Chabakano - Philippine Spanish Creole
I speak one of the endangered languages in the world - Chabakano, otherwise known as the Philippine Spanish Creole (PSP). There are several Chabakano dialects in the Philippines - Zamboanga Chabakano, Cotabato Chabakano, Ternate Chabakano, Davao Chabakano, and Ermita Chabakano. Presently, only the Zamboanga Chabakano and Cotabato Chabakano has the most number of native speakers in the country. The others are almost dying out ... I for one would like to think that the Chabakano language is not dying, but it is a surviving language. This is because there is a positive attitute attach to the term "surviving language". Some languages become endangered because of the native speakers' attitute in using and promoting their language. Take for example in our community, natives prefer to speak other prominent languages, like English and Tagalog, instead of Chabakano. Spanish subjects were removed from the curriculum and students are mandated to speak English all the time inside their classrooms. In addition, parents teach their children either English or Tagalog languages as their first language. There are also no written textbooks in Chabakano, exept for a few dictionaries. How can these children learn the Chabakano language if they are not exposed to the language in the first place? It is already evident in the speech of younger generations nowadays the infiltration of other languages in the community, such as English, Tagalog, Bisaya and Tausug. All of which are dominant languages in the area. This resulted to a lot of code-switching and borrowing when one is conversing. It's a dog-eat-dog world and sad to say our language will die out soon. Unless, these natives will change their attitudes and start conversing and promoting the Chabakano Language in our community.
Sent by: Toots
Comments
reply to Scientist:
This is not an issue for the Philippine government, but a social issue for these native communities. You're reply is very irrelevant to the topic.
What I hate about the Western world is that they pretend they know about the best solutions to problems. While staying so ignorant about other nations' cultures.
I believe the Philippines Government should make sure their people have food, running water in every home and a roof over their citizen's head, before worrying about languages. Also I believe they should prepare their population to be equipped with the communication tools to be of use in this global market.
I totally agree with you. The Philippine government should exert efforts in preserving our local languages, and try to promote their use in schools, so the younger generation would be educated, and still pass this knowledge to the future generations... i speak "Kapampangan", also one of the few "surviving" languages of the Philippines.
Reply to scientist:
I'm an Englishman and I lived and worked in the Philippines for just under 2 years. I taught myself Tagalog during my time there.
Filipinos are 'equipped with the communication tools to be of use in this global market' The vast majority of Filipinos speak 2 or more languages, including English, and many speak 4 languages.
Mahal kong pilipinas.
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