Modern Journal of Studies in English Language Teaching and Literature Vol. 3 Issue 2 December 2021 67 Variations in the Maguindanaon Language Fhajema M. Kunso Mindanao State University – Maguindanao, fmkunso@msumaguindanao.edu.ph Riceli C. Mendoza University of Southern Mindanao ricelimendoza@yahoo.com Abstract People who live in the same region and speak the same language still vary in some aspects of their language in terms of pronunciation, lexicon, morphology, and syntax. This qualitative study described the phonological, morphological, and lexical variations of the Maguindanaon language among the ten Maguindanao municipalities. Purposive sampling, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions were employed. The variations occurred through phonemic changes and other phonological and morphological processes. Phonological processes consisted of vowel lengthening and deletion. In the phonological variation, it was observed that there were phonemic changes from one dialect to another. For example, there was a phoneme /r/ to /l/change where the phoneme /r/ was most likely to occur in Kabuntalan like /biru/, /kurIt/, and /kɘmɅr/ while the rest of the dialects were /bilu/, /kuIɪt/, and /kɘmɅl/ respectively. Findings show that lexical and morphological variations also existed in the Maguindanaon language. Results revealed that the variation in phonology, morphology, and lexicon was associated primarily with geographic distribution. Keywords: lexicon; Maguindanaon language; morphology; phonology; variation Introduction The topographical and geographical landscape of a region often causes variation in the people's behavior, manner of talking, and language. Linguistic differences demonstrate this variation in terms of pronunciation, lexicon, morphology, and syntax. These differences may hinder intergroup communication. Linguists estimated that up to 7,097 languages are spoken around the world. These languages are living and dynamic, spoken by communities whose lives are shaped by the rapidly changing world (Lewis et al., 2016). With this number of languages, many researchers and linguists have been studying significant variations of certain specific ages. However, other language varieties may differ from region to region within a nation (Finegan, 2014). The Maguindanaon language is a recognized language in the Philippines. The Department of Education ordered and permitted this language as one of the media of instruction under the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) strategy. MTB-MLE is a feature of the Enhanced Basic Education Program of the Department of Education, which mandates the language that students are familiar as a medium of instruction for them to grasp basic concepts quickly. Corresponding Author: Fhajema M. Kunso Author’s Affiliation: Mindanao State University - Maguindanao Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, Philippines 9601 Email Address: fmkunso@msumaguindanao.edu.ph