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Good governance is a big wide topic and just thinking how to put your thoughts into words can be overwhelming. While waiting for that “inspiration” to write on that subject, please allow me to touch on other matters also. Like this one . . .
Many may not be aware that Philippine languages or dialects are syllabaric instead of phonetics.
In syllabaric languages, generally the pronounciation has no effect on the meaning of a word. In phonetic languages like English, the meaning of a certain word becomes different even with a slight change in pronounciation.
Example of syllabaric (Filipino):
Female can be pronounced in Tagalog as baba-e or baba-i. The sounds are different specifically on the stress on the last syllable. But regardless, the meaning is the same.
Female can be pronounced in Tagalog as baba-e or baba-i. The sounds are different specifically on the stress on the last syllable. But regardless, the meaning is the same.
Example of phonetic (English):
On the other hand in English, the word see (si) and say (sey) have different pronounciations. And the meanings are different.
On the other hand in English, the word see (si) and say (sey) have different pronounciations. And the meanings are different.
But many Filipinos discriminate against other ethnic Filipino groups due to language accent differences. An example is the Tagalogs discriminating against the Visayans. The latter when talking in Tagalog brings with them their accent. But no matter, when the Visayans speak in Tagalog, they can be clearly understood. The reason is Tagalog like the Visayan dialect is syllabaric. No matter which syllable in a certain word you put the stress, the meaning does not change.
The question now is what is the cause of this discrimination? Is it because the Tagalogs mistook their dialect as phonetic like English? Is it the reason why those who live particularly in urban areas (they think they are civilized) takes pronounciation carefully when speaking in Tagalog? By the way, are they not aware that some Tagalog groups (an example are those who live in some remote parts of Rizal province) when speaking in their own native Tagalog, pronounce words the same way as the Visayans?
Anyway, similar discriminations also happen within the same ethnic groups . The divide is simply whether one is from the city or from the rural areas.
An example is a City Cebuano discriminating against the Rural Cebuano. Like the City Tagalogs, the City Cebuano also takes pronounciations carefully when speaking in their dialect. Are they thinking also that Cebuano is a phonetic language? It is not difficult to imagine that the same happens between City Ilokanos against Rural Ilokanos . . . and so on.
This is only an observation. It is desirable to eliminate discriminations, but like ignorance, it cannot go away completely . . . even among the “civilized”.
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