11/08/2025
Current Situation in Our Language
Language is one of the most essential aspects of our lives. We use it to communicate with other people. Through language, we can easily express our thoughts and emotions. It also helps us understand the information in the books we read. Without language, we would experience misunderstandings and misinformation.
Every August, we celebrate our National Language as a way of honoring its declaration. We observe Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) to pay tribute to the person who declared our national language, President Manuel L. Quezon, the second president of the Philippines. He signed the law in 1939 recognizing Tagalog (Filipino) as our national language. He observed that many Filipinos could not understand each other because of the different dialects spoken across the country, which is why he signed the law.
Today, there are many issues surrounding our language. Currently, several dialects are at risk of being forgotten or lost. If we do not use these dialects regularly, they may eventually disappear.
In modern times, many words have changed their meanings. Some trending words today can be alarming, especially for young people. These words are sometimes used inappropriately either to sexualize or hurt others.
Reading comprehension in the Philippines is also declining. Many young people struggle to understand even basic Filipino words and sentences. Some senior high school graduates are unable to comprehend texts well.
These issues are alarming because they can lead to the loss of our cultural heritage and knowledge. It can also result in struggles with learning and may even cause trauma or harmful behavior toward others.
According to the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), around 44 dialects are currently endangered due to lack of use. This poses a challenge to the Commission to take steps in preserving and strengthening these dialects.
In a report by the American Psychological Association (APA), it was stated that using sexualized language toward girls or women can lead to mental health problems such as trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and low self-esteem.
Furthermore, data released by the World Bank in 2022 showed that 90% of Filipino youth struggle to read or understand simple texts. Another report from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed that only 19% of 15-year-old Filipino students reached Level 2 or higher in reading comprehension.
As youth, we must be careful with the words we say because they can hurt or sexualize others. We must also know and use our dialects regularly. By doing this, we can help preserve them and pass them on to the next generation.
The government must find solutions to these issues. One recommendation is to include lessons on our official dialects in the curriculum. This can help prevent these dialects from being forgotten. Additionally, we must not abolish subjects like Mother Tongue and Filipino in schools, as they teach us about our national language and dialects. Most importantly, we should use our language to show respect, not to insult or offend others.
βοΈ : Rica Del Castillo
π¨ : Justin De Rosas & Marizetela Daleon
