The Importance of the Ilokano Language in the Cordillera Region

In the Cordillera region, the Ilokano language is still the bridge that enables people with differing languages to communicate with each other. Languages in the Cordilleras are too diverse that we often don't understand each other on a language by language basis. Two neighboring barangays can have different words for the same thing. 

I'm from Western Mt. Province and I can't understand the languages of our neighbors in Eastern Mt. Province. Ifugao is home to several languages as well. So are Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra. 

The language that allows us to bridge this language barrier is the Ilokano language. Because it's the language that majority of Cordillerans can understand and speak. 

Most Kankana-ey speakers can't speak Tuwali. And most Tuwali speakers can't speak Kankana-ey. There are multiple other examples. But thanks to the Ilokano language, there's no problem in the communication line. 

Yes, we have the Filipino and English languages as the other bridges. But Ilokano is the language used (and preferred) by most people here. 

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