Philippine E-Journals

FOLK ETYMOLOGY OF DIFFUN BARANGAY NAMES: INITIALIZING LOCALIZATION AND CONTEXTUALIZATION THROUGH MARGINALIZED LITERATURE

Agaton P. Pattalitan Jr | Ma. Theresa B. Valerio

 

Abstract:

Academics and observers of the country’s literary landscape have taken pedagogical routes toward literary appreciation of the marginalized genres, i.e., most often the oral etymology of the names of places in the different regions of the country. Academics and men of letters are getting interested toward the preservation of rural literature. Rural translators and linguistics may work into one mighty anthology toward the recognition and appreciation of every region which mirrors out the culture toward localization and contextualization. Indeed, the search for good translators, scholars and researches in such discipline must not be ignored in such worthy endeavor to elevate cultural roots into its pedestal. This qualitative research deals with the folk etymology of the 36 barangay names of Diffun. The origin and tales behind the names of each barangay may be developed into a compilation of genres and may become a way of rural literary preservation. Interviews and triangulation with the old folks and leaders of each barangay or sitio were done by the researcher to gather and clarify the needed information. Results show that the 36 barangays have formed their names through different historical formation of each name with their genuine word etymology. Since there was no single genre published to preserve this oral etymology of the barangay names, the researcher opt to include this genres into published literary sort for the purpose of preservation ad appreciation among the inhabitants of the town or the whole region itself.