Bisayan grammar and notes on Bisayan rhetoric and poetics and Filipino dialectology

"A Bisayan Grammar and Notes on Bisayan Rhetoric and Poetics and Filipino Dialectology" by Norberto Romuáldez is a linguistic guide written in the early 20th century. This work serves as an elementary grammar specifically focusing on the Bisayan dialects spoken in the Philippine islands of Samar and Leyte. The book aims to provide a foundational understanding of the language for both residents and Americans, highlighting the importance of the dialect in fostering communication and cultural appreciation among these groups. At the start of the text, the author expresses his intentions and motivations for writing this grammar, emphasizing that there has been a long-standing need for such a resource. He acknowledges the contributions from various individuals who helped refine the material. The introduction outlines the relevance of the grammar for different audiences, including native speakers seeking to enhance their skills and foreigners wishing to connect more deeply with the local culture. Romuáldez explains that this work includes sections on prefixes, suffixes, and various grammatical constructs that will be essential for learners aiming to achieve practical familiarity with the Bisayan language. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Norberto Romuáldez y López, often referred to as Norberto Romuáldez Sr. to distinguish him from his son with the same name, was a Philippine writer, politician, jurist, and statesman. He was the first Lopez-Romuáldez to attain national prominence, and is deemed the "Father of the Law on the National Language". He was the eldest son of Doña Trinidad López de Romuáldez, the Romuáldez grand matriarch, and uncle of First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Romualdez Marcos, the daughter of his youngest brother Vicente Orestes Lopez Romualdez.