The Case of Cogtong’s Timori: Features, Usage and Vitality
Jake C. Malon | Joshua G. Rojo | Benjean G. Fuderanan | Elenita O. Deguit | Lorena P. Tadena
Discipline: Cultural Studies
Abstract:
Language is a dynamic and ever-evolving entity crafted by human necessity, but its intricacies can
fade into obscurity if not meticulously documented and preserved. This case study was employed to gain a
deep understanding of the research design inherent in the data, which focuses on exploring the linguistic
intricacies of Cogtong's Timori language. This looks into its distinctive features regarding phonology,
morphological and lexical blends, and syntax. Through in-depth interviews and observations, key
informants shed light on Timori's multifaceted usage, encompassing family, educational, and workplace
communication. Additionally, it unveils Timori's historical role as a secret code during World War II, a
means for discreetly poking fun at others, and a stealthy language for sharing gossip. Despite its vitality
within the Cogtong community, Timori remains confined to this locality, facing a dearth of comprehensive
written documentation and formal language promotion efforts. To safeguard this unique linguistic heritage
of this community, recommendations are proposed, including the need for comprehensive language
documentation, the implementation of bilingual education programs, public promotion initiatives, and
advocacy for language policies. Timori's significance lies in its ability to connect people through culture and
identity, underscoring the necessity of concerted efforts to ensure its continued vitality for future
generations.
References:
- Altarriba, J., & Basnight-Brown, D. (2022). The Psychology of Communication: The Interplay Between Language and Culture Through Time. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 53(7–8), 860–874. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221221114046\
- Bakker, P., & Daval-Markussen, A. (2017). Comparative overview of Creole languages. In Creole Studies – Phylogenetic Approaches (pp. 79-101). John Benjamins Publishing Company
- Burhanuddin, F., Maknun, T., & Iswary, E. (2002). Language Use of The Community of Drugs Abuse in Sinjai District, Sociolinguistic Study. SELTICS, 5(1), 34-42. https://doi.org/10.46918/seltics.v5il.1319
- Castello, D. (2015). First Language Acquisition and Classroom Language Learning: Similarities and Differences (Master’s thesis). ELAL College of Arts & Law, University of Birmingham
- Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2019). Grounded theory research: A design framework for novice researchers. SAGE Open Medicine, 7, 2050312118822927. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312118822927
- Fang, T. (2017). How to Maintain a Minority Language through Education. Chinese Studies, 6, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.4236/chnstd.2017.61001
- Fine, A.B., Jaeger, T.F., Farmer, T.A., & Qian, T. (2013). Rapid Expectation Adaptation during Syntactic Comprehension. PLOS ONE, 8(10), e77661. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0077661
- Gutiérrez Rodríguez, E., & Tate, S.A. (2015). Creolizing Europe: Legacies and Transformations. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.5949/liverpool/9781781381717.003.0001
- Harrison, H., Birks, M., Franklin, R., & Mills, J. (2017). Case study research: Foundations and methodological orientations. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 18(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.17169/FQS-18.1.2655
- Holmes, J. (2001). Sociolinguistics. In International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (pp. 14562–14569). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/03027-8
- Hornberger, N. H. (1998). Language policy, language education, language rights: Indigenous, immigrant, and international perspectives. Language in Society, 27(4), 439–458. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500020182
- Islam, N. (2023). Creolization. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/38n8axx7
- Johnson, M. (2015). Language Evolution and Human Development: The Role of Linguistic Meaning in Socially Organized Behavior. Springer.
- Kuhl, P. K. (2010). Brain mechanisms in early language acquisition. Neuron, 67(5), 713-727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2010.08.038
- Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
- Minchew, S. S., & Hopper, P. F. (2008). Techniques for Using Humor and Fun in the Language Arts Classroom. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 81(5), 232-236. https://doi.org/10.3200/TCHS.81.5.232-236.
- Markov, I., Kharitonova, K., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2023). Language: Its Origin and Ongoing Evolution. Journal of Intelligence, 11(4), 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11040061
- Mufwene, S. S. (2015). Pidgin and Creole Languages. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.52014-5
- Puthuval, S. (2017). Language maintenance and shift across generations in Inner Mongolia (Doctoral dissertation). University of Washington
- Rafael, V. L. (2009). Translation, American English, and the National Insecurities of Empire. Social Text, 27(4), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-2009-05
- Raviv, L., de Heer Kloots, M., & Meyer, A. (2021). What makes a language easy to learn? A preregistered study on how systematic structure and community size affect language learnability. Cognition, 210, 104620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104620.
- Rogers, N. (2020, November 30). Saving a language, preserving a culture: New translations of Jicarilla Apache texts. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/3d4ehvmw
- Steels, L., & Szathmáry, E. (2018). The evolutionary dynamics of language. Biosystems, 164, 128-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2017.11.003
- UNESCO, (2008). Promotion and Preservation of Languages. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/2ztumhvc
- Vogt, P. (2009). Modeling Interactions between Language Evolution and Demography. Human Biology, 81(3), 237-258. https://doi.org/10.3378/027.081.0307
- Yazan, B. (2015). Three Approaches to Case Study Methods in Education: Yin, Merriam, and Stake. The Qualitative Report, 20(2), 134-152. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2102
Full Text:
Note: Kindly Login or Register to gain access to this article.
ISSN 2984-8385 (Online)
ISSN 2984-8288 (Print)