Colonial Tongues: Language as Identity

Cycle: Luteal Phase – Day 26

Location: Home – scrolling Facebook

Context: Facebook post’s inspirational parents worked hard for their children’s success to keep them stable

🧠 Thought Stream

[observational thought]: Noticing that majority of the Filipinos like me prefer to respond in writing using English language.

[contextual thought]: Aside from it’s the 2nd official language in the country.

[analytical thought]: It’s smoother and easier to slide the thoughts, but speaking is at a different level.

[self-aware thought]: Just like this, right now.. I prefer to use English.

[questioning thought]: Because it’s neater and more organized to you and others?

[historical thought]: Well, it’s more than that. Cultural, social impact? Colonized by Americans for 40-50 years. Looked up to the West in all ways.

[critical thought]: As a Saviour. Trusting or hoping that mimicking the ways, speaking, dressing would alleviate poverty, would alleviate invisible forces.

[bilingual thought]: Naa juy something ba? In FB, naningkamot ko nga mag Bisaya gamit. It feels weird since it’s public consumption.

~ Feeling: Conflicted

[challenging thought]: Aha! You want to impress others. Deep down you want let’s say validation that you know how to use the language.

[acknowledging thought]: And more.

[accepting thought]: Anyway, I don’t want to judge, but it’s culturally and socially encouraged.

[affirming thought]: Makes a person sound sophisticated. Hey learning a 3rd language is a brain’s sophistication! So keep using it.

~ Feeling: Accepted

[practical thought]: Time’s up. Time to go to the gym.

end at 5:41