The Archive Special Publication No. 19 (2024)

Language Documentation and Description in the
Philippines: Patterns and Dynamics in the Past 100 Years (1922–2022)

Abstract

This paper presents a historiographic account of language documentation and description (LDD) in the Philippines from 1922 to 2022. Adopting a linguistic historiographic framework that integrates chronological and thematic analysis, the study traces major research trends, theoretical shifts, and institutional developments in Philippine linguistics from the early twentieth century to the present.

While acknowledging the fluidity of historical boundaries, the discussion is organized into three phases: the American occupation period, the post-independence Philippine period, and the contemporary period. Each phase is examined in relation to its sociopolitical context, institutional configurations (including universities, missionary organizations, and government agencies), and prevailing theoretical orientations. Particular attention is given to the transition from exo-grammatical traditions
and early survey-based studies toward theoretically informed and community-engaged approaches in recent decades, alongside the growing participation of Filipino
scholars in LDD.

The paper further identifies several enduring challenges in the documentation of Philippine languages, including uneven language coverage, a predominance of research on Tagalog, limited institutional coordination, underfunding, and insufficient public research infrastructure. It argues for the urgent need to strengthen state support, expand community-based approaches, and invest in sustainable archiving, capacity building, and ethical technological integration . It concludes by outlining directions for strengthening LDD initiatives in the country, including capacity building, community collaboration, accessible archiving, and the responsible use of emerging technologies. By situating LDD within its historical and institutional contexts, this study aims to contribute to ongoing discussions on the development and coordination of language documentation efforts in the Philippines.

To get a copy of the article, you may visit the UP Diliman Journals Online website <https://www.journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/archive/index>. Alternatively, you may email the editorial team at <thearchive.upd@up.edu.ph>