Denotation, Connotation, and Myth in Indigenous Songs: A Semiotic Analysis of Subanen Chants

Denotation, Connotation, and Myth in Indigenous Songs: A Semiotic Analysis of Subanen Chants Pretty Shayne R. Arnejo ps.arnejo@gmail.com St. Michael’s College, Basic Education Department Brgy. San Miguel, Iligan City Edgar R. Eslit St. Michael’s College of Iligan City Quezon Ave., Iligan City Abstract Indigenous Subanen culture and tradition have deteriorated slowly with the changing times. The Subanen community of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines is betwixt in between when it comes to embracing modern lifestyle, traditional practices and beliefs. This can be mirrored by songs and chants. Their indigenous songs and chants are intangible artifacts that need to be understood and preserved. As this study employed a qualitative research method, its contention was to scrutinize and explore the salient patterns in their indigenous chants, specifically the English-translated Subanen chants, through semiotic-based analysis by employing linguistic analysis in the context of denotation, connotation, and myth to understand the Subanen messages and how they were embodied in their time-tested culture. The researchers painstakingly gathered leisure chant excerpts from their epics, library records, and local interviews. The chants use linguistic signs and symbols that connote different qualities and glare pictures of the Subanen culture. Hence, the researchers used a map of signification as the basis for extracting meaning from the gathered chants. It was found that these chants signify the knit-kept history of the Subanen tribe and their beliefs, aspirations, and legal practices. Finally, the researchers produced a module that incorporates Subanen chants as a pedagogical tool to help its preservation and to contribute to the learners’ meaning-making skills in school. Keywords: Chants and Songs, Cultural Preservation, Subanen chants, Semiotic analysis