Image by Prasert Sudjaipraparat
It's pretty much the question I'd ask if English were a real person, not a language. When I attend external training activities, I always love it when I take a lot of answers rather than questions. However, it was not the case after I attended a language conference about the state of Philippine English last week.
English, like any other language, is evolving. That is a fact. No matter how many people would like to dispel this phenomenon, it cannot be stopped. The new words being added to Merriam-Webster's coffers, even to Oxford's, is staggering proof. Nothing is indeed permanent in this world except change. And with so many events that shaped our world over the last generation, English as a language has evolved but more so now. The standards most linguists hold on to are starting to get, if not already, blurred to the point that they are almost begging to be thrown out of the window. For most people, we only know two main variants of English -- American and British -- by which we all mostly base our standards on. However, will you be prepared for a time when a Chinese English dictionary will hit the shelves of your favorite bookstore in 30 years or so, if I were to consider David Graddol's prediction? There is an Australian English Slang dictionary, which makes the prediction rather plausible than absurd.
What does Mr. English think about all of this? With every country speaking English as a lingua franca or a second language is introducing some innovations in its use, does he mind being having altered versions of himself walking in every part of the world? Spanglish (or even Taglish) was used to be frowned on but is now gaining acceptance as a form of English unique to Spanish-speaking citizens. I felt the weight of the responsibility for Philippine educators of English. They have long subscribed to a standard -- something that majority are still struggling to live up to -- that is slowly collapsing under the pressures of economic and global trends. Where will they be in this shift?
While I dread the implications, I am cautiously optimistic. However, if I could name one thing the conference gave me, it was the comfort of validation -- knowing that what I've done so far as an educator and my beliefs in English as a language were sound, that I'm on the right track. But there's a part of me that still prefers the feel of strong pillar -- that there's something that I can hold on to or look up to -- when there's seems to be nothing else of merit. How strong that part is, I don't know.
Considering all intents and purposes, English was singled out as the language for global business communications several decades ago -- a means to unify rather than polarize. If I were to consider the challenges and ideas presented in the conference, it hardly seems to be the case.
Dear Mr. English, where do you stand now?
- Mood:
working
Time flies, my dear LJ, but you have been useful to me in more ways than one.
Even with the short personal quips and entries of tweets shipped, I know you welcome me.
The only thing I wonder is if I can write about more things that will linger.
For I have an enemy, that tests my patience so quickly.
I cannot bend nor stretch time. And it seems to get shorter, even if my nights became longer.
I can only wish but the thought of it sounds foolish.
Until then. And definitely without a pen.
- Mood:
anxious - Music:Basket Case by Sara Bareilles
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. I'd like to take pictures that represent my mother's heritage, since she hailed from that city. There so many beautiful things to explore like the ancestral houses, cobblestone roads and old churches.
Any job can be the worst job as long as you're not happy with it... and you infect the people around you with your hate and indifference about your work...
- Mood:
hungry - Music:Massive Crush by The Barbs
Oh my, I've been having one for the past few days. The song title is Blow The Man Down by Seeker. Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons sang the song while they were making penny blossoms in Episode 18, Season 2 of The Big Bang Theory. I find myself singing or humming the song as I do chores, especially when I'm washing the dishes. Yikes! Anyway, here's the song for everyone's reference. Enjoy!
BLOW THE MAN DOWN by SEEKER
Come all ye young fellows that follow the sea
To me weigh hey blow the man down
And pray pay attention and listen to me
Give me some time to blow the man down
I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong
To me weigh hey blow the man down
If you'll give me some rum I'll sing you a song
Give me some time to blow the man down
T’was on a Black Baller I first spent my time
To me weigh hey blow the man down
And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime
Give me some time to blow the man down
T’is when a Black Baller's preparing for sea
To me weigh hey blow the man down
You'd split your sides laughing at the sights that you see
Give me some time to blow the man down
With the tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all
To me weigh hey blow the man down
That ship for prime seamen onboard a Black Ball
Give me some time to blow the man down
T’is when a Black Baller is clear of the land
To me weigh hey blow the man down
Our boatswain then gives us the word of command
Give me some time to blow the man down
Lay aft is the cry to the break of the poop
To me weigh hey blow the man down
Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot
Give me some time to blow the man down
T’is larboard and starboard on the deck you will sprawl
To me weigh hey blow the man down
For Kicking Jack Williams commands the Black Ball
Give me some time to blow the man down
Aye first it's a fist and then it's a pall
To me weigh hey blow the man down
When you ship as a sailor aboard the Black Ball
Give me some time to blow the man down
Blow the man down blow the man down
Give me some time to blow the man down
- Mood:
silly - Music:Blow The Man Down by Kaley Cuoco & Jim Parsons
What is your favorite old-school video game?
