CHAPTER 4

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents, interprets, and analyzes the data gathered using the

questionnaire in order to determine the language loyalty of the Ybanags in Union

Kalinga. To facilitate an easier analysis and interpretation, the data were tabulated in

the order of the statement of the problem in Chapter 1.

1. Profile of the Respondents

1.1 Age

Age Frequency Percentage

(100%)
13-19 years old (teens) 15 33.3
20-59(general population) 15 33.3
60-above (senior citizen) 15 33.3
TOTAL 45 100%
Table 1.1 presents the frequency and percentage distribution according to age. It

was evident that there is an equal number of respondents across all age groups. Teens,

general population and senior citizens all have a frequency of 15 which is equal to

33.3%.

Mouton (2017) asserts that age influences not just speech development but also

language loyalty. The majority of changes result from this conflict between "old" and

"new," which is clearly related to the speakers' ages, as, while the mother tongue is

transmitted through generational contact during childhood, it takes on a distinct color at

each stage of life. Clearly, due to the way the brain functions, infancy is the stage during

which linguistic capacities are strongest in terms of everything linked to language

acquisition. Families and the community are witnesses to this rapid process and the

enormous brain plasticity of children up to a certain age, which enables them to learn

not only their mother tongue, but also any other language they come into contact with,

demonstrating the undeniable importance of early language instruction to develop

children into bilingual or trilingual individuals. As is the case with many other abilities,

children's linguistic capabilities grow as a result of contact with native speakers. Thus,

they gradually acquire the mother tongue, as historically, mothers or other women

entrusted with the care of children have served as language educators in the home and

even at school.

1.2 Gender

Gender Frequency Percentage

(100%)
Male 23 51.1
Female 22 48.9
TOTAL 45 100%
Table 1.2 presents the frequency and percentage distribution according to

gender. Out of 45 respondents, 23 are males which is 51.1% of the whole population

percentage while females make up 48.9% which is 22 out of 45 of the whole

enumerated population. The data reveals that there is a very little margin of difference

between both genders with males dominating the population by 2.2%.

Gender, according to Irvin et al. (2017), can have a significant impact on how

people acquire, utilize, and think about language. Gender has a tremendous impact on

how language develops and how people express themselves. In the majority of

language groups, young females acquire language at a little faster pace than males,

though this difference usually disappears by middle childhood. Gender variations in

language use emerge early on; females are more likely to use language to explain

emotional ties with others, whereas boys use language to describe objects and events.

Girls also learn to read slightly earlier than males on average, but this gap closes in

middle childhood. Nonetheless, women do marginally better than males on average

over the lifespan on measures of verbal acuity and performance.

2.1 Language preference of the Ybanags in Union Kalinga when communicating

with their Family

Variable Language Frequency Percentage

Ybanag 30 66.7
Tagalog 7 15.6
Father
Ilocano 8 17.8
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 30 66.7
Tagalog 7 15.6
Mother
Ilocano 8 17.8
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 29 64.4
Tagalog 7 15.6
Siblings
Ilocano 9 20.0
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 28 62.2
Tagalog 8 17.8
Aunts and Uncles
Ilocano 9 20.0
Total 45 100.0
Grandparents Ybanag 31 68.9
Tagalog 7 15.6
Ilocano 7 15.6
Total 45 100.0
relatives outside the Ybanag 9 20.0
 Tagalog 18 40.0
locality Ilocano 18 40.0
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 7 15.5
relatives outside the Tagalog 22 48.9
country Ilocano 16 35.6
Total 45 100.0
What language do Ybanag 16 35.6
you use at family Tagalog 14 31.1
meetings?
Ilocano 15 33.4
Total 45 100.0
What language do Ybanag 10 22.2
you use when you Tagalog 26 57.8
write a personal letter
Ilocano 9 20.0
to your father,
mother, or any Total
member of your 45 100.0
family?

Language Mean Rank

Ybanag 20.6 1
Tagalog 12.8 2
Ilocano 11 3
Others 0 -
Table 2.1 presents the data on the most used language by the respondents when

talking to their family. When talking to both father and mother, Ybanag is the most

spoken language with a frequency of 30 on both variables which is equal to 66.7%.

