The Central Philippine languages are the most geographically widespread demonstrated group of languages in the Philippines, being spoken in southern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Sulu. They are also the most populous, including Tagalog (and Filipino), Bikol, and the major Visayan languages Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Kinaray-a, and Tausug, with some forty languages all together. Classification Overview The languages are generally subdivided thus (languages in italics refer to a single language): Tagalog (at least three dialects found in southern Luzon) Bikol (eight languages in the Bicol Peninsula) Bisayan (eighteen languages spoken in the whole Visayas, as well as southeastern Luzon, northeastern Mindanao and Sulu) Mansakan (eleven languages of the Davao Region) There are in addition several Aeta hill-tribal languages of uncertain affiliation: Ata, Sorsogon Ayta, Tayabas Ayta, Karolanos (Northern Binukidnon), Magahat (Southern Binukidnon), Sulod, and Umiray Dumaget. Most of the Central Philippine languages in fact form a dialect continuum and cannot be sharply distinguished as separate languages. Blust (2009) notes that the relatively low diversity found among the Visayan languages is due to recent population expansions. Zorc (1977) The expanded tree of the Central Philippine languages below is given in David Zorc's 1977 Ph.D. dissertation. The Visayan subgrouping is Zorc's own work, while the Bikol subgrouping is from McFarland (1974) and the Mansakan subgrouping from Gallman (1974). Individual languages are marked by italics, and primary branches by bold italics. Tagalog Standard Filipino Marinduque Lubang Bikol Pandan (North Catanduanes) Inland Bikol Iriga (Rinconada Bikol) Albay Bikol Coastal Bikol (including the Naga City dialect) Central Bikol Virac (South Catanduanes) Visayan 1. South (spoken on the eastern coast of Mindanao) Butuan–Tausug Tausug Butuanon Surigao Surigaonon, Jaun-Jaun, Kantilan, Naturalis 2. Cebuan (spoken in Cebu, Bohol, western Leyte, northern Mindanao, and eastern Negros) Cebuan Cebuano, Boholano, Leyte 3. Central (spoken across most of the Visayan region) Warayan Waray–Samar Waray, Samar-Leyte Northern Samar Gubat (South Sorsogon) Peripheral Sorsogon (North), Masbate Camotes Bantayan Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Capiznon, Kawayan Romblon Romblomanon 4. Banton/Asi (spoken in northwestern Romblon Province) Banton Banton, Odionganon, Simara, Calatrava, Sibale 5. West Aklan (spoken in northern Panay) Aklanon Kinarayan (spoken in Panay) Pandan, Kinaray-a, Gimaras North-Central (spoken on Tablas Island and the southern tip of Mindoro) Bulalakaw, Dispoholnon, Looknon, Alcantaranhon Kuyan (spoken in the archipelagos west of Panay and Romblon, as well as the southern tip of Mindoro) Datagnon, Santa Teresa, Semirara Kuyonon Mansakan North Mansakan Kamayo (North) and Kamayo (South) Davaw Davawenyo (Davaweño) Eastern Mansakan Isamal