Units 1 and 2: Language, Culture and Communication in Filipino
Core concepts
Units 1 and 2 build the foundation for senior Filipino study. You must understand the nature of language as a system (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics) and how Filipino and other Philippine languages are structured. Key ideas include the national language question, the difference between Tagalog as a regional language and Filipino as the evolving national/lingua franca, register and code-switching (Taglish), and the relationship between language, culture and identity. You should also know the basics of Philippine orthography (e.g. the use of ng vs nang, hyphenation, the 1987 alphabet of 28 letters) and how language changes through borrowing and coinage.
Traps to watch
Questions often test the distinction between lingua franca, national language and official language - Filipino is both national and official (alongside English), while Tagalog is a regional language. Another trap is confusing dayalekto (dialect) with wika (language): Cebuano and Ilocano are languages, not dialects of Tagalog. Watch for questions that mislabel code-switching as "bad grammar"; in sociolinguistics it is a purposeful communicative strategy. Also be careful with orthographic rules: nang is used for adverbs of manner and as a conjunction, while ng marks the object or possession.
Worked example
If a question asks whether using Taglish in a formal essay is acceptable, apply the register rule of thumb: match the language variety to the context and purpose. In a formal academic essay, standard Filipino is expected; in casual conversation, code-switching is natural and meaningful. State the context, then justify.
Rule of thumb
When a question asks you to classify a language phenomenon, first identify the level (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics) and then the social function (identity, register, power).