An Analysis of the Linguistic Structure of the Kagan Language in the Davao Region: A Lexico-Grammatical Study

This study investigates the linguistic structure of the Kagan language in the Davao Region through a lexico-grammatical approach grounded in Structural Linguistics. The research aims to document and analyze the unique features of the Kagan language, contributing to its preservation and recognition as a vital component of regional heritage and Islamic identity. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing corpus-based analysis derived from five functional domains within the Kagan-speaking community: Hadith Studies, Islamic Jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh), Linguistics (Nahu), Education (Tarbiyyah), and Islamic Theology (Tafseer). Phonological analysis revealed distinctive features such as the glottal stop /ʔ/, stress patterns shifting from medial to final syllables, consonant clusters, diphthongs, retention of Arabic phonemes (e.g., uvular /q/), and stress patterns influenced by Arabic prosody. Morphological findings identified affixes including pagpa-, pagpang-, pya-, -n, reduplication, yaga-, and the circumfix ka-…-an. Lexical categorization encompassed religious and Islamic terminologies, modern educational terms, core vocabulary, academic language, units of measurement, and historically rooted trade expressions. The study also examined native Kagan words, Arabic loanwords, hybrid Arabic-Kagan constructions, and Filipino, highlighting their impact on the language’s lexical structure. Furthermore, the sociolinguistic functions of Kagan were explored across domains such as family, religion, education, commerce, governance, and Islamic law. Overall, the research serves as a foundational step in documenting and revitalizing the Kagan language, affirming its role in shaping cultural identity and sustaining Islamic principles in Region XI.