The difference between Bisaya, Binisaya, Visayan and Cebuano

These four terms have been used widely, however some students have not really understood how one differs from the others. Many have asked me yes or no Cebuano is similar to Binisaya Prayed visaja spoken in Cagayan de Oro and the rest of Mindanao. Also, some of my clients in the translation industry ask me from time to time if Cebuano Y visaja they are one and the same language.

visaja refers to the people of Visayas and the non-Muslim population of Mindanao. We have the Lumads of Mindanao of course with their own languages ​​like the Manobos, Bagobos, Bukidnons among others but most of them speak Bisaya. Yes, visaja it can also refer to the spoken language. Just like Filipino, the people; and Filipino, the language.

On the other hand, Binisaya is literally “in Bisaya” as is “Tinagalog“(“in Tagalog”) or “English” (“in English”). This can also refer to the language. For example, “Unsay niana binisaya” (What [the term for] what in visaja). When we add a verbal affix like “magbinisaya kitathen we have “let’s talk Bisaya”. therefore my Magbinisaya Kita Serie.

Cebuano It is the language of the Cebu people. Also known as Sugbuhanon Prayed Sinugbuhanon. It is visaja. In fact, that’s how visaja is known throughout the world and even in academia that codifies it as Sebwano. However, the people of Mindanao avoid calling their language Cebuano which they consider the language of the Cebu people. they call it visaja Prayed Binisaya instead. So I often use both terms interchangeably.

visajahowever, it should not be confused with Visayanwhich is a subgroup of Philippine languages ​​that includes Cebuano/Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray, Aklanon, Kinaray-aetc.