Developing Grammar Rules for Code-Switched Philippine Language Texts: A Linguistic Framework for Understanding Multilingual Discourse Patterns

Authors

  • Ana Aubrey J. Porlas

    College of Education, Arts and Sciences, Cebu Technological University, Cebu 6005, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.11632
Received: 14 August 2025 | Revised: 22 August 2025 | Accepted: 3 September 2025 | Published Online: 22 September 2025

Abstract

This study develops a systematic grammar rule framework for understanding code-switched texts containing Filipino, Cebuano, and Surigaonon languages through comprehensive corpus-based examination of 1,847 multilingual sentences collected from diverse digital sources including social media platforms, online forums, and digital communications. The research identifies 24 core grammar principles that systematically generate 247 distinct multilingual patterns observed in the corpus, demonstrating the underlying regularity of apparently complex multilingual discourse. These patterns are organized into three primary categories: morphosyntactic constraints (12 core rules generating 89 surface patterns), morphological integration patterns (6 core rules generating 67 distinct realizations), and semantic disambiguation principles (6 core rules generating 58 contextual variations). The core rules demonstrate remarkable generative power, with each fundamental constraint producing multiple surface realizations across different contextual environments, discourse registers, and language combination strategies. Quantitative corpus validation reveals that systematic constraints on functional head positions achieve 94.3% adherence rates, generating consistent grammatical patterns across 15 different functional categories including determiners, auxiliaries, and complementizers. Similarly, voice system integrity maintains 92.1% consistency, producing systematic argument structure preservation across 23 distinct voice-marking contexts spanning actor-focus, patient-focus, and locative-focus constructions. This systematic approach demonstrates that Philippine multilingual competence operates through coherent generative principles that produce extensive surface variation while maintaining underlying structural consistency, providing both significant theoretical insights into Austronesian code-switching grammar and practical computational frameworks for advanced language documentation, and natural language processing applications in multilingual Philippine contexts.

Highlights:

  • Development of the first systematic grammar rule framework for Filipino-Cebuano-Surigaonon code-switching based on corpus analysis of 1,847 multilingual sentences.
  • Identification of 24 core grammar principles that generate 247 distinct multilingual patterns, demonstrating underlying regularity in Philippine multilingual discourse.
  • Quantitative validation showing 94.3% adherence to functional head position constraints and 92.1% voice system integrity maintenance across diverse contexts.
  • Cross-validation confirmation that core principles successfully predict grammatical patterns in novel multilingual constructions not observed during rule development.
  • Provision of practical computational frameworks applicable to language documentation, educational applications, and natural language processing for Philippine languages.

Keywords:

Philippine Linguistics; Code-Switching Grammar; Austronesian Languages; Multilingual Competence

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How to Cite

Porlas, A. A. J. (2025). Developing Grammar Rules for Code-Switched Philippine Language Texts: A Linguistic Framework for Understanding Multilingual Discourse Patterns. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(10), 47–70. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.11632

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Vol. 7 , Iss. 10 (October 2025): In progress

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Copyright © 2025 Ana Aubrey J. Porlas

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