided that the right grade of Tagalog translator with appropriate subject-matter expertise is assigned to projects, Tagalog localization does not usually pose a challenge. As with any language, choosing an experienced localization partner with demonstrated experience in Tagalog localization is key.

Translation

  • Editing
  • Proofreading
  • Machine Translation engine building
  • Machine Translation post-editing
  • Desktop publishing
  • Voiceover & dubbing
  • Subtitling & closed captions
  • Flash & multimedia localization
  • Linguistic testing
  • Functional testing
  • Interpretation

Products

  • Documentation
  • Technical manuals
  • Marketing materials
  • Brochures & flyers
  • Packaging & labeling
  • Magazines & newsletters
  • Websites
  • Mobile applications
  • Software applications
  • Training & eLearning
  • Voiceover & multimedia
  • Video content

About Tagalog

The Tagalog language is a member of the Austronesian language family, other significant members of which are Malay (including both Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia) and Javanese. In its standardized form, Filipino, it is one of the two official languages of the Philippines, the other being English.

Most of the other languages spoken in the Philippines, including Cebuano, Illokano, and Hiligaynon, are also members of Austronesian language family. There is often confusion as to whether Tagalog and Filipino are different languages. In fact, they are not: Filipino is a prestige register¹ of Tagalog.

Tagalog originally was written using the Baybayin script, a relatively simple abugida writing system containing 14 consonants, 3 vowels, and 3 diacritics which change or eliminate a consonant’s inherent vowel sound.

Consonants

Vowels

Diacritics²

In the late 16 th century CE, the Spanish colonists and missionaries introduced the Latin alphabet to the Philippines.  By the end of the 19 th century CE, Latin script had completely supplanted Baybayin, although the latter is still occasionally used in artistic and historical contexts.

The Latin alphabet used for writing Tagalog has been revised a number of times, including three times in the 20 thcentury CE.  The latest revision, known as the Modern Filipino alphabet, was made in 1987.  This alphabet comprises 28 upper and lower case letters: the 26 letters of the English alphabet – A a through Z z – plus Ñ ñ and NG ng.³

¹ Prestige register is a language form, usually standardized, that uses the vocabulary, syntax, and pronunciation typically associated with the educated, upper strata of society.

² For technical reasons, these diacritical marks are shown in combination with a consonant in order to ensure correct display on all browsers.

³ Although not written as a ligature, the NG ng digraph is a distinct letter of the alphabet.

Tagalog Translation & Localization Challenges

Because code-switching (mixing English and Tagalog words in the same sentence, sometimes using Tagalog grammar rules to conjugate English verbs) is prevalent, this factor must be given special consideration when translating advertising and marketing materials. Note that as Filipino is a standardized form of Tagalog, translation into Filipino is less difficult in this regard. For translation of technical terms, there may be issues as to whether English or Spanish loan words should be used rather than their Tagalog / Filipino equivalents.

Translators must carefully select vocabulary and terminology that is appropriate to the target audience and industry, and ensure that local-specific grammar and colloquial language is considered. However, provided that the right grade of Tagalog translator with appropriate subject-matter expertise is assigned to projects, Tagalog localization does not usually pose a challenge. As with any language, choosing an experienced localization partner with demonstrated experience in Tagalog localization is key.

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For more information on how EQHO can assist you with your Tagalog translation & localization requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our website.

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