From Context to Linguistics: Understanding the Concept of Hiligaynon Word Palangga Using Kawawita Jiro (KJ) Analytical Framework
Keywords:
Palangga, Indigenous Concepts of Love, Philippine Languages, Cultural Linguistics, Embodied Affection, Colonial Lexicography, Semantic AnalysisAbstract
In Alonso de Mentrida’s “Diccionario de la lengua Bisaya–Hiligueyna y Haría de las islas de Panay y Sugbu, y para las demás islas” (1841), langga and angga are defined as “gift, or to be the gift that is given and caressed.” Palangga is therefore to take care of someone because they are understood as the gift that reveals itself to the lover. The tenderness in one’s loving caress is also found in Jacinto Juanmartí’s “Diccionario moro-maguindanao-español” (1892) as calilinian, where it is defined as acariciar (to caress). In this sense, love as palangga and calilinian is a haptic gesture of gentleness that values the beloved as perpetually present, as a perpetual present. “Palangga ta ka” in Hiligaynon is usually used to mean “I love you.” In Alonso de Mentrida’s “Diccionario de la lengua Bisaya–Hiligueña y Haría de las islas de Panay y Sugbu, y para las demás islas” (1841), langga and angga are defined as “gift, or to be the gift that is given and caressed.” Palangga is therefore to take care of someone because they are understood as the gift that reveals itself to the lover. The tenderness in one’s loving caress is also found in Jacinto Juanmartí’s “Diccionario moro-maguindanao-español” (1892) as calilinian where it is defined as acariciar (to caress). In this sense, love as palangga and calilinian is a haptic gesture of gentleness that values the beloved as perpetually present.
References
Hosillos, L. V. (1994). Hiligaynon Literature, Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Iloilo City.
Ong, T. (2018). CNN Philippines.
Vito, J. Vito Designs Gallery. Field of Visual Arts, Bacolod City. Retrieved from Vito Designs Gallery.
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal on Management Education and Emerging Technology(IJMEET)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

