Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Languages and Literature
University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon

The Prominent Usage of Conyo Phrases and its Phonological Features as a New Mode

for Generation Z Communication

By: Ma. Abbygale B. Ojales

ABELS 2A

Submitted to: Ms. Diana Jane Mari Zaman

Introduction
The importance of this study is to
identify more about the in-depth popularity
of conyo phrases for today’s generation and
to study the phonological formation behind
it. Conyo has become “hip” with the people
who wish to upgrade their social status and
to become one with the trend and for this
research, we will further determine its
reason. Although this language is present
way before the target respondents even
exist, we will still learn how and why did it
became the ongoing trend that it is right
now.
If we even come across a person who
would ask us what would become the
symbol of today and tomorrow’s generation,
a lot of people would probably answer the
popular term called “conyo.” Conyo may
have become one of the most popular kind
of language spoken by the Filipinos;
specifically the individuals from what we
refer to as Generation Z (GenZ).
It is unclear how the Conyo language
emerged, however, it might be a reason that
Conyo English became a thing during
1940’s or 1950’s--- when English became
everyone’s second language (Militar et. al,
2015). And if you searched for its own
meaning, Conyo (or in Spanish, coño) is a
term used for a female part/genitalia. Aside
from this, it was also been used as an
interjection (Garvida, 2012). It is rather
different from the context that we are using
today, since the original definition is a lot
farther from what it actually means now in
Filipino terms. It was primarily believed to
have been spoken first by the people of
high-class, who spoke English fluently to
communicate. So maybe, the language had
become interspersed with the native
language of Tagalog, thus the birth of
Conyo.
Conyo, may be in Tagalog-English
form, for example the phrase “making
tusok-tusok the kikiam on stick”. Davao has
its own type of Conyo as well, one language
is joined with a different language, say,
Bisaya and Tagalog, but it will not be
discussed any further since the standard
Taglish would be the highlight for this
study.
Incorporated with the Conyo phrases
are its foreign/not foreign accent and the
way it is delivered by the person. Some
would prefer to say it like a native English
speaker, and then fused the sentences with
simple Tagalog words like diba, noh,
parang, etc. to convey the proper sense of
speaking the words.
To comprehend more about this, the
researcher would like to identify how
phonology is applied when a Generation Z
individual would talk in a conyo way. And
to explain how the production of sounds
from various words spoken affect the overall
nature of a person.
The review of related studies are the
previous researches that can support the
current topic presented. One research named
Conyo English: Explorations of Philippine
English Sociolects (2015) by Dr. Ariane
Borlongan, talked about the grammar and
paralinguistic features of Tagalog present in
Conyo English. It determined the “use and
attitudes” of such language wherein a survey
was conducted. He used a handful of online
surveys to conduct interviews, for example,
matched-guise test, open-ended questions,
etc. Some of the results were the following:
a lot of them agreed that Conyo English is
suitable for communication and that it did
not mean to offend or mock the standard
Tagalog, or the standard English. Income
also did not necessarily affect the language’s
appropriateness, but it is when speaking
pure English.
Another study to relate with Conyo
was published by Dr. Mignette Garvida
entitled, “Conyo talk”: the Affirmation of
Hybrid Identity and Power in Contemporary
Philippine Discourse (2012), discussed more
about the generalization of Conyo and the
history behind it. Based on the web
discussions presented by the researcher, as
to why Conyo talk exists, a lot of the
participants want to preserve the double
cultural standard. It showed their lack of
confidence in English fluency, and it may
also relate with the social status that a
person aims to achieve, as well as economic.
The discussion was done through online
threads particularly done from the famous
websites of PinoyExchange.com,
Candymag.com, and AsiaFinest.com. Any
participant can comment his/her own
opinion inside the thread. This study reflects
how the Filipinos scrutinize others that can
impend one’s exceptionality, and further
elaborated that since Philippines is a
“hybridized society”, anyone can create
one’s own self by mixing any two forms and
creating a whole other individuality.
Based from the studies that the
authors presented from the same topic, it is a
bit lacking on phonological features of the
language. Do not get it wrong, all of the
authors showed the correct theories to
further support the researches. However, the
researcher wish to elaborate more with
regards to this highlighted feature since it
can be useful in identifying the reason
behind how and why do generation z
children tend to use it as a design to
socialize with others. Do they mean it when
they change intonation? It is normal for
them to stress out the Tagalog words, and if
they do, was it done correctly? Questions
like these are vital to form any assumptions
that can be associated with Phonology.
To know more about this, let us have
the objectives to be obtained inside the
phonological features inside the Conyo
language. And that would be to determine
how do they put sound patterns on their
sentences, is it of natural occurrence or done
with intent, to analyze further the
phonological structures of Conyo phrases,
and to study more about the matter in
general.
Research Questions
In general, this study aims to target
more about the phonological features of
Conyo Language spoken by the Generation
Z individuals. Since there is the lack of
studies directing Conyo and its phonology,
the researcher would like to present the three
main questions that is hoped to be answered
by the end of the study. It seeks to answer
the following questions:
1. How did Conyo phrases developed
in a much more sensible use among
the Generation Z people?
2. How do intonations and stressed
words affect the overall meaning of
what the speaker is trying to convey?
3. What might be the reason behind the
fancy accent when any individual
talks in Conyo?
Methodology
Project Design
This project will be done by surfing
from the web the ideal information and
necessary concepts needed for the data
gathering. Since we are focusing more on
the typical Tagalog-English Conyo, it will
be hard to sustain information if we would
go out and listen to the teenagers talking.
This is because of the travel restrictions due
to Covid-19, and the fact that the researcher
is not surrounded with the typical native
speakers of Tagalog and English. To collect
data by physical means, would be a hard
thing to do. so the researcher ops to use the
Internet as the secondary means of data
collecting.
 One platform that the researcher can
use evidently is YouTube, created for videos
who are meant to be watched and observed.
YouTube holds the most popular streaming
site among the people of young and old age,
which is why it will become useful for data
gathering. The research would be conducted
by searching for appropriate videos in line
with the study.
Image 1: An example for the video to be watched (photo by
Raya Maurelle)
The researcher can also use the most
popular social media platform called
Facebook, since almost every one of us has
an account there. It can be useful for
watching other videos regarding Conyo
language, if ever there is any.
duration of this research. And these are the
following:
Statement of Work:
November 2, 2020: Plan out the necessary
tasks to do, make sure to include even the
smallest of things since it is not encouraged
to fail and start anew.
November 3-5, 2020: Identify your
participants for the study. Make sure to
examine them one by one.
November 6-27, 2020: The beginning of
data-gathering. This is the most crucial and
productive part of the whole duration of
research since this is where we can find the
backbone in the first place. It as to be
meticulous and thorough. Pay attention to
the details that is needed for the research and
take note of their phonological features.
November 30, 2020: Findings and
conclusion. Analyze what is the ups and
downs of your data gathered, be true and
elaborative to your work.
December 1, 2020: Finalization of the
research.

