Descriptive Analysis of Tandaganon Dialect

Language is the most complex invention of mankind. Through it, one can mend or end relationships. This qualitative descriptive paper crafted a descriptive analysis of the Tandaganon language utilized by the people of Tandag City and the municipalities of Tago, San Miguel, Bayabas, and Cagwait. Each locality has ten participants chosen randomly using a convenience sampling technique. It was found that the Tandaganon language has 19 alphabets: three – vowels, 15 – consonants, and three diphthongs: aw [??], ay [a?], uy [??]. This language follows the syllable patterns: CVVC, CVCV, VCV, CVV, CVC, VCVC, and CVCVC. Moreover, it was found that cluster reduction and alternation appear in the Tandaganon language. In the morphology aspect, inflection, reduplication, and the use of free and bound morphemes is also evident. In addition, there are terms whereby the localities are all similar; these are the terms for greetings. However, in the terms for body parts, common terms/ physical environment, and activities, there are differences in some of the terms, while there are also similarities out of the identified word list. Synchronic variation is evident in the Tandaganon-speaking localities of Surigao del Sur.