Chapter 5

Introduction:

This essay examines the

limits of the nationalist
language policy in the
Philippines which is aimed
at dislodging English from
its privileged position in the
controlling linguistics
domains.
 The essay advocates its
institution as sole official
language of the country, even as
it urges the maintenance of the
vernaculars, including Tagalog,
as integral part of the Filipino
people’s multicultural heritage.
 Historical Background
Answer the following.
1. In the Philippine archipelago, there are
islands.
*for that there are more than 80 languages
2. The Constitution of 1898 spelled out a provisory
language policy that adopted Spanish as official language of the
country as it provided for the optional use of language spoken in
the Philippine.
3. President negotiated the date of Philippine
independence and proclaimed Tagalog as the sole basis of the
National Language in 1937.
4. Sec. Jose Romero of the DepEd took the liberty of naming the
National Language in 1959.
5. President gave the authority that Filipino be
the National Language but provided for the continued use of
Pilipino (with a “P”) and English as official language of the
country until otherwise provided by law in 1973.
uistic Imperialism
This grand design is elaborated
In 1986, President Marcos fled the
on by Robert
Philippines Phillipson
the new in his
constitution that came
into force assumed
comprehensive workthat the National
Linguistic
Language Filipino
Imperialism already
(1992), existed
which and that
focuses
the government could now promote its use
on
as the dramaticofspread
“language of English
instruction in the
educational system”
especially (1987century.
in the last Constitution).
The
book sets out to expose the
ideological underpinnings of
 Nationalism and the National
Language
 The Philippines was under the American, Japanese and
Spanish regime but was given liberty. The Filipinos did
not become a nation.
 The clamor for a national language is a mere symbol that
begs the question of the existence of a Filipino nation.
 National pride is best expressed in the National
Language because latter carries with it the sentiments
and the thought processes that would otherwise not be
captured when one uses a foreign language (Villacorta,
1941).
 The National Language (Filipino) serves as a defense
against foreign cultures that employ their own language
to smother the growth and independence of the
developing nation (Villacorta).
 English language Teaching
(ELT) and examines the roles of
the various institutions
implicated in a linguistic power
play with clear Manichean
poles.
The development of English

Fortunately, there has never

been a dearth of Filipino scholars
that have adopted a more sober
view of the persistent popularity of
English in the Philippines. They
recognize English as an
indispensable medium of local
exchange and
appreciate its status as language of
wider communication that enables
them to participate in transnational
knowledge production as active
agents and not simply as objects
various theorizing. Ma. Lourdes S.
Bautista, for example, documents the
development of a Philippine variety of
English as evidence of a successful
process of language appropriation:
 In our view, linguistic imperialism in the
Philippines is a thing of the past; it was a
characteristic of the imperial (colonial) period.
The statements on the quoted by Phillipson (in
Linguistic Imperialism) on the Philippines (sic) are
those made by an insignificant, biased minority.
This flogging a dead horse. Today, Filipinos have
taken over their own affairs including what to do
with English. The Filipinos today are doing with
English what they want to do and not from any
dictation of outsiders (foreigners). (Sibayan and
Gonzalez, 1996: 165)
 Philippine literature in
English
Francia is particularly extolling the achievements of
the Filipino creative writers, who, in opting to describe
their experiences and articulate their artistic vision in the
English language, have wrested control of the signifying
practice from the former colonizer. From their initial
imitative attempts at literary writing in the fist quarter of
the 20th century, Filipino writers in English have long
matured and established their own tradition, adapting their
chosen language to the unique demands of life in the
Philippines. Although much is left to be desired in terms of
promoting English language Philippine writing in the
country, especially among the public, a few excellent
exponents of curricula.
 The American standard and
Philippine English
The Philippine literature in English has failed
to develop a sizeable following outside academe is
unfortunate enough. The problem is, however,
aggravated by an improper diagnosis that puts the
blame squarely on the language of choice . When
Arnold Molina Azurin remarks that English has
failed to become the medium of an authentic
cultural efflorescence in the Philippines and that it
has served instead as sort of umbilical cord
between the creative minds in the Philippines and
mother America’ (Azurin,1995:167).
He is ignoring the accomplishment of
generations of Filipino writer who have
clamed the English language as a
legitimate vehicle of their own artistic
visions. Coming two decades after Miguel
Bernad’s famous castigations English-
language literature as ‘perpetually
inchoate (Bernard, 1961: 100).
 Azurin’s statement is indeed an
anachronism that no longer reflects the
complexity of the present situation. At the core
of such criticism are two fallacious nation:
(1) the choses code, aliens to the Philippines, will
never be able to fully express or depict the
prevailing condition in the country and
aspirations of its people, and
(2) should they insist on English, Filipino will
have to subscribe to either the American or
British standard.
 So my answer to the question: Can an African
ever learn English well enough to be able to use it
effectively in creative writing? is certainly yes. If one
other hand you ask: Can he ever learn to use it like
native speaker? I should say, I hope not. IT is neither
necessary nor desirable for him to be able to do so…
African writer should aim to use English in away that
brings out his message best without altering the
language to the extent that is value as a medium of
international exchange will be lost. He should aim at
fashioning out an English which is at once universal
and able to carry his peculiar experience. (Achebe,
1993[1975]: 443)
 Inequality and English

More serious that the allegation that

English can never be made adequate to
describe the Philippine realities is the charge
that English stratifies society, with English
speakers forming an elite that enjoys a
monopoly of material rewards And in the
process alienating themselves from the so-called
masses.
Conclusion
It is high time that the Philippine government re-
examined its language policy and admitted that its aim
to dislodge English from its privileged position in the
controlling linguistic domains and make Tagalog the
sole official language is a costly and divisive project,
devoid of any merit save perhaps fro the symbolic
triumph of riding the Philippines of another colonial
legacy. Instead of waxing Romantic in application of the
day Filipino would speak one indigenous language,
nationalist are better off acknowledging that the culture
of the Philippines is the sum total of different ethnicities,
linguistic backgrounds, and foreign influences.
Thank
You !!

Prepared by:
Nenita T. Pascual