Gantt chart:
Since the data to be gathered is
present on the internet, the researcher will GANTT November November Novembe November December
apply the naturalistic method, wherein the CHART 2, 2020 3-5, 2020 r 6-27,
2020
30, 2020 1, 2020

researcher will observe and take notes to Planning

what the chosen participant is acting or Identifying

saying. It is a form of observation that is participants

used when a need to study the natural Formal

data
behaviors of the respondent inside their gathering
natural setting (Fuel Cyle, 2019). Findings
and
Which this platforms and method conclusion
Finalizatio
applied, anyone can do the necessary n
requirements to fulfill the research
presented. Materials and equipment:
Work plan The researcher only needs laptop,
cellphone, paper/notebook and pen to take
For the work plan, these are the down notes, and cellular Wi-Fi or mobile
detailed list of tasks to be done for the whole data to complete the task.
Estimated cost:

For the whole month of working and

data gathering, the estimated cost for the
research sums up to Php. 3, 0000, the basic
necessities for the researcher (food,
electricity) are not included.

References:

Observational research. (2019, August, 22).

The 3 Most Common Observation Research
Methods. Fuel Cycle. Retrieved from
https://fuelcycle.com/blog/the-3-most-
common-observation-research-methods/
#:~:text=Naturalistic
%20observation&text=This%20type%20of
%20observation%20is,and%20code%20the
%20data%20later.

Borlongan, A. (2015). Conyo English

Explorations of Philippine
English Sociolects. Retrieved from
file:///C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/Conyo_E
nglish_Explorations_of_Philippine
%20(2).pdf

Garvida, M. (2012). “Conyo talk”: the

Affirmation of Hybrid Identity and Power in
Contemporary Philippine Discourse.
Retrieved from
file:///C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/12641-
14473-1-PB%20(1).pdf

Militar, F. & Sierras, N. (2015). Behind the

conyo culture. Retrieved from
https://thelasallian.com/2015/07/21/behind-
the-conyo-culture/

Ojales, Ma. Abbygale B.

ELS 55, Introduction to Phonology
and Morphology, ABELS 2A