Ybanag is still the most spoken language when talking to siblings, aunts and uncles,

and grandparents with a frequency of 29, 28 and 31 respectively which is equivalent to

64.4%, 62.2%, and 68.9%. During family meetings, Ybanag is also the most spoken

language with a frequency of 16 or 35.6%. When talking to relatives outside the locality,

outside the country, and when writing a personal letter to the father, mother, or any

member of the family, Tagalog is the most used language with a frequency of 18, 22,
and 26 or 40.0%, 48.9% and 57.8% respectively. In summary, Ybanag is the most

spoken language when talking to the family as computed by obtaining its mean across

all variables. The computed mean of the Ybanag language is 20.6. Next on the rank is

Tagalog, with a mean of 12.8 and the least spoken language when speaking with the

family is Ilocano, with a mean of 11.

This is similar to the results of Lindero (2017) which concluded that families of

indigenous backgrounds use their indigenous language in communicating within their

family. This is due to the non-discriminating environment in the household and the ease

of self-expression when speaking the native tongue.

2.2 Language preference of the Ybanags in Union Kalinga when communicating

in their school

Variable Language Frequency Percentage

Ybanag 2 4.4
What language do Tagalog 23 51.1
you use when you Ilocano 19 42.2
talk to your teachers? Others 1 2.2
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 2 4.4
What language do
you use when you Tagalog 25 55.6
talk to your Ilocano 18 40.0
colleagues/classmate Others 0 0.0
s? Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 1 2.2
Which language is Tagalog 23 51.1
used in giving school Ilocano 8 17.8
instructions? Others 13 28.9
Total 45 100.0
Which language is Ybanag 12 26.7
used in the Tagalog 24 53.3
 classrooms? Ilocano 9 20.0
Others 0 0.0
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 1 2.2
Which language is Tagalog 22 48.9
used in the school's Ilocano 9 20.0
curriculum? Others 13 28.9
Total 45 100.0

Language Mean Rank

Ybanag 3.6 4
Tagalog 23.4 1
Ilocano 12.6 2
Others 5.4 3
Table 2.2 presents the data on the most used language by the respondents when

communicating in the school. It was shown that in all the parameters of school

communication, Tagalog is the most spoken language. With a frequency of 23 or 51.1%

when communicating with teachers, 25 or 55.6% when communicating with colleagues

or classmates, 23 or 51.1 when giving school instructions, 24 or 24.3 when

communicating inside the classroom, and 22 or 48.9 when used in writing school

curriculum. In summary, Tagalog is the most used language when communicating in the

school as computed by obtaining its mean across all variables. The computed mean of

the Tagalog language is 23.4, second rank is Ilocano with a mean of 12.6, third is other

languages with a frequency of 5.4 and lastly, Ybanag with a mean of 3.6.

According to Oab and Faminial (2020), their study's findings reveal that

multilingual learners place a high premium on their first language, as shown by their

preference for Tagalog as their dominant language in practically all domains of

language use and verbal activities. Clearly, the role of linguistic environment and
scenario has a significant impact on the language repertoire of bilinguals. Their

preference for a more prestigious language (Tagalog) over their native tongue appears

to be a normal event in a community with various cultural conditions in which alternative

languages develop based on the weight of the linguistic input. As socially indicated,

these bilinguals are raised and exposed to a greater amount of Tagalog than Ybanag

input.

2.3 Language preference of the Ybanags in Union Kalinga when communicating

in their Neighborhood/Community

Variable Language Frequency Percentage

Ybanag 24 53.3
What language do Tagalog 9 20.0
you use when you Ilocano 12 26.7
meet Ybanag friends
in the neighborhood? Others 0 0.0
Total 45 100.0
Ybanag 14 31.1
What language do
you use when you Tagalog 16 35.6
want to buy Ilocano 15 33.3
something in the Others 0 0.0
market? Total 45 100.0
What language do Ybanag 16 35.6
you use when you Tagalog 17 37.8
use your mobile in
Ilocano 12 26.7
making a phone call
in the Ybanag Others 0 0.0
community? Total 45 100.0
 Language Mean Rank

Ybanag 18 1
Tagalog 14 2
Ilocano 13 3
Others 0 -
Table 2.3 presents the data on the most used language by the respondents when

communicating in their neighborhood/community. It was shown than when the

respondents converse with their Ybanag friends in the neighborhood, they use the

Ybanag language. This variable obtained a frequency of 24 or 53.3%. On

communicating in the marketplace and via phone call, the results show that majority of

the respondents converse using the Tagalog language. These variables obtained 16

and 17 or 35.6% and 37.8% respectively. In summary, Ybanag is the most used

language when communicating in the neighborhood as computed by obtaining its mean

across all variables. The computed mean of the Ybanag language is 18, while the

second rank which is Tagalog obtained a mean of 14. On the last rank is the Ilocano

language with a computed mean of 13.

