Upcoming Events
Join the Department of East Asian Studies on Tuesday, October 8 from 2:00-3:20 PM in ECHA 1-498 for "Navigating Multilingual Realities:The Language Dynamics and Policy in the Philippines", a talk by Dr. Jayson D. Petras (University of the Philippines Diliman). This talk is part of the East Asian Studies Philippine Studies Lecture Series.
Talk Description:
As a country with more than 180 languages, the Philippines navigates a complex linguistic reality shaped by national policies and local practices. The 1987 Constitution lists Filipino and English as the official languages, with indigenous languages serving as auxiliary official languages in the regions. However, within this system, English dominates key societal spheres such as education, government, and business. By exploring the historical and contemporary evolution of language policies in the Philippines, we uncover the ongoing challenges of balancing the use of Filipino and local languages against the dominance of English. In this context, the 1989 Language Policy of the University of the Philippines will be discussed. While aimed at embracing the country’s multilingual reality, it has faced difficulties in full implementation due to differing views on language issue and the persistent push for English as a mark of global competitiveness.