Identifying and Categorizing Maranao Words with Arabic Roots: A Case Study of the Maranao Language Spoken in the Philippines

Abstract

The Maranaos predominantly inhabit Lanao del Sur in Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, and speak the Maranao language. No previous research has identified and explored the existence of Arabic loan words in the Maranao language. For this reason, this research identified Maranao words having Arabic origins and categorized them in corresponding sematic fields. The main objective of this study was to investigate how and in what way Arabic vocabulary was borrowed in the Maranao language. For this research, the Maranao words were taken from a Maranao dictionary and were examined by native Maranao and Arab speakers, who are also the authors of this study. The findings revealed that over 600 Maranao words have Arabic roots and are presently being used by the Maranao speakers. It was concluded that after the advent of Islam in the Philippines, the Maranao language was influenced by Arab settlers and traders and its borrowed vocabulary was used mostly to express sociopolitical activities. Keywords: Arabs, Arabic language, Maranaos, Maranao language, the Philippines

Keywords

• Arabs
• Maranaos
• the Philippines
• Arabic language
• Maranao language