This is similar to the results of the study conducted by Dweik et. al. (2014) when

they conducted a study that focuses on the language loyalty of Muslims in Vancouver,

Canada. Results of language use in the neighborhood show that native language which

is Arabic is used mostly in the Muslim community in Vancouver than English when

talking with friends in the neighborhood.

2.4 Language preference of the Ybanags in Union Kalinga when communicating

in their Workplace

Variable Language Frequency Percentage

 Ybanag 9 30.0
What language do Tagalog 13 43.3
you use with your Ilocano 8 26.6
colleagues at work? Others 0 0.0
Total 30 100.0
What language do Ybanag 11 36.6
you use with your Tagalog 10 33.3
customers at work?
Ilocano 9 30.0
Others 0 0.0
Total 30 100.0
What language do Ybanag 7 23.3
you use at work when Tagalog 14 46.6
you discuss business
Ilocano 9 30.0
or technical matters
with your boss? Others 0 0.0
Total 30 100.0
What language do Ybanag 8 26.6
you use at work when Tagalog 13 43.3
you discuss business
Ilocano 9 30.0
or technical matters
with your colleagues? Others 0 0.0
Total 30 100.0
What language do you Ybanag 9 30.0
use at work when you Tagalog 12 40.0
discuss general topics
Ilocano 9 30.0
(weather, sports,
politics) with your Others 0 0.0
colleagues? Total 30 100.0
What language do you Ybanag 11 36.6
use when you write an Tagalog 15 50.0
e-mail to your Ybanag
Ilocano 4 13.3
colleagues?
Others 0 0.0
Total 30 100.0
What language do you Ybanag 10 33.3
use when you give Tagalog 13 43.3
instructions and
Ilocano 7 23.3
directions orally at
your workplace to your Others 0 0.0
Ybanag colleagues? Total 30 100.0
 Language Mean Rank

Ybanag 9.3 2
Tagalog 12.9 1
Ilocano 7.9 3
Others 0 -
Table 2.4 presents the data on the most used language by the respondents when

communicating in their workplace. Note that the teen respondents were excluded from

the tabulation of this results because the workplace variable is not yet applicable to

them. Only respondents from the general population and seniors are included in this

portion, constituting to a total of 30 respondents. It was shown that when the

respondents converse with their colleagues at work, majority uses the Tagalog

language with a frequency of 13 or 43.3%. When communicating with clients and

customers at work, majority of the respondents use Ybanag with a frequency of 11 or

36.6%. When discussing business and technical matters with their superiors, majority of

the respondents converse using Tagalog with a frequency of 14 or 46.6%. On

discussing technical matters with their colleagues, majority of the respondents converse

in Tagalog with a frequency of 13 or 43.3%. in discussing general topics with their

colleagues, majority of the respondents use Tagalog with a frequency of 12 or 40%.

When writing an email to their Ybanag colleagues, majority of the respondents use

Tagalog with a frequency of 15 or 50%. And lastly, when giving instructions and

directions orally at their workplace to their Ybanag colleagues, majority of the

respondents use Tagalog with a frequency of 13 or 43.3%. In summary, Tagalog is the

most used language when communicating in the workplace as computed by obtaining

its mean across all variables. The computed mean of the Tagalog language is 12.9,
followed by Ybanag at second rank with a frequency of 9.3, and lastly by Ilocano with a

frequency of 7.9.

A study based on data from the United States Census Bureau’s 2015 American

Consumer Survey shows that Tagalog is the most commonly spoken non-English

language after Spanish in California, Nevada, and Washington (CBS Los Angeles,

2017). Tagalog is one of three recognized languages in workplaces in San Francisco,

California, along with Spanish and Chinese, making all essential city services be

communicated using these languages along with English. Lesada (2017) also noted that

other career fields are able to rely less on their native tongue and more on Tagalog in

the workplace.

2.5 Language preference of the Ybanags in Union Kalinga when communicating

in their Religion

Variable Language Frequency Percentage

Ybanag 18 40.0
What language do Tagalog 15 33.3
you use when you Ilocano 12 26.7
pray in your homes? Others 0 0.0
Total 45 100.0
What language do Ybanag 14 31.1
you use when you Tagalog 17 37.8
pray in your
Ilocano 13 28.9
church/mosque?
Others 1 2.2
Total 45 100.0
What language do Ybanag 15 33.3
you use when you Tagalog 18 40.0
supplicate after
Ilocano 12 26.7
praying?
Others 0 0.0
 Total 45 100.0
What language do Ybanag 6 13.3
you use at religious Tagalog 19 42.2
meetings outside
Ilocano 19 42.2
churches/mosques?
Others 1 2.2
Total 45 100.0

