Contrastive Analysis of True and False Cognates

in Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao

Armina G. Guiamalon

Cotabato State University

guiamalonarmina@gmail.com

Abstract

This study is a contrastive analysis of true and false cognates in Maguindanaon,

Iranon, and Maranao. Although contrastive analysis has often been questioned for it’s

inadequancy to predict the transfer errors that learners will make in actual learning

contexts it cannot be easily denied that “such interference does exist and can explain

difficulties” (Brown, 1994. P200). In addition, research has shown that students benefit

from cognate awareness by connecting the meaning of their language origin to

understand an additional language. It was based on the assumption that languages can

be compared and the best teaching materials are based on the analysis of the native

language and the target language. The study was conducted with the following

objectives:

1) To identify and list the true and false cognates of Magindanaon, Iranon

and Maranao.

2) To compare, analyze and present the implications on teaching and

learning.

3) To illustrate by means of sample drills and lessons how the result of the

analysis would be useful to students and the teachers as well.

 The words given or presented are roots, however, derivatives, reduplications,

variants of stress are included when they throw light on the comparison.

The basis of grouping cognate items is phonetic-semantic resemblance, which

maybe subdivided into the following layers:

1) Total phonetic-semantic resemblance, e.g. Maguindanaon, Iranon and

Maranao Agung-(n.) Instrument, Dudul- (n.) Muslim foods, Balo- (n.)

Widow.

2) Semantic and partial phonetic resemblance, e.g. Maguindanaon, Iranon

and Maranao Baling,( n.) food,( v.) go home., Bareta, (n.) bar,(n.) a kind

of bolo, (n.) crow bar.

3) Seemingly divergent phonetic-semantic resemblance which possibly

appear far-fetched but which maybe justified by further study, e.g. the

MTB-MLE program, which some of were written from the modules or

handouts of students, Google websites, interviews on native speakers of

Iranon and Maranao and the researcher’s knowledge as a native speaker

of Maguindanaon.

The analysis, as a whole shows that pronunciation is the problem of Maguindanaon, Iranon

and Maranao teachers and students in the study of English language. Sample lessons in

phonetic drills are included as a guide to show how the study would be of help to language

teachers.

I. Introduction
 Cotabato City, was formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII, but due to the

ratification the Bangsamoro Organic Law, it is now part of Bangsamoro and serves as the

regional center. Being an independent component city, it is not a subject to regulation from the

Provincial Government of Maguindanao where it is geographically located. The Philippine

Statistics Authority also lists Cotabato City as statistically independent.

Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao are some of the most spoken languages in Cotabato

City, aside from T’boli, Blaan, Yakan, Tausug, Tiruray.

Howerever, at present, the province of Cotabato City is already inhabited by people with

different cultures and languages like Cebuano, Tagalog, Chavacano, and etc. among others, yet

the Maguindanaon, Iranon, Maranao and other tribes that lives in the mountain are able to

preserve their language as evidenced by a number of Maguindanaon, Iranon, Maranao and

other tribes that are expressing themselves using their native language at home and in any

activities of their families like weddings.

In the place where the researcher resides, 80% of residents are Maguindanaon.

II. Methodology

The researcher considers this study as a great contribution for the advancement of

education in the province particularly in the field of linguistics.

The researcher was able to list down more or less 300 pairs of true and false cognates in

Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao which 250 were taken from the list of true and false

cognates that our instructor given and the rest from her knowledge as a native Maguindanaon

speaker.
 True cognates are words which are similar in form, pronunciation and in meaning. False

cognates are words which are similar in form and pronunciation but completely different in

meaning.

The listed words are grouped into three. The first part is the true cognates of

Maguindanaon and Iranon, the second part is the true cognates of Maguindanaon and Maranao

and the third part is the false cognates of Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao. They were

arranged in alphabetical order in Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao with indicated which parts

of speech it belongs and followed by the meaning in English.

III. Findings

Through thorough analysis and interpretation of the listed words, the following are the

findings in true cognates.

1. There are words in Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao which are exactly the same in

form, spelling, pronunciation and meaning.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech Meaning

/ ‘ agung / / ‘ agung / / ‘ agung / noun

‘instrument’

/ ‘ aden / / ‘ aden / / ‘ aden / verb ‘to have’

/ ‘ balo / / ‘ balo / / ‘ alo / noun ‘widow’

2. There are words in Maguindanaon with a final sound of phoneme / h / while in Maranao

and Iranon , it is a glottal stop / ‘ /.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech Meaning

 / ‘ bwa:yah / / ‘ bwa:ya / / ‘ bwa-ya ‘ / noun ‘crocodile’

/ ba:lah / / bala ‘ / / bala ‘ / noun ‘bullet’

/ ka:moh / / kamo ‘ / / kamo ‘ / noun ‘vegetable’

3. The initial and medial / e / sound is deleted in most Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao

words.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech Meaning

/ bug’e / / bug’el / / bug’el / noun ‘ lump’

/ ‘dad:tem / / ‘ dad:tem / noun ‘shady’

/ ‘gale:bek / / ‘ gale:bek / verb ‘work’

