Filipino Variety of Davao: A Linguistic Description

Filipino is the evolving national language of the Philippines. Many believe that it is the Tagalog variety of Metro Manila which has pervaded the entire country through the media, local movies, and educational institutions. There are, however, emerging varieties of Filipino which deviate from the grammatical properties of Tagalog. These are influenced by non-Tagalog speakers whose native language competencies interfere with their usage of Filipino. These Tagalog deviants are undeniably distinctive and are used by a significant segment of the non-Tagalog population in the country. The Filipino Variety of Davao City (FVD) is a case in point. This paper describes FVD- its features, morphosyntax, and innovations and how they deviate from those of Tagalog. Using as data the language used by people on the streets and the cyberspace, it is observed that this type of variety allows its speakers to freely explore Filipino without the hindrance of “correct grammar ” as defined by the Filipino language authorities in Manila. Indigenizing Filipino is an emergent phenomenon in the Philippine linguistic landscape. It empowers non-Tagalog Filipino speakers to actively participate in its evolution, and to bring about the de-Tagalization of the national language