Language Mean Rank

Ybanag 13.3 3
Tagalog 17.3 1
Ilocano 14 2
Others 0.5 4
Table 2.5 presents the data on the most used language by the respondents when

communicating in their church. It was shown that majority of the of the respondents pray

at home using the Ybanag language with a frequency of 18 or 40%. When praying in

church or mosque, majority of the respondents use Tagalog with a frequency of 17 or

37.8%. When supplicating after prayer, majority of the respondents use Tagalog with a

frequency of 18 or 40.0%. And lastly during religious meetings outside the church or

mosque, majority of the respondents use Tagalog and Ilocano, both obtaining a

frequency of 19 or 42.2%. In summary, Tagalog is the most used language in religious

communications with a computed mean of 17.3, followed by Ilocano with a mean of 14,

Ybanag with 13.3, and other languages with a mean of 0.5.

This is similar to the study of Baccay (2019) in which respondents from the areas

in the Northern Phillipine region of Ilocos use Tagalog more than Ilocano in masses and

events held by religious groups. It was found out that the predominance of the use of

Tagalog language which is the basis of the national language in the conduct of religious

gatherings is to encourage more participants, not because it was most preferred.

2.6 Language preference of the Ybanags in Union Kalinga when communicating

as their Self-Expression

Variable Language Frequency Percentage

Ybanag 25 55.6
In what language do Tagalog 8 17.8
you express yourself Ilocano 11 24.4
when you are happy? Others 1 2.2
Total 45 100.0
In what language do Ybanag 28 62.2
you express yourself Tagalog 6 13.3
when you are angry
Ilocano 11 24.4
and stressed?
Others 0 0.0
Total 45 100.0
In what language do Ybanag 26 57.8
you express yourself Tagalog 8 17.8
express yourself
Ilocano 11 24.4
when you are in a
hurry? Others 0 0.0
Total 45 100.0
In what language do Ybanag 26 57.8
you express yourself Tagalog 9 20.0
express yourself
Ilocano 10 22.2
when you dream?
Others 0 0.0
Total 45 100.0

Language Mean Rank

Ybanag 26.3 1
Tagalog 7.8 3
Ilocano 10.8 2
Others 0.3 4
Table 2.6 presents the data on the most used language by the respondents when

expressing themselves. It was shown that on all the parameters of the self-expression
variable, Ybanag language is most used by the respondents when happy,

angry/stressed, in a hurry, and when dreaming which obtained a frequency of 25, 28, 26

and 26 or 55.6%, 62.2%, 57.8% and 57.8% respectively. In summary, Ybanag is the

most used language by the respondents as a medium of self-expression. Followed by

Ilocano at 10.8, Tagalog at 7.8 and other languages at 0.3.

This is similar to the results of the study conducted by Dweik et. al. (2014) when

they conducted a study that focuses on the language loyalty of Muslims in Vancouver,

Canada. Results of language use in the domain of emotion and self-expression indicate

that Arabic is the dominant language in self-expression among the Muslim Arabs of

Vancouver. They report using mostly Arabic when they are happy, angry and when they

are in a hurry. They use it unconsciously in their dreams and to express their happiness.

This result matches Fishman (1966) who puts emphasis on the importance of

“psychological processes” in preserving ethnic languages. (p. 424).

3. Computed Mean on Attitudes of the Ybanags towards the Ybanag language

 Statements Mean Qualitative
(I believe that Ybanag language Description
is…)
1. the most beautiful language. 3.26 Strongly Agree
2. the most prestigious language 3.28 Strongly Agree
3. the symbol of my Filipino 3.26 Strongly Agree
identity.
4. more useful than English. 2.24 Agree
5. my national language. 2.93 Agree
6. important to be taught in school. 2.66 Agree
7. dying in my home. 1.95 Disagree
8. dying in the Philippines 2.24 Agree Table
9. important to be used in all 2.31 Agree
domains. 3
10. important that my children 2.71 Agree
communicate effectively in it.
11. important to be used in 2.86 Agree
mosques, religious activities and
meetings.
12. important to be used in every 2.73 Agree
aspect of daily life as English
language is used.
13. associated with the Philippines 3.35 Strongly Agree
heritage and history
GRAND MEAN 2.75 Agree
presents the attitudes of the Ybanags towards the Ybanag language. Item 7 which

states that “I believe that Ybanag language is dying at home” got the lowest weighted

mean of 1.95. This means that the respondents disagree to the statement that the

Ybanag language is dying at home. This was supported by the previous results of this

research, on table 2.1 which showed that Ybanag is the most spoken language by the

respondents at home. Item number 13 got the highest weighted mean of 3.35. This

means that majority of the respondents strongly agree to the statement “I believe that

Ybanag language is associated with the Philippines heritage and history”. Overall, the

statements obtained a grand mean of 2.75 which signifies positive attitude of the

respondents towards the Ybanag language.

