Philippine English Language and Identity WTUC October 2007

How much do you know about the Philippines?

The Philippines Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Archipelago (7,107 islands) Archipelago (7,107 islands) 3 major islands (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao 3 major islands (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

More Facts 170 languages (Malayo-Polynesian Language Family) 170 languages (Malayo-Polynesian Language Family) 8 Major languages 8 Major languages –Ilocano –Pangasinan –Pampango –Tagalog –Bicol –Cebuano –Hiligaynon –Waray-Samarnon

National Language 1935 Constitution (develop a national language based on an existing native language) 1935 Constitution (develop a national language based on an existing native language) 1936 Commonwealth Act (National Committee: recommend an existing native language 1936 Commonwealth Act (National Committee: recommend an existing native language 1937 Executive Order 134 (National language will be based on Tagalog) 1937 Executive Order 134 (National language will be based on Tagalog)

National Language 1940 (Tagalog was declared as one of the official languages, together with English; was taught as a subject 1940 (Tagalog was declared as one of the official languages, together with English; was taught as a subject 1987 (The national language of the Philippines is Filipino) 1987 (The national language of the Philippines is Filipino)

Historical Background Occupied by Spain for more than 300 years Occupied by Spain for more than 300 years 1898 American occupation of the Philippines 1898 American occupation of the Philippines ‘ Thomasites ’ taught English in the Philippines ‘ Thomasites ’ taught English in the Philippines American teachers= 9% of teachers American teachers= 9% of teachers

1918 Census Census- –47% of the population spoke English –55.6% of the population read and write in English

1980 Census 56% of the population spoke English 56% of the population spoke English 73% of the population read in English 73% of the population read in English 59% of the population write in English 59% of the population write in English

Standard Variety of English? Yes Yes Together with Singapore English, Indian English, Malaysia English, and Nigerian English Together with Singapore English, Indian English, Malaysia English, and Nigerian English The Philippine Component is available in the International Corpus of English The Philippine Component is available in the International Corpus of English

Let ’ s look at the linguistic features of Philippine English

Vowels: a, e, I, o, u Philippine English: ‘ a ’ as in ‘ at ’ / ‘ e ’ as the ‘ e ’ in ‘ bed ’ / ‘ I ’ as in ‘ I ’ in ‘ igloo ’ / ‘ o ’ as in ‘ o ’ in ‘ official ’ / ‘ u ’ as in ‘ oo ’

Conclusion Filipino will continue to develop as the national lingua franca Filipino will continue to develop as the national lingua franca Philippine English will be maintained Philippine English will be maintained Regional languages will be preserved Regional languages will be preserved Multilingual, at least bi- or tri-lingual Multilingual, at least bi- or tri-lingual Multicultural Multicultural

Discussion Becoming bilingual: Identity loss or cultural gain? Becoming bilingual: Identity loss or cultural gain?

Discussion A question and sentence that begins and end ‘ ba ’ A question and sentence that begins and end ‘ ba ’ Bababa ba? (Going down?) Bababa ba? (Going down?) Bababa. (Yes. It ’ s going down.) Bababa. (Yes. It ’ s going down.)

Guess what it means? As the Philippine secretary will say, "The meeting will push through for a moment." Say what? As the Philippine secretary will say, "The meeting will push through for a moment." Say what? … in a little while … in a little while

Sing a song: kamote the musical fruit Eat Kamote Eat Kamote The musical fruit The musical fruit The more you eat, the more you ‘ toot ’ The more you eat, the more you ‘ toot ’ The more you ‘ toot ’, the better you eat The more you ‘ toot ’, the better you eat Eat kamote the musical fruit Eat kamote the musical fruit

Learn and sing the anthem