MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATIONS OF HILIGAYNON

This study analyzed the morphological variation between Hiligaynon dialects in Hiligaynon-South Cotabato (Municipality of Banga and Norala) and Hiligaynon-Iloilo (Municipality of Pototan and Mina). Using the descriptive design, the study examined the morphological processes and variation employed between Hiligaynon-South Cotabato (Municipality of Banga and Norala) and Hiligaynon-Iloilo (Municipality of Pototan and Mina) and the implications of these morphological variations in Hiligaynon language. The "Swadish 100 Word List" that contains compilation of words was used as instrument to quantify the variations in both locals. The researcher used online recorded interview as a method for collecting information from the twelve (12) respondents of South Cotabato and Iloilo. This study revealed that Hiligaynon- South Cotabato varies from Hiligaynon- Iloilo in terms of morphological process or word formation. The words vary as affixes added into the word used, and dropping and substituting a material in a word. There are four morphological processes used in Hiligaynon-South Cotabato (Municipality of Banga and Norala) namely borrowing, affixation, deletion and reduplication while Hiligaynon-Iloilo (Municipality of Pototan and Mina) used five morphological processes namely borrowing, affixation, substitution, deletion and reduplication process. Migration, geographical location and educational backgroud are the factors on why there is language variation in South Cotabato and Iloilo. With this, confusion and misunderstanding may sometimes arise regarding to the formation of words among Hiligayon users.