 The results are similar to the study of Esteron (2020). The results stated that it is

worth noting that the respondents seem to have very high regard toward Ybanag, thus a

very positive attitude toward their mother tongue. With a mean score of 1.22, the

respondents agree that Ybanag is an important part of them. This could be since it is

their first language. It also helps that Ybanag is the language of the community. This

finding is quite expected given that Ybanag figures in the respondents’ immediate

environment, family, and community. Interestingly, however, this positive attitude toward

Ybanag could not have been only pragmatic but also symbolic. Their attitude is positive

rather than negative because they perceive Ilocano language as an easy language to

learn as it is a language that is familiar to them. Richard et al. (1992) note that

speakers tend to develop a positive or negative attitude toward a language relative to

their impression of the difficulty or simplicity of the language. Moreover, since these

respondents speak Ybanag as their mother tongue, it would be easy for them to identify

the language. In this way, not only their Ybanag language identity but also their Ybanag

ethnic identity is constructed.

4.1 Significant difference between the respondents’ Age and language preference
Variable Computed t Critical Value Decision Remarks
at 0.05

Language Accept the Null Not

Preference vs. -1.198 1.734 Hypothesis Significant
Age

Table 4.1 presents the test between respondent’s Age and language preference.

The computed t is -1.198 and the critical value at 0.05 significance level is 1.734. This

indicates that the computed t value is lower than the critical value, therefore, the null
hypothesis is accepted which means there is no significant difference between the

respondents’ age and language preference.

According to Gee (2012), language preference of people belonging in indigenous

groups is not affected by age across generations. This is because of the strong

foundation of indigenous language into the respondents’ way of living and daily routines,

which makes it hard for them to veer away from speaking the language and still use it to

converse with most specially with the people belonging in their same ethnic groups.

4.2 Significant difference between the respondents’ Gender and language

preference
Variable Computed t Critical Value Decision Remarks
at 0.05

Language Accept the Null Not

Preference vs. 0.423 1.734 Hypothesis Significant
Gender

Table 4.2 presents the test between respondent’s gender and language

preference. The computed t is 0.423 and the critical value at 0.05 significance level is

1.734. This indicates that the computed t value is lower than the critical value, therefore,

the null hypothesis is accepted which means there is no significant difference between

the respondents’ gender and language preference.

This is similar to the findings of the study conducted by Wilson (2018) which

concludes that gender is not a contributory factor on language preference by Filipino

respondents. This was due to the fact that both male and female respondents use

prefer to be more socio-linguistic, i.e. the usage of appropriate language based on the
context required by social instances, other than speaking a certain language just

because they are a man or a woman.

5.1 Significant difference between the respondent’s Age and their attitude

towards the Ybanag language

Variable Computed t Critical Value Decision Remarks

at 0.05

Attitudes Accept the Null Not

towards 1.299 1.734 Hypothesis Significant
Ybanag
Language vs.
Age
Table 5.1 presents the test between respondent’s age and attitudes towards

Ybanag language. The computed t is 1.299 and the critical value at 0.05 significance

level is 1.734. This indicates that the computed t value is lower than the critical value,

therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted which means there is no significant difference

between the respondents’ age and attitudes towards the Ybanag language.

According to Borja (2016), the attitudes of respondents towards language is not

determined by their age. There was no significant difference in the level of language

attitudes of the respondents and age.

5.2 Significant difference between the respondent’s Gender and their attitude

towards the Ybanag language

Variable Computed t Critical Value Decision Remarks

at 0.05

Attitudes Accept the Null Not

towards 0.413 1.734 Hypothesis Significant
Ybanag
Language vs.
Gender
Table 5.2 presents the test between respondent’s gender and attitudes towards

Ybanag language. The computed t is 0.413 and the critical value at 0.05 significance

level is 1.734. This indicates that the computed t value is lower than the critical value,

therefore, the null hypothesis is accepted which means there is no significant difference

between the respondents’ gender and attitudes towards the Ybanag language.

On the same study conducted by Borja (2016), An independent-samples t-test

was conducted to compare the level of attitudes of respondents towards the language

when they were grouped according to their gender. There was no significant difference

between the level of attitudes of male and female respondents.