Philippines

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"Speak English only" "Don't speak in Filipino" (piefed.social)

submitted 2 weeks ago by XiELEd@piefed.social to c/philippines@lemmy.world

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Have you guys experienced these policies?

I remember the first taste of this policy when I was an elementary student in a private school. I thought it was dumb because we're filipinos and it wasn't even an international school, but since I was good at English, after some time complaining I let it go because it didn't affect me that much, and I didn't want to be seen as a bratty kid.

Now in college, we visited a museum showcasing the local Filipino culture. After exiting the museum, I glimpsed a sign that said something along the lines of "This is an English Only Zone". I felt betrayed, because the museum was benefiting from Filipino culture but at the same time they're suppressing it. Just like my previous private school, is it all just for the prestige?

And I think to my current situation. I am barely a fluent speaker in Tagalog. I often trip when it comes to uncommon words in Bisaya. And the worst part is that while filipinos are very ubiquitous around the world and on the internet, there are a dearth of resources in learning the national language at an advanced level, let alone the regional ones. I don't even know where to find Bisaya fiction in my city!

How much more until we start forgetting ourselves in our self-loathing? When we start forgetting how to convey intelligent thoughts in our language to the point we sound stupid if we don't speak in some other language?

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[–] Soku@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I know you're asking that in the context of Philippines but I kept coming back to your post.

It has happened many-many times throughout history. By erasing people's language and culture you erase their identity. They would become members of the new motherland and rebelling seems pointless because there's nowhere to go back to. I mean, you'd still live in your country but why would you fight English media and books if you don't have them in your national language?

A friend of mine from Sierra Leone had a similar experience to yours, the school is English only. At home they spoke pidgin, a broken mix of English and their local dialect.

This wiki article is about the history of Irish language. The chapter about 18-19 century covers almost wiping out Gaelic by catholic church.

Soviet union implemented russification to their territory. This wiki article about geographical distribution of Russian speakers describes the situation in post Soviet countries.

The measures used for russification included deportations after WW2. All men had to do a mandatory military service for 2 years and were shipped to the other end of the union, making sure they can only use Russian for the next two years, hopefully finding a missus around there and never returning to his roots. There's many more examples like that.

Sorry, I got carried away. Please, find people to practice Tagalog and Bisaya with, and I hope you'll find a book shop or a library or a website to get some written materials.

[–] XiELEd@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago

I know this is a late reply but it feels wrong to not make a response at all. Thank you for putting in the effort to share other people's experience of the same thing. I am aware that the policies had unsavory implications, though I wanted to bring more awareness especially to fellow filipinos.