Position Paper on Language, learning, identity, privilege of James Soriano Danielle Anne E.

Reodica I Architecture

As we all know, God created us in His own image and likeness. He even gave us different abilities and talents. He also provided and continuously provides us blessings that we need and we deserve to have. It depends on us on how to use all of them. One of these gifts is the very famous gift of freedom or freewill. All of us have this freedom to choose what is right from wrong. Nowadays, I observed that many people abuse their freedom by saying or doing something that can greatly affect and hurt others. These acts can lead them to their selfdestruction and failure. This is somehow connected to James Sorianos article which is entitled, Language, learning, identity, privilege. He used his freedom to express what he thinks and feels about English and Filipino language. Unfortunately, innumerable citizens of the Philippines got mad and are in opposition to his views or opinions regarding the said topic.

There are many good points about English and some for Filipino that James Soriano mentioned on his article. I agree on his statement that it is more applicable to use English language most especially in the work and in school because its hard to communicate to a foreign client and on the other side, its hard to translate and comprehend the terms of each subject in form of Filipino language as we are used to apply this since our grade school days. Example is in Mathematics, is it okay or easy to understand parisukat-ugat in our native language? When its simple translation in universal language is square root. On the other hand, I disagree on the points that he mentioned about Filipino which is a language of the streets and the worker and it doesnt even the language of the learned. As a Philippine citizen, this part of James piece is very offensive because he insulted our native language in our own home or country. Its also like a bias the way he does as he uses Filipino to communicate to his relatives and other people in their province but then he still degraded our language. He didnt think that once he lowered the value of a certain language, he also do it the same directly to the people who use it. On the lower part of the article, Mr. Soriano recovered his negative statements regarding Filipino as he realized its beauty and real essence, but then he still love the language that he used to learn and use throughout his life.

With my reactions on this article, I therefore conclude that no matter what level Filipino language is, I will use, respect and take care of it. These are the best ways to acknowledge and to give value in our country. I also finalize that defending and comparing English to Filipino is not suitable because of its level as English to a universal language and Filipino as to a domestic one. Having a freedom to say and do whatever we want must be carefully utilized. Indeed, it must be used also by a critical thinking to avoid offenses. Whatever language we have learned, we must not forget our mother tongue or native language. It might be used for deeper purposes and simple conversations here in our country yet it still needs to be respected and valued by our fellowcountrymen and foreigners.