One of the subjects in Organizational Communication is OrCom 145 or Psychology of language. I remember the time when the instructor asked us on how our language represents us. I was sitting the whole period and thinking how I will answer the question. Since I didn’t have the opportunity to share my response to the class because I still had nothing to share up to the last minute, maybe it is now my chance to discuss my late reaction.
Honestly, her question is really hard for me to answer. It is not simply like saying my language represents my nationality (Filipino), as if I am a very nationalistic person. I think it is more than that. The answer is very complex, like how complex language is. So, let us just put it this way; let me first know something about me that I can relate to the language I’m using, and use it to answer the very challenging question.
I will start on my known and unknown part. To be able to discuss it better, let me use the concept of Johari’s Window. This window is used to know one’s self. It has four parts: (1) known to you and known to others, (2) known to you but unknown to others, (3) unknown to you but known to others, and (4) unknown to you and unknown to others. These things make the concept of self complex. It’s like the idea of me having a so-called self which I am not really familiar with. Like myself, there are something in the language I am using which I am aware of, and, also, not aware of. With this aspect, I can say that my language represents me as an individual with known and unknown sense of self.
The way people and things change and grow is also another thing that will help me relate myself to language I’m using. Like me, my language grows and is open to changes. As I grow my language grows. As I change, my language changes. I just can’t remember, or let me just say don’t know, how many words were added to my vocabulary since I was younger up to now. Also, like me, who is open in learning other language or vernaculars, my language is open to use or borrow some words from other language. Who knows that Filipino and English can be use together resulting to the so-called “Taglish” (which when you use with maarteng sound will make you “conio”)? Thus, I can say that my language represents me as an individual in state of flux.
I’m going to leave these lines to end my attempt of answering the challenging question. Pilipino ako kaya mas madalas kong gamit ang Filipino o mas kilala bilang Tagalog. Kaya lang may mga bagay lang talaga na di ko alam tungkol dito, gaya ng di ko pagkaalam sa ibig sabihin ng salipawpaw at salumpuwit, at kung bakit walang tagalog ang toothpaste at cake. Ayan tuloy, I’m sad na.
