PROSE
Of the three universal important forms in prose, i.e., description, narration, and exposition nothing in general needs be observed.
LETTERS
At present, one of the forms most generally employed in Bisayan prose is that belonging to the class of narration, the letter.
Nothing special needs be observed about letters, at present times, apart from their external forms and the tendency to innovation prominently shown in them, more than anywhere else, by frequent barbarisms.
As to the external forms of the Bisayan letters, it is to be observed that a routinary introduction is almost universally followed. We refer to the ordinary introduction consisting in the following ideas and order: “This letter has [[122]]no other purpose” 2) “but to ask how you are” 3) “because as to me” 4) “I am in a good health”.
And after such an invariable introduction, the writer goes on in a paragraph apart; “And I shall add that”, etc.
Example:
Uaráy láin ng̃a tuyó hiní ng̃a acon surat cúndi an damo ng̃a mg̃a pang̃omósta co ha imo, cay cun acó in ipaquiána, calooy sa Dyos maópay.
Ng̃an isonouod co liuát, etc.
This is the introduction generally adopted. We do not hesitate to state that more than fifty per cent of the letters written in our Bisayan commence with these or equivalent ideas and in the same order.
As to the barbarisms, they are employed thruout the entire letter.
On the heading it is usually written:
Tacloban, á 2 de Octubre de 1908.
instead of:
Tacloban, ica 2 han Octubre han 1908.
On the introduction it ordinarily appears
Sr. D .….….….….….….….….….…
or
Sra. D.a .….….….….….….….….….…
Mi estimado amigo:
or
Muy estimada Señora:
The body of the letter is usually as follows:
Uaray lain ng̃a objeto hini ng̃a acon surat, sino an damo ng̃a mg̃a pangomosta ha iyo ngatanán, cay cun camí in iyo ipaquiána, calooy sa Dyos, uaray ano man ng̃a novedad. [[123]]
Y de consiguiente, tatay, isusunod co liuat; cun uaray mo inconveniente, gusto co cunta comadá pag vacacion; pero como guinadvertir mo man aco han nacadi ca ng̃a mag procurar acó hin pag obtener anay han titulo, por eso amo iní ng̃a dirí aco na atrever pag guican mientras dirí paca aco macacarauát han imo contestation ng̃a pag hatag hin permiso, bisan cun sobra y basta gud an acon mg̃a deseos pag visita ha iyo. etc.