Google Philippines is marking Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) with the launch of “Isang Gabay sa mga Salitang Kaugnay ng COVID-19 (Related Words/Terms on COVID-19)”. The diksyonaryongcovid19.com initiative recognizes how crucial are languages in understanding the most commonly used COVID-19 related words in disseminating information. The

“Isang Gabay sa mga Salitang Kaugnay ng COVID-19″ provides the Filipino and Cebuano translations and definitions of the featured terms, their part of speech, as well as usage in a sentence. Accessible on any device, the site carries a growing list of 115 commonly used words and phrases that include some scientific and medical terminologies, as well as new vocabulary that pertains to changes in business, education, and a new way of life.

For the Filipino terms, Google Philippines collaborated with Assistant Professor Eilene Antoinette Narvaez of the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature at the University of the Philippines Diliman, who is also a member of the Filipinas Institute of Translation (FIT).

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The Cebuano counterpart was completed with Hannah Marie Aranas, former literature teacher of the University of San Carlos Department of Languages and Literature, and translator of COVID-19 materials.

“The pandemic continues to bring an overwhelming amount of information that we need to process every day. Based on Google Trends insights, a lot of Filipinos are looking for the meaning of COVID-19-related terminologies in our local languages,” said Mervin Wenke, head of Communications and Public Affairs, Google Philippines. “We hope that this will be useful as well to students and to those who seek to expand their knowledge.”

Visit diksyonaryongcovid19.com to see the actual site. To send comments or suggestions on how to improve the glossary, please send an email to diksyonaryongcovid19@gmail.com.