BRILL, RYO

IT – 2204

Read the article on page 24 of the module. The one under formative assessment. Then answer the
questions below. (3 or more sentences)

1. What is the article about?

The article is all about the evolutions in the use of registers or words in both formal and informal
settings especially in the Philippines. It elaborates how the language inevitably evolved with the
influence both of social sub-groups and of language theorists who somehow “create” their own rules on
grammar and syntax. This evolution happened from the first few years of 21st century up to the present
time.

2. What linguistic phenomena emerged in the Philippines?

The most strongest and creative linguistic features that emerged in the Philippines is word
reversal, where people reverse the way words are uttered. It originally intended to be a convenient way
to hide meanings within a clique or social circle, as if it were a code, but its massive popularity prompted
its proliferation. One example of this is the word "ermats" which means mother and "erpats" which
means father.

3. In what way, do these linguistic phenomena affected our lives?

These linguistic phenomena affects our lives every day because it paved way to create new
unfamiliar words for some people. Others may find it creative and cute but others may find it foul and
offensive especially to those people who are very conservative. This phenomena affects the way people
communicate every day because it can alter or change the word and its meaning. If this continue to
happen, sooner or later we may forget our own native language.