Conducted by LNU
Completed on 2024
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This study attempts to establish the origin of the place name Leyte using the existing toponyms of barangays on Leyte Island, which are semantically related to rice and rice production. Many toponymic studies conducted in the Philippines focus mainly on provinces, cities, municipalities, regions, districts, counties, mountains, hills, streets, roads, rivers, lakes and bays, but none on the names of barangays. Researchers have pointed out problems in place names studies in the Philippines–(1) external: (1a) lack of sufficient bibliographies and references on toponymy, (1b) lack of sufficient (if not total absence) of scientific studies on the same subject, (1c) lack (if not total nonexistence) at present of geographical sources or historical maps on the Philippines in the islands; (2) internal: (2a) confusion about the legends or traditions circulating in a place and (2b) uncertainty in the origins of the place names caused by the various theories which are considered not plausible and therefore may only be treated as folk etymologies. However, it is argued that these previous problems may be addressed through an analysis of the local language, a native speaker’s linguistic competence and the assistance of early-published dictionaries. This study used archival and linguistic research methods. Using the official list of barangays on the island of Leyte obtained from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the place names that are semantically related to rice were searched using archival materials with relevant information, including dictionaries written by Spanish missionaries in the 16th to 18th centuries. This study, therefore, offers an alternative perspective on the origin of the place name Leyte, which is linguistically traced to the root litî (something that has burst), litik (to burst) or liting, which means a “bursting ear of rice.” This finding is consistent with the structure of the Waray/Bisayan language as opposed to the popular hira Itî (Itî and company), ira/ila Itî (belonging to Itî and others), and hi Rayti (the person named Rayti) folk etymologies.