Pagdiriwang ng Coco Festival sa Lungsod ng San Pablo: Pagpapakahulugan at Pagpapanatili sa Wika at Kultura

Language is like a bridge that connects every member of the society. The use of language in various approaches serves as means to communicate and build understanding amongst people. One of the many uses of language could be depicted in the festivities and celebrations that mirrors the culture of a certain group. Culture, on the other hand, helps in the development and evolution of language in various context. This study therefore attempts to identify the words/language that surrounds the celebration of Coco Festival and examine the meanings of these words, both denotational and connotational, with the aim of characterizing the celebration as well as establishing the connection between language and culture. A pre-test and a post-test in a form of written essays and actual interview was conducted with identified natives of San Pablo. Based on the results, it was found that festivities such as Coco Festival helps in the developing and enriching language and preservation of culture because there has been a change in the level of understanding of the denotational and connotational meaning of the words surrounding the context of the celebration. In additional, the result was supported by the significant difference between the pre-test and the post test. It is recommended further that similar studies exploring festivals and celebrations be conducted.

Keywords – Coco Festival, denotational and connotational meaning, language and culture preservation