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How many dialects are there in the Philippines?

It's difficult to give an exact number for the dialects in the Philippines. There are a few reasons for this:

* What constitutes a "dialect" is subjective: Some linguists might classify a language as a dialect of another, while others might consider it a separate language entirely.

* The number is constantly evolving: As languages and dialects evolve, new ones emerge, and some might become extinct.

* There is no official census on dialects: The focus is usually on the major languages spoken in the Philippines.

However, there are estimates.

* The Ethnologue database lists 120 languages spoken in the Philippines. Many of these are considered dialects of a few major languages.

* The Philippine government recognizes 18 major languages and several minor ones, along with numerous dialects.

It's safe to say that there are hundreds of dialects spoken in the Philippines, with a significant number of them being considered dialects of the major languages like Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon.

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