The wonders of using one’s mother tongue

THE BILL filed by party-list representatives seeking the adoption of the Filipino language, our mother tongue, as the medium of instruction and communication in all schools, as well as in government and non government institutions and offices, is reasonable.

As PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory) advocate, I believe in the principle that one’s m other tongue is the pride of the nation, the essential factor that generates genuine affinity and unity among the citizen of the country. It also has significant implications to cultural preservation, political development and economic growth.

As language is inseparably linked with one’s fundamental characteristics or identity, we cannot deny the fact that the best vehicle by which people can express their inner thoughts and ideas in a manner is their mother tongue. On the other hand, if people speak in a foreign language, they generally feel uneasy and uncomfortable; thus, they cannot clearly communicate their thoughts and ideas.

PR Sarkar, a post-contemporary Indian sociologist and philosopher, noted: “If people feel uneasy when they speak in a language other than their mother tongue and they feel such uneasiness constantly, their vital energy or dynamism will be disturbed. Consequently, their vital force as an individual and as a nation will be weakened. In such circumstances, a sort of psychological crisis will occur. This will result in the emergence of inferiority complexes, which will cause debility in the intelligence of the people. People whose language is suppressed lose their moral courage, initiative and power to protest. Ultimately, a defeatist psychology and develops in them and as group such people face the prospect of total annihilation. The most important point in this regard is that such a linguistically suppressed group of people will always remain economically backward due to continuous psycho-economic exploitation.”

If we are to remain as a nation in the next century, this is the most opportune time for us to deliberate carefully on the pros and cons of the above-mentioned bill and to assess its implications.

I submit that we would not forget that English is the present lingua franca of the world. I therefore suggest English should be taught and used solely as an international link language similar to what the Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese and Chinese are doing.

But using Filipino as our medium of instruction and communication will inspire in use self-confidence and self-respect, and promote a sublime awareness of our cultural heritage. It will enhance our cultural identity, thus throwing off feelings of psychic inferiority and defeatist complexes which prevent us from attaining self-reliance and from fulfilling our inherent individual and collective potentials.

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written by Shermon O. Cruz
Timpuyog Peoples Movement Inc.
Barangay 17, General Luna Street,
Along, Locos Norte

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