Panayam kay Dr. Virgilio Almario, National Artist for Literature - ukol sa 'Standardisasyon sa Wika'

Summary

In this interview, Dr. Virgilio Almario, the current chairman of the Philippine Language Commission, discusses efforts to standardize and promote the Filipino language. He emphasizes the importance of incorporating indigenous languages and adapting the alphabet to include sounds like F, V, J, and Z, which are present in many Filipino dialects. Dr. Almario also addresses challenges like language pronunciation and the influence of slang or 'jeegemon' language. He outlines future initiatives, including a congress on language planning and improving teaching methods for Filipino, particularly for non-Tagalog regions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Filipino Language Commission is actively conducting workshops across the country to promote the Filipino language.
• 😀 Dr. Virgilio Almario, the chairman of the Philippine Language Commission, emphasizes the importance of standardizing the Filipino language, especially for professional use.
• 😀 One of the main challenges in using Filipino is its inconsistent oral and written forms, leading to the need for clearer rules.
• 😀 The Commission is expanding the Filipino language to include sounds and vocabulary from various indigenous languages in the Philippines.
• 😀 New sounds, such as F, V, J, and Z, which were previously absent in Filipino and its dialects, are now being incorporated into the national language.
• 😀 Dr. Almario clarifies that borrowing words from English, Spanish, or other languages no longer requires converting sounds like F to P or V to B.
• 😀 The Commission is promoting the standardization of place names, including encouraging local governments to resolve the correct spelling of towns and provinces.
• 😀 Dr. Almario advocates for using the original spelling of proper names, such as 'Philippines' instead of 'Pilipinas,' as part of the effort to preserve historical accuracy.
• 😀 The Commission encourages drawing from other native languages for vocabulary development instead of relying on borrowed Spanish or English words.
• 😀 There is a push to correct pronunciation errors in Filipino, especially in the accentuation of words, to avoid misunderstandings and ensure accurate meaning.
• 😀 Dr. Almario acknowledges the role of 'experimental' languages or jargon used by specific groups in the Philippines, but stresses that such words can contribute to mainstream language evolution.

Q & A

What is the Filipino Language Commission currently doing to promote the Filipino language?

The Filipino Language Commission is conducting a series of workshops across the country to promote the national language, Filipino. These workshops aim to standardize the language and encourage proper usage among professionals, teachers, and government employees.

What is Dr. Virgilio Almario’s role in promoting the Filipino language?

Dr. Virgilio Almario is the chairman of the Filipino Language Commission and a national artist in literature. He plays a pivotal role in promoting the Filipino language, advocating for its standardization and expansion, especially by incorporating regional languages.

What does the Filipino Language Commission mean by 'standardization' of Filipino?

Standardization refers to creating consistent rules for the usage of Filipino, especially in writing. This includes resolving controversies like spelling inconsistencies and addressing the transition from informal oral use to formal written standards.

Why does the Filipino language need standardization?

The Filipino language needs standardization because there are inconsistencies between spoken and written forms. Many Filipinos use the language orally in a casual and slurred manner, while written Filipino lacks uniformity, particularly in professional and academic settings.

What is the significance of incorporating indigenous languages into Filipino?

Incorporating indigenous languages into Filipino is important because it broadens the scope of the national language, making it more inclusive of the diverse linguistic heritage of the Philippines. This expansion involves acknowledging and integrating sounds from languages like Cebuano and Ilocano.

How does the Filipino Language Commission handle borrowed words from other languages like English or Spanish?

The Filipino Language Commission aims to retain the original spelling of borrowed words from languages like English, Spanish, and German, rather than converting them into Filipino equivalents. This ensures accuracy and respects the original form of proper names.

What example does Dr. Almario give to illustrate how borrowed words should be handled in Filipino?

Dr. Almario uses the example of 'Philippines,' which was originally spelled with an 'F' in Spanish. He emphasizes that the name should be spelled with an 'F' in Filipino, as it maintains the original integrity of the word.

What is the Filipino Language Commission’s position on the use of experimental or slang language like 'jeegemon'?

The Commission recognizes experimental languages or slang, such as 'jeegemon,' as part of Filipino. While such language may be difficult to understand, it reflects creativity in language use, and some of its words may eventually become mainstream.

How does the Filipino Language Commission plan to address the teaching of Filipino in non-Tagalog-speaking regions?

The Commission plans to implement teaching methods designed for second-language acquisition in regions where Filipino is not the first language. This approach will help children in non-Tagalog regions learn Filipino more effectively by using teaching techniques suited to second-language learners.

What upcoming projects or campaigns are being planned by the Filipino Language Commission?

The Filipino Language Commission is planning a congress on language planning for the following year. Additionally, they will continue to campaign for improving Filipino language teaching methods, particularly in non-Tagalog areas, and promote the correct use of Filipino in formal discourses.