Colloquialism Among Meranaw Teenagers in the Junior High Schools of MSU Marawi Campus

Abstract

Over the course of time, scholars have engaged in multifaceted inquiries into the realm of language, in order to explain its origin, describe its development and changes, analyze its relationship with other sciences and recognize its importance to daily activities. Within linguistic discourse and documentation, a notable focus emerges on the nuanced levels of language usage, particularly the informal expressions that permeate everyday conversations. This study explored the colloquial verbal expressions of Meranaw teenagers in the contemporary era, employing a descriptive research design focused on junior high school students from Mindanao State University (MSU) - Marawi City, specifically MSU-ILS (Integrated Laboratory School), MSU-UTC (University Training Center), and MSU-LNCAT (Lanao National College of Arts and Trades). Through self-made structured questionnaire and interview, the findings reveal that teenagers, as observed, adeptly wield words through various processes like coinage, compounding, blending, and more. Their dynamic use of language reflects a rapidly evolving linguistic landscape, driven by innovation and usage. The creation of colloquial expressions, often originating playfully, contributes to the formation of colloquialisms. Notably, slang terms either fade or endure, influencing mainstream lexicons. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of multilingualism among young Meranaw speakers. They seamlessly navigate between Meranaw, English, and Tagalog, even incorporating Arabic, Korean, and Japanese. This linguistic flexibility, expressed through code-switching within sentences, reflects the diverse linguistic environment shaped by both community ties and peer influences. With all these recurring dynamism, the study recommends efforts to strengthen the Meranaw language, addressing language moribundity concerns for the new generation. Further research on grammar, orthography, and linguistic features is suggested for comprehensive language planning and development, contributing to a deeper understanding of Meranaw teenagers' discourse and recent language developments.