First question listed was submitted by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1){kind=small}
2hated2care. (Follow-up questions, if any, may have been added by LiveJournal.)
I'm not sure if this qualifies as a video game but the most old-school one I've ever laid my hands on would be Nintendo's Game & Watch. I think I had like seven (7) wide screen Game & Watch devices as follows: Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong Jr., Egg, Fire, Octopus, Parachute and Popeye. XD
- Mood:
nerdy
A view of the sunset is perhaps one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. It's Mother Nature at work. I try to take pictures of the sunset whenever I can and among those I've taken, the one I'm sharing below is my favorite. I took it when I was in the airplane going to Davao City. Enjoy!
- Mood:
happy
The sound of multiple cars blowing their horns during a bumper-to-bumper traffic situation. Or your neighbor singing karaoke completely out of tune at midnight. O_O
- Mood:
calm
It'll probably be The Feng Shui Junkie as it was the first non-series book that I enjoyed reading. This debut novel of Brian Gallagher is entertaining and I find really refreshing that he wrote this in a woman's POV. I've written a review of this book via Amazon about six years ago and here's what I've written:
( Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned )
Hope you'll grab this book when you see it in a bookstore near you. It's a must-read. Enjoy! =)
- Mood:
pleased
If you're on Twitter, that's the challenge -- expressing your thoughts in 140 characters or less. I recently opened my account there. 300+ updates later, I'm still enjoying it. The people I follow and who follow me are quite few but I don't mind. It's nice to be able to express your thoughts in short form -- they're like quick breathers for the brain. While I prefer that I tweet on the web, there are times when I tweet using my mobile phone, international SMS cost notwithstanding.
I loved my experience on Twitter that, while it took a lot of debate on my part, I eventually created an account in Plurk. Plurk works on the same premise as Twitter -- expressing thoughts in 140 characters or less -- but it is a bit more interactive. The layout of your thoughts are spread in timeline form. It's easier to share links and pictures, and has animated emoticons. However, it comes with a price of sorts: karma. A favorable experience on Plurk relies heavily on how often you go online, share your thoughts and how many friends you're able to add. Not doing any of the three often causes a dip in your karma status. It's like having an online tamagotchi that needs to be nurtured almost 24x7. While I'm still too far away from Plurk Nirvana (my current karma level is at 45), I think I'm getting there slowly but surely. However, for the next 10 days, I've frozen it as I won't be plurking much. That's where Twitter becomes a win for me: there isn't any pressure for you to be online as much. I can live with that as I rarely share links and pictures.
~~~~~~~
You might be wondering why, all of a sudden, I started to blog about being on Twitter and Plurk. This is because I read Libba Bray's latest blog about her Twitter woes. No words can express how much I adore this woman. Her wit and sense of humor is marvelous. In her frustrations about Twitter, she even created a Twitter-version of A Great and Terrible Beauty. The resulting tweet lines are nothing short of hilarious. An epic win!
( A Great And Terrible Twitter )
~~~~~~~
Because so many responded positively to Libba's AGATT, some shared links to even more hilarious set of tweets but in Facebook art formats. Click on the links below to enjoy what they shared...
Hamlet in Shakespeare's Facebook
Jane Austen's Facebook
~~~~~~~
Parting thought: I have decided to go on net hiatus for the next 10 days for a couple of reasons -- lent and work. See you when I come back. Advanced Happy Easter to all! =)
- Mood:
contemplative
