THE MORPHOLOGICAL REPERTOIRE ACQUIRED BY MERANAO-SPEAKING TODDLERS

Abstract

This study sought out the morphological features acquired by five two-year old Meranao children. Specifically, it aimed at finding out: (1) the morphological features acquired by five two year old Meranao children; (2) the word-forms conmonly found in toddlers-talk; and (3) the particles commonly used by these toddlers.

This study employed the qualitative Ope of research utilizing a case study approach in identifing, describing, and documenting the morphological repertoire acquired by the five two year old Meranao children. Videotaping and tape recording were cautiously done in order to obtain the necessary data. The morphological repertoire exhibited by the involved Meranao children was then identified and categorized to readily determine their morphological acquisition.

Results of the study revealed that : (1) a typical two-year old Meranao child exhibited a telegraphic quality ofa two-word speech; (2) the subjects leave out the grammatical words such as "is" and "the." For example, 'kowa 'for 'Kinowa niyan so (He got the chair); 'amo pangit'for "SQ amo na pngit' monkey ugly); 'plane mala 'for 'So plane na mala' (The plane big); and (3) the subjects leave out the grammatical morphemes such as the prefixæg-f0r 'paginom' and 'pagacW,• the suffix such as —ya for 'titiya. ' Thus, the subjects put in only the words that carry the most important content. (Note, however, that "pangit " and "plane" are not Meranao terms. This shows that children nowadays are influenced by "borrowings. ")

Other results revealed that toddlers exhibited a reduplication of word, as e in the words'nana ', 'mimi ', and 'titi ' (see Appendix A for correct Meranao and English translation). Moreover, the speech of the is made up of content words belonging to the large open classes called nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Furthermore, toddlers employed particles such as e personal article and locative particle in their utterances. Finally, the study roealed that Meranao toddlers could hardly produce the retroflex [r] While they could not produce they instead replaced [r] in the medial position with i.e., instead of 'perak', 'peyak. '

In conclusion, a opical Meranao toddler prduces a telegraphic speech. It is like a telegram, brief but interpretable. Also, the speech of toddlers is made up of content words to the large open classes called nouns, verbs, and adjectives.