4. There are words in Maguindanaon with slight stress in the second to the last syllable

while the same words in Maranao and Iranon are strongly stressed.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech Meaning

/ dum:paw / / dum:paw ‘ / noun ‘rat’

/ a:pang / / a:pang ‘ / noun ‘food’

/ a:kal ‘ / / a:kal ‘ / noun ‘brain’

5. The phoneme / i /, / o / and / u / in Maguindanaon words become / ↔ / or the schwa

sound in Maranao and Iranon

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech Meaning

/ sin:dol / / ‘ sind↔l / / ‘ sind↔l / noun ‘ food’

 / bina:ning / / ‘ b↔nan↔ng / / ‘b↔nan↔ng / noun

‘yellow’

/ ta:muk / / ‘ tam↔k / / ‘tam↔k / noun ‘

asset’

6. Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao has separate phoneme of / o / and / u / but they

only use / u / in pronouncing words even there are words spelled O but the O is

pronounced as / u /.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts f Speech

Meaning

kayo / kayu kayo / kayu noun ‘wood’

bangko / bangku bangko / bangku noun ‘chair’

kamo / kamu kamo / kamu kamo / kamu noun

‘vegetable’

7. The lteral / l / in Maguindanaon words becomes dental / r / in Maranao and Iranon,

although they spelled it with / l / but they pronounce it as / r /.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech Meaning

/ ‘ ga:lun / / garun / / garun / noun ‘gallon’

/ ‘ gasa:ligan / / gasarigan / / gasarigan / adjective

‘trustworthy’

/ ‘ kuku:lan / / kukuran / / kukuran / noun ‘grater’

8. There are some words in Maguindanaon with a glottal stop / ‘ / on the second to the last

syllable, the same glottal stop is not found in Iranon and Maranao.
Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech

Meaning

/ kalu ‘ ma / / kaluma ‘ / / kaluma ‘ / noun

‘spouse’

/ kasum ‘ ba / / kasumba ‘ / / kasumba ‘ / noun ‘pink’

/ bak ‘ bak / / bakbak ‘ / noun

‘hammer’

9. There are more or less ten pairs of the listed words in which phoneme / e / in

Maguindanaon becomes / i / in Iranon and Maranao, when they pronounce it although it

was spelled in / e /.

Ex. Maguindanaon Iranon Maranao Parts of Speech

Meaning

/ ne:lay / / nilay / / nilay / verb ‘seen’

/ mos:lem / / muslim / / muslim / noun

‘muslim’

/ neb:ped / / nibped / / nibped / adjective

‘depletive’

10. In the false cognates, there are more or less 40 pairs listed. As mentioned earlier, false

cognates are words thar similar in form and pronunciation but totally different in

meaning.

Ex. Maguindanaon Meaning Iranon Meaning Maranao Meaning

/ ‘ baling / (n) food / ‘ baling / (v) go home / ‘ baling / (v) go home

 / ‘ agud / (v) massage / ‘ agut / (v) extend

/ ‘ bulo / (n) long knife / ‘ buno / (n) curse / ‘ buno / (v) to kill

IV. Teaching Implications

In the final analysis it was observed that Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao teachers

and students are having a hard time in the pronunciation of the target language specifically, the

English language. Thus, to make the listed words meaningful, it could be printed into phonics

flip charts for drill purposes before the start of any English subject in all grade levels particularly

in school and districts where Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao speakers are still greater in

number.

For the false cognates, it is a must for teachers and students to identify the right word to

be used in English which should not be confused with the native term of speakers.

Sample and phonics drill charts and lesson plan are presented in the study showing how

the listed words could be given emphasis especially in primary grade levels so that, in early age

they will be able to conquer the language demands.

V. Conclusion

As a conclusion cognate awareness benefits students and teachers as well. In the true

cognates of Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao, the changing, cancelling or adding of one or

two phonemes in a word does not affect its meaning except the problem in pronunciation of

some Maguindanaon, Iranon and Maranao teachers and students.

 On the false cognates, a rigid mastery of the right word to be used to refer to the right

thing is required particularly of the Iranon and Maranao speakers because it might lead to

confusion or misunderstanding on both different speakers with different native language.

References

Simpson, Paul. Stylistics- a resource book for students First published 2004 by

Routledge

11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the

Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.©

2004 Paul Simpson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or

reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now

known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any

information storage or

retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

A catalog record for this book has been requested

ISBN 0-203-49658-2 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-57093-6 (Adobe eReader Format)

ISBN 0–415–28104–0 (hbk)

ISBN 0–415–28105–9 (pbk)

https://maguindanaopride.wordpress.com › ...

Maguindanaon Words and Phrases | MAGUINDANAO PRIDE

https://glosbe.com- Maranao dictionary-the Maguindanaon

https://www.merriam-webster.com- Maranao definition and Meaning

https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu-Maranao a Preliminary Phonological sketch with

supporting audio

https://zorc.net- Maguindanaon dialogs and drills

https://www.ats-group.net-English-Maranao Dictionary Online Free Translation and

Resources