Blust (1991) mentioned that there are 15 microgroups in the languages of the Philippines. However, the researchers note that there are languages listed here that could have a different name based on the speaker’s knowledge.

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The Bashiic microgroup composes of Itbayaten, Ivatan and Yami (Blust, 1991). According to Ethnologue (2017), Ivatan or Ivatanen has 35,000 speakers based on their 1998 census. This language is spoken in Batanes, Palawan, MIMAROPA, Cagayan Valley, Mindanao and Manila. It is also considered as the de facto language of Batanes and described as vigorous wherein the monolingual speakers of this language are either the very young or the very old. On the other hand, Yami is spoken in Taiwan and is considered as a threatened language. Lastly, Itabayaten is one of the documented languages here.

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The Cordilleran microgroup consists of Agta, Atta, Arta, Alta, Balangaw, Bontok, Casiguran Dumagat, Gaddang, Ibanag, Ifugaw, Ilokano, Ilongot, Inibaloi, Isinay, Isneg, Itawis, Itneg, Kalinga, Kallahan, Kankanay, Pangasinan, Umirey Dumagat and Yogad. These are mostly found in mountainous areas in Northern Luzon (Blust, 1991). The term "Kallahan" may have a derogative meaning, that is why the speakers prefer to call their language Kalanguyan.Under this microgroup, the researchers documented Ibanag, Ilokano, Itawis, Kalinga and Kankanay. For the latter, some speakers prefer to call their language as Kankana-ey. This is also the term used in this study.

 

The Central Luzon microgroup includes Kapampangan, Bolinao, Sambal and Botolan. It is usually found in the west-central Luzon, as noted by Blust (1991). Kapampangan and Sambal were the languages documented here.

As noted by the Ethnologue (2017), Bolinao is spoken in the Ilocos region, specifically in the Anda and Bolinao municipalities of west Pangasinan. It has 51,200 speakers based on their 2007 census. It is also a threatened language. The Bolinao language was also called “Binobolinao” but according to Persons (1978), the name “Bolibinao” was chosen because the term “Binobolinao” carries the connotation of being the old language. Botolan is a Sambalic language spoken by 32, 867 people based on their 2000 census. The Botolan language is located around the municipality of Botolan in Zambales province. According to Antworth (1979), there is a closely related dialect, the Ayta (Aeta), spoken by Negritos living in the nearby Zambales mountains.

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The Inati Microgroup is composed of only one language. The language is spoken by Negritos in an isolated island in Panay.

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The Kalamian Microgroup consists of Kalamian, Tagbanwa and Agutaynon.

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The Bilic Microgroup is composed of Bilaan, Tagabili or Tboli, Tiruray, Giangan Bagobo.

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The South Mangyan Microgroup includes Hanunóo and Buhid. North Mangyan includes Iraya, Alangan, and Tadyawan.

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The Palawanic Microgroup has Palawano, Aborlan Tagbanwa, Batak and Molbog. Batak is found in an island in Palawan while Molbog can be located in an island in Balabac.

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The Central Philippines Microgoup consists of Tagalog, Bikol, the Bisayan languages, Mamanwa, Mansaka, Mandaya, Kalagan and Tagakaulu.

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The Manobo microgroup is composed of Binukid, Ilianen, Manobo, Western Bukidnon Manobo, Ata Manobo, Tigwa Manobo, Dibabawon Manobo, Cotabato Manobo, Sarangani Manobo, Bagobo, Tasaday, Kinamigin, and Kagayanen.

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The Danaw Microgroup consists of Maranao, Iranon, Maguindanao.

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The Subanun Microgroup is composed of some languages spoken in the Zamboanga peninsula.

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The Sangiric Microgroup has five languages that are spoken in the Sangiri-Talaud islands in Indonesia.

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The Minahasan Microgroup is composed of Tonsea, Tombulu, Tondano/Toulour, Tontemboan, Tonsawang. These can be located in poken in the northern peninsula of Sulawesi, particulary within the area of the Tondano Lake.

 

The Gorontalo-Mogondow Microgoup includes Ponosakan, Mongondow, Lolak, Atinggola-Bolango, Bintauna, Kaidipang, Suwawa, Gorontalo, and Buol. (These languages can be found in the central and western part of the northern peninsula or Sulawesi)

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(Note that this website is an ongoing project, and as of now, only part of the first three microgroups have data.)

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Sources:

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Antworth, E. (1979). Grammatical sketch of Botolan Sambal. Manila: Linguistic Society of

the Philippines.

Blust, R. (1991). The Greater Central Philippines hypothesis. Oceanic Linguistics, 30(2), 73-129.

Persons, G. (1978). Bolinao: A preliminary phonemic statement. SIL International. Retrieved from http://bolinao.webonary.org/phonology/.

Simons, G. F. and Fennig, C. D. (eds.). (2017). Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Twentieth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com.

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