Languages Spoken and its Influence to the Lexicons and Language Perspectives of ESL Students

Roseniya G Tamano,Jamzien M Umpa,Fatimahsakina A Otara

doi:10.32996/ijllt.2021.4.5.7

Abstract

The linguistic relativity of Sapir-Whorf hypothesis posits how language influences a person’s view of the world. This is where this study is entrenched and attempted to investigate the extent of influence of English language on the vocabulary of the selected English Education major students from a state university in Mindanao, Philippines. Employing survey for their profile, picture-lexicalization, and focus group discussion, data disclosed that roughly 70% perceived themselves to be very proficient in their native language; proficient in Filipino, which is the country's official national language and somewhat proficient in English language. Despite these perceptions of their proficiency in the languages they speak, picture-lexicalization method yielded practically 80% of the respondents use the English language compared to their native and Filipino languages. The participants disclosed that familiarity with the language played a major part in their picture-lexicalization. Finally, the FGD further revealed the respondents’ view that their native language is a reflection of their identity. The Filipino language makes them “real” Filipino or their national identity, while English language is a language of prestige and education that they can use to communicate with other nationalities.

Highlights

1 Since the American colonisation that brought English language to the Philippines towards the end of 19th century, English has never ceased to establish the prestige and power in the country
It should be noted that with the emergence of Philippine English (PhlEng) as a variety of English, a question worth raising is that what culture is entrenched in the Philippine English? Is it the American culture as colonizers in the past or the Filipino culture? Published by Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development, London, United Kingdom
This paper aims to shed light on the influence of English language on the lexicons of selected English major students

Summary

Introduction

1 Since the American colonisation that brought English language to the Philippines towards the end of 19th century, English has never ceased to establish the prestige and power in the country. Even among the middle and lower classes, people use English language to communicate and express themselves in the social media as seen in the study of Tamano (2012) and Gupta (1997 as cited in Chureson, 2013). With this status quo, it may be inevitable that the language and culture embedded in English language could influence the Filipinos.

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Conclusion