Grammarman Saves The Day!

This is definitely one of the more amusing (and creative!) educational videos I've seen.  It's all about a superhero named Grammarman and nosy aliens who save the city of Verbo from creepy creatures.

To encourage people to check their grammar, the creator intentionally threw in errors for viewers to spot.

Enjoy!

Can Those Who Speak, Teach?

Those who can, do.

Those who can't, teach.

But can those who speak, teach?

Check it out.

Word Check: "Suppose" In The Pinoy Context

 A comment from JC:

You should also write about another pinoy-ism - "supposed to be".  I love how everyone uses it nowadays in lieu of "dapat".  Haha.

"I thought you were on vacation."

Response:  "Supposed to be but my boss said I had to finish my project first."

What exactly does the word suppose mean?

It is a verb. When used with an object, it can mean any of the following:

-to assume (something)
Suppose my explanation was not accurate.

-to consider (something) as a possibility
Suppose we don't call. Do you think he'll get mad?

-to believe or assume something as true
It is supposed that many words have been misinterpreted over the years.

-to think, or hold as an opinion
What do you suppose will happen in the future?

-to require logically, or imply
The letter supposes the veracity of his statement.

However, the function of the word has often been misconstrued to mean "dapat" in the Filipino context.

Technically, if one were trying to express an expectation, a requirement or permission, then it should be used in the passive form followed by an infinitive:

e.g. (is/was + supposed) + (to eat / sleep / read / leave)

This post is supposed to explain why "suppose to be" is incorrect.

It is not equivalent to a singular expression, e.g. "Supposedly."  Rather, it is a word that shows an action.

Just like the word "actually", it essentially has no real meaning unless it is used in a complete sentence.

The Doubting Thomas' reference: www.dictionary.com

Why Not Choose Filipino?

(This video was sent by Cherry.)

The whole scenario is just very disheartening.

About the judge:

Was it necessary to patronize the contestant and use her flawed answer as a follow-up question even after realizing that she is blatantly not proficient in the language?


I do assume the judge was wise enough to see a problem staring all of us in the face. Would it have been possible for him to ask her to repeat what she said and translate it in Filipino, instead of asking her to explain her grammatically-challenged statement?

About the audience:

What merits the hysteria?

Perhaps the one who can laugh that much possesses far greater abilities than hers to have the audacity to mock this woman.

About the contestant:

Why didn't she choose to speak Tagalog even if she was already given the liberty to do so?

Surprisingly, if one pays very, very close attention to the details and content of her answer, and if one has the patience to make sense of her overall message, it was rather sensible and definitely more than acceptable. Seriously. Try listening again.

However, I am not certain if she is aware of the reality of her own proficiency in English as she fumbled with an American accent she seems to be confident in. The situation, sadly, made her a quick target of ridicule due to sub-par articulation, diction and syntax in English.

One glaring mistake she made that day was not in her grammatical errors but in choosing to speak a language that is not her strongest suit.

Speaking in English doesn't guarantee a sure win nor does it put one on a pedestal. Again, I do not promote one language over the other. Rather, my underlying message is this: treat whatever language you speak with great respect. Good speech, whether in Filipino or English (or any language/dialect for that matter), is something to be admired and could have been this aspiring beauty queen's crowning glory had she chosen to express her thoughts in the mother tongue.

Bianca Writes From Massachusetts

Dear Grammar Project,

I'm a doctor from the Philippines and I'm here now in Massachusetts, trying my luck at getting a residency over here. I just wanted to share my thoughts about grammar and the medical field. Truly, one becomes a good doctor by being highly skilled and knowledgable about diseases and their treatment. Most of the time, English profiency (as well as Filipino proficiency) takes the backseat amidst all the things we already need to study. Somehow, even if your doctor has horrible grammar, if he treats you and you get well, who cares, right?

However, I've come to notice that having good grammar, speech skills and English proficiency are a definite plus in our field. When you have command of your language, you can easily explain all the medical mumbo-jumbo in layman's terms without missing a beat. It gives a doctor a definite edge if he or she can speak confidently in any given language.

From experience, I'm lucky to have been brought up in a bilingual household. I spoke purely in English until I went to grade school where I was exposed to Filipino. I believe I picked up quite well. Having mastery of these two languages helped me a lot during my med school years, especially when it came to dealing with patients. In my 4th year, we were exposed to the charity patients at UST who spoke only Tagalog. It was a struggle at first, explaining everything in Tagalog, but since I had a good background, I eased into it quickly. When I got to Makati Medical Center, most of the patients spoke in English and speaking the same language and speaking it well built rapport between myself and the patients quite rapidly.

When I got to the U.S. though, I silently thanked my parents and schools for teaching me good grammar. My accent is what you would call "neutralized" as I have a weird habit of picking up the accents of the people around me.

The last test of the US Medical Licensure Exam is a practical exam. There are twelve separate rooms with patients in them. Basically, we interview, examine and diagnose each patient in fifteen minutes. This is when my grammar and English skills were crucial, and it definitely made me a lot more confident when I was taking it. There were a couple of doctors of varied Asian and Middle Eastern origins also taking the exam, and I could see them struggling with their English. My seatmate, who was from the U.S., commented on how good my English was and that I didn't have an "Asian' accent.

As a whole, in medicine, content is really more important than grammar and language proficiency. However, in a place where your demographic is mostly English-speakers, proficiency and grammar are essential. It helps to build a doctor-patient relationship and it eventually leads to your patients trusting you more because they feel you're on their side.

