Latin Asia
Encyclopedia
Latin Asia is a term used to designate the countries of Asia that are heavily influenced by nations whose languages are one of the modern-day Romance languages
. Unlike the rest of the Latin world, French
, Portuguese
, and Spanish
and are not the prevalent languages in daily speech. Rather, these are just one of the official languages of the country or territory. Others have even completely eliminated the official functions of the language yet these languages remain to be a strong minority.
Indochina
. Today, the French language
has an official status in Lebanon
. It is also preserved in some countries in Southeast Asia
, especially Laos
, Vietnam
and Cambodia
, which all belonged to the former French Indochina
.
French also remains an important language in the territory known as French India
.
remains an official language to the former colonies of the Portuguese Empire
. Today, it is an official language of two states in Asia
, specifically Timor Leste, Macau
. It is also preserved in Goa
, India
and some parts of Malaysia, especially in the state of Malacca
. Portuguese also has a moderate influence in Japanese
.
in Asia. Hence, the Philippines is the only country in Asia
that has a strong Spanish influence both in culture, religion
, people
, and in language.
Today, the promotion of Spanish
is mentioned in the constitution as to be of voluntary basis only. The Philippines also maintains an organisation called the Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language
, which corresponds to the Royal Spanish Academy of Spain. It also maintains membership to the Latin Union
because of its historical affiliation with Spain.
During the Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
, moves were done to re-introduce the language in the curriculum.
Spanish was official in the Philippines until 1986 and it was taught as a compulsory subject until 1987.
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
. Unlike the rest of the Latin world, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and are not the prevalent languages in daily speech. Rather, these are just one of the official languages of the country or territory. Others have even completely eliminated the official functions of the language yet these languages remain to be a strong minority.
French
French is important in the former colony ofFrench Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. Today, the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
has an official status in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. It is also preserved in some countries in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, especially Laos
Lao French
French is spoken by a significant minority in Laos. Laos is the second largest Francophone nation in Asia, the others being Vietnam and Cambodia...
, Vietnam
Vietnamese French (dialect)
Vietnamese French is a dialect of French spoken in Vietnam. Vietnam is the largest of the three Francophone nations in Asia, the others being Laos and Cambodia, and the language is spoken by over 5% of the population and sometimes used in international relations.-History:The French language's...
and Cambodia
Cambodian French (linguistics)
Cambodian French is the dialect of French spoken in Cambodia. Cambodia is the smallest of the three Francophone nations in Asia, the others being Vietnam and Laos and French has declined the most in Cambodia out of all the Asian Francophone nations.-History:The French language began its presence...
, which all belonged to the former French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
.
French also remains an important language in the territory known as French India
French India
French India is a general name for the former French possessions in India These included Pondichéry , Karikal and Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast, and Chandannagar in Bengal...
.
Portuguese
Unlike Spanish and French, PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
remains an official language to the former colonies of the Portuguese Empire
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
. Today, it is an official language of two states in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, specifically Timor Leste, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. It is also preserved in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and some parts of Malaysia, especially in the state of Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
. Portuguese also has a moderate influence in Japanese
Japanese words of Portuguese origin
Many Japanese words of Portuguese origin entered the Japanese language when Portuguese Jesuit priests introduced Christian ideas, Western science, technology and new products to the Japanese during the Muromachi period ....
.
Spanish
The Philippines is the only colony of the Spanish EmpireSpanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
in Asia. Hence, the Philippines is the only country in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
that has a strong Spanish influence both in culture, religion
Religion in the Philippines
Religion in the Philippines are spiritual beliefs held by Philippine citizens. Religion holds a central place in the life of the majority of Filipinos, including Hindus, Buddhists, animists, Muslims, Aglipayans,Protestant and Catholic...
, people
Ethnic groups in the Philippines
The Philippine islands are inhabited by number of different ethnic groups. The majority of the population is composed of ethnolinguistic groups whose languages are Austronesian in origin. Many of these groups converted to Christianity, and adopted many foreign elements of culture...
, and in language.
Today, the promotion of Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
is mentioned in the constitution as to be of voluntary basis only. The Philippines also maintains an organisation called the Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language
Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language
The Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language is the main Spanish-language regulating body in the Philippines. Its headquarters are located in Makati City. It was established in Manila on July 25, 1924....
, which corresponds to the Royal Spanish Academy of Spain. It also maintains membership to the Latin Union
Latin Union
The Latin Union is an international organization of nations that use Romance languages, with the aim of protecting, projecting, and promoting the common cultural heritage and unifying identities of the Latin, and Latin-influenced, world. It was created in 1954 in Madrid, Spain, and has existed as a...
because of its historical affiliation with Spain.
During the Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
, moves were done to re-introduce the language in the curriculum.
Spanish was official in the Philippines until 1986 and it was taught as a compulsory subject until 1987.