Ma. Abbygale B.

Ojales
ABELS 1A

MY LINGUISTIC AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Language is such a powerful tool for us, humans, because this is the only way
we can communicate. This can mean words, sounds, or for others, symbols. In
relation to this, language is important most especially for children who are on the
verge of their growth and development.

My life had been such a ride when I first understood what language is all
about, and how relevant it is to use in my everyday life. Each time that I get to know
new words or phrases, I try to remember those in my head and then ask my parents
afterwards. It’s not an easy time being a child; all curious and desperate to use a
new word that is then added to my vocabulary.

I couldn’t remember the first time I said my first word. Perhaps, it is because it
happened a long time ago, wherein my thinking wasn’t structured, and all I do was to
form discombobulated words. But as I approach my toddler years, I began to
question a lot of things (mostly words), and their use. And that’s how I remember the
first practice of language around me.

Before school, my parents taught me how to read and write basic numbers
and the 26 letters of the alphabet. But they’re solely focused upon teaching me on
my mother tongue. Which is why in my kindergarten years, it came quite a shock to
me when I was first introduced to the English language. By then, I enjoyed learning
English; the basicity, the words that can really alter your pronunciation, and many
more. This maybe the reason why I pursue this course, because I knew for a fact
that I am in love with the language that can speak volume, right inside my childish
mind.

My first encounter with people who spoke language in a different way was
when we’ve had Ilonggo neighbors in our area. Ilonggos may have quite similar
words to us Cebuanos, yet not all, but I was impressed by the tone of their speech
when they talk. You can definitely guess an ilonggo in a manner of how he/she talks
to you, because you can easily detect the certain rise of their voice, and how they
deliver their dialogue. We were neighbors for 2 years and from that, we’ve come to
practice a little bit of their mannerisms on how they talk. It was really fun, and they
enjoyed it because they didn’t think that us learning how to talk in Ilonggo was rather
discriminating or racist.

I still have a lot of memories to share with how I got down the road of
becoming a linguist, but I couldn’t express it thoroughly so I might as well end my
autobiography here. But there is one thing that I am quite sure: I know that every day
has a new opportunity of learning a new something, be it another language, or even
the universal one.