Random? MA Thesis and Philippine English

Namaste Readers,

After reading T. Ruanni F. Tupas' essay, "Wronging English," I learned a different side to Philippine English, which reminded me a lot about my MAs thesis that dealt with empowerment of marginalized people through word play and manipulation.  Tupas' argument states that improper use of English ( wronging English ) is not only funny, but subversive.

Tupas argues that uncritical use of English ( English as sacred and untouchable ) leads to "linguistic imperialism" where one blindly believes "that English is inherently good, that it brings about good lives to everyone, that everyone benefits from it."

In reality, "English is not a neutral language," but rather, a  language used by 1st World colonizers.  On the other extreme side of this spectrum, getting rid of English totally would only cause isolationism.  Tupas proposes that learning English shouldn't be about training "English-speaking bodies for export abroad," but rather to "access the world's knowledge stored in English and to develop intercultural competence through the language."

Tupas concludes that by changing "the language, literally, by wronging... [its] pronunciation, words, sentences, meanings, etc.... we will be able to register through language our protest against the continued ( cultural, political, etc. ) dominance of America in our daily lives."  If this act won't save us, then maybe it can "lead us to asking questions about unequal lives, and how to change these lives for the good of all."