Download Evolution & Future of Filipino Language as Philippines' National Language and more Assignments English Language in PDF only on Docsity! Reflections, Assertions and Speculations on the Growth of Pilipino Bonifacio P. Sibayan Language Study Center, Philippine Normal College, Manila Introduction There is nothing ambitious nor very profound about the thrust in this essay; there is no theory but suggestions or hints on hypotheses. Some of the things I say are asser- tions intended to stimulate some of my readers. The speculations I think are quite in- teresting. In this essay I use Filipino (spelled with a F) to refer to the people of the Philippines who speak the language and Pilipino (spelled with a P) to refer to the language. Most Filipinos thought that the search for a national language ended in 1936 when Tagalog was declared the basis of the national language. They were wrong for in 1973 the framers of the new constitution wrote into that document the collective sen- timents of non-Tagalog Filipinos that Pilipino which is Tagalog-based excludes their participation in the building of the national language. So they wrote that the Filipino people, through their elected representatives, shall take steps towards the formation of a national language where all Philippine language shall participate in its building. This future national language shall be called "Filipino". To the writers of the constitution it would seem that Filipino as the national language would include the aspirations of all Filipino via the symbol of language. Pilipino, the Tagalog-based language which the nation had been working on since 1936, was declared an official language. The con- stitution was written in Pilipino and in English; in case of conflict, however, the English text would prevail. In effect the Filipino was in search once more for a national language. In my opinion, however, I think a way will be found to eventually recognize the present Pilipino as the national language by simply renaming the language "Filipino". Most Filipino do not really care that much whether it is called Pilipino or Filipino. Those who advocate "Filipino" based on all Philippine language participating in its development should be satisfied that the ideal was written in the fundamental law of the land. Maybe an academy will be established to replace the present Surian ng Wikang Pambansa (SWP) (Institute of National Language) or perhaps representatives of the major languages and the important minor languages may be appoinf ed to the SWP to help 'build' the future national language. Whatever steps are taken the future national language will substantially be the present Pilipino which has for its best and most prestigious variety today the Manila variety (see discussion on the dialects of Pilipino later in this essay).
