Citation:
Magistrado, J. B. (2020, October 23). Uniqueness of Philippine English as a Language.
philippine-english-as-a-language
Photo Credits:
Agumbay, EJ (Photographer). (2016, May 8). Girl in White Tank Top and Yellow Shorts Sitting
on Rock [digital image]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-
VARIATION OF UNIVERSAL ENGLISH
Communication is vital in human existence. Communicating with others makes us human. Thus, we are using every way we could to communicate among people. In terms of using English as a medium of communication, there’s a lot of various versions of English language worldwide. Since English language has a lot of users, it has branched out with different versions. So, Philippine English is one variation of several English languages exists.
PHILIPPINE ENGLISH AS A PART OF UNIVERSAL ENGLISH
In the Philippines, we have our own version of English, which is Philippine English. Also, it is called Filipinism to separate it from the universal English. Since we, Filipinos, are dealing with the global community, communicating non-Filipinos using Philippine English could be a barrier of communication.
Philippine English is highly dependent on the curriculum in the Philippines. Usually, it is based on read-write-say approach, wherein you read, write, and say the word on how the letters are constructed into a word. I remember the time when I read the word "centre" as "cen-tray (IPA: centreɪ)." To support that, an article from Encyclopedia.com website, mentioned about the "influence of reading and writing and the academic context in which English is learned, local speech tends to be based on written models. Filipinos generally speak the way they write, in a formal style based on Victorian prose models. Because of this, spelling pronunciations are common, such as ‘lee-o-pard’ for leopard, ‘subtill’ for subtle, and ‘worsester-shire sauce’ for Worcestershire sauce."
PROBLEMS OF USING PHILIPPINE ENGLISH
In the present status of Philippine English, it is labelled as "Carabao English" or "English Carabao." For example, when I was a preschooler, my teacher always ask us to line up. My teacher was always saying "Fall in line in the count of 1,2,3,4,5." If you are a Filipino reading this, you might be understand "Fall in line in the count of 1,2,3,4,5." It means you must done to line up after counting five. In reality, "fall in line" is a unique English phrase in the Philippines.
However, when you use the phrase "fall in line." your foreign colleagues might be confused. Some might find it funny and just laugh about it right away. For example, someone says, "I told you not to go to, you go to still. Look at!" (Source: The Filipino Times) I am going to be baffled about it. Thus, the academic community in the Philippines has divided opinions about Philippine English. Based on my experience, Using Philippine English is highly discouraged since it is labelled as improper. So, the curriculum in the Philippines follows everything about American English -- its grammar, pronunciation, syntax, idioms, and even literatures. Even in the corporate work, American English is highly implemented in the company's operation even though you are all dealing with Filipinos. Philippine English is not highly utilized and it is not have the room to develop as a language.
IS IT BAD TO USE PHILIPPINE ENGLISH?
Regardless of the present problems using Philippine English, it should not be limited or erased in our choices in communication. For me, I think it would be best to stop limiting ourselves to communicating in FIlipinism or Philippine English, and Lingua Franca or Universal English. I believe that Philippine English could develop and evolve. Imagine if the difference of using American English and Philippine English. If you are forcefully communicate using American English, the masses will not understand it thoroughly and it will cause to have a lot of misinterpretations. However, in Philippine English, it might laugh about it but they can understand what do you want to say. Just like American English and British English, Philippine English can be also utilized and may contribute with the development of English language as a whole.
Read more:
Au, D. (2019, July 26). How to Deal with Filipinisms. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from
Encyclopedia.com. (2020, October 22). ." Concise Oxford Companion to the English
Language. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 . Retrieved October 23, 2020, from
The Filipino Times. (2019, July 07). 'English Carabao' – Grammar boo-boos become an
obsession for humor. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from
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