Lived Experiences of Waray Semi-Skilled Workers in Their Linguistic Transition

This study investigates the linguistic adaptation of Waray semi-skilled workers who relocated to a Tagalog-dominant context in the Philippines. Employing a transcendental phenomenological framework, data were collected via questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and observations, and subsequently analyzed using Colaizzi’s method to distill the essence of participants' lived experiences. The results indicate that linguistic adaptation entails managing language anxiety, accent-related misinterpretation, and difficulties in workplace communication. Participants employed strategies such as communicative self-regulation, observational learning, interactive engagement, and selective code-switching to foster social and professional integration. Even though they used Tagalog for practical reasons, they still identified with Waray, which gave them emotional security and a sense of cultural continuity. The study shows that changing languages is not just a practical change; it is a complicated process that includes managing emotions, negotiating identity, and adapting to new social situations. These insights highlight the necessity for linguistically responsive support systems for internal migrants in multilingual contexts within the Philippines.