Thanks a lot and I hope you guys at Grammar Project get more support because what you're doing is great!

-Bianca, M.D.

Passive Sentences and Diplomacy

This week's topic in Real Grammar class clarified the confusion surrounding the proper use of active and passive sentences. Hearing these terms can sometimes remind people of "yucky memories of school", as my friend so aptly puts it.

But if one knows how to maximize the use of the active and the passive voice, it can be as effective as being diplomatic with an erring company, or keeping your relationship free from stress.

Here are a few examples.

Active: Your office gave me a mobile phone that doesn't work.
Passive: A mobile phone was given to me by your office.

Active: You left the garbage bag sitting in the kitchen all night.
Passive: The garbage bag has been left sitting in the kitchen all night.

Active: Our school canceled classes due to H1N1.
Passive: Classes were canceled by our school due to H1N1.

Active: Krissy baked those biscuits last night.
Passive: Those biscuits were baked by Krissy last night.

Notice how the object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence.


There are many technical explanations why a person should or should not use the passive voice. Check out "English With Jennifer", a very thorough video that explains all the reasons for its purpose:



Based on my own observation, passive helps immensely when you want to be indirect to avoid confrontation, lessen the emotional impact of what you wish to convey and/or distance yourself from accountability for your statement. Of course there are occasions where you shouldn't beat around the bush and must go straight to the point and be direct, making the active voice appropriate. In my opinion, the idea of the active and passive sentences also gives writers and speakers an alternative for their technique in stringing words together.

Wife to husband, scenario 1:

"You did not pay the bills on time. How can you overlook this?"

Wife to husband, scenario 2:

"The bills have not been paid on time (wife's thought bubble: '...by you'). How can this be overlooked (wife's thought bubble: '...by you')?"

Diplomacy could save the day.

Word Check: "Watch Out" For The Announcement

A friend asked if it is appropriate to say "Watch out for the announcement" as it applies to people standing by for a concert, as opposed to "Watch for the announcement".

I was briefly stumped as I obsessed my own usage of the phrasal verb and decided to open http://www.dictionary.com/. The entries are as follows:

watch (wŏch) v.

1. To look or observe attentively or carefully; be closely observant: watching for trail markers.

2. To look and wait expectantly or in anticipation: watch for an opportunity.

3. To stay alert as a devotional or religious exercise; keep vigil.
4. Phrasal Verb(s): watch out-->To be careful or on the alert; take care.

Based on these explanations, perhaps "Watch out for our concert" has become a habit, albeit an erring practice in the grammatical sense. If, on the other hand, the concert will be revolutionary, earth-shaking and the type that will create a storm amongst fans, then "watch out" could be applied because maybe it means "this is going to change things" or "this will never happen again" in music history. Also, if there is something sketchy about the concert, like the possibility of getting trampled on, then "watch out" definitely fits the bill because more often than not, "watch out" is used as a warning. However, on an ordinary basis, like giving the heads-up for a typical seminar, or updates for an event, it would simply be fine to say "Watch for some updates and visit our blog".

Thoughts?

Say: "Bolognese"

"What is the correct pronunciation of the pasta dish: bolo-neez or bolo-ne-se?"

A student wasn't sure if she should pronounce the third syllable the way one would with "cheese", or to read aloud every syllable of the word. I've been pronouncing it as bolo-ne-se. So for my peace of mind, I checked www.dictionary.com and was reminded that the dish's name has its origins from the city north of Italy: Bologna (bo-lohn-yuh). Why I never bothered pronouncing bolognese with the "nye" sound but pronounce Bologna as bo-lohn-YUH is beyond me. For added measure, I also consulted my friend who was a Chicago-based chef. She said it is typical to say bo-lo-NEEZ in America, but pronounced as bo-lo-NYE-se in its Italian form.

And what exactly is alla bolognese? It's simply a sauce made of meats stewed in tomato sauce for hours.

What Are You Sinking About?

Uh oh.

I wonder if this accounts for many accidents...

My Response To Brian

Hi Brian,

I'm happy that this blog somewhat brightens your day. The questions you posted in your letter are ones that I usually skirt around as discussing accents can be such a delicate issue.

Before I digress, let's define some parameters:
Inflection usually refers to the way your pitch or tone changes and the way you modulate your voice.
Intonation, however, is like the pattern of music and melody in your speech. It is that which distinguishes people of different cultures. Every culture has one. And even communities within English-speaking countries would have their variations as well.
Accent, on the other hand, can refer to the prominence of a syllable within the word (e.g. SPI-ri-tual vs. spi-RI-tu-AL), or it can also pertain to vowel quality (e.g. She bit me in tennis vs. She beat me in tennis). Generally, the word accent can also refer to the combination of pronunciation, intonation, sentence stress and manner of emphasis.

I don't believe Filipinos have that one particular "accent" as we are a people who speak around 170 dialects across the islands. Depending on one's roots and the people who surround you, it should come as no surprise that origins and surroundings provide the foundation of one's manner of speech. Perhaps the people you encounter are referring to the fact that you are devoid of an accent. Neutralized sounds, so to speak.

Language is a skill that is either imbibed or learned. There are people who consciously learn accents because their jobs call for it. However, it will be contrived. As Allan mentioned in his own comments, it "sounds fake" most of the time. Since you are now living in the States, how your accent changes is completely up to you. Some people can live in one place for 20 years and never learn the new home's language nor imbibe the prevailing accents. But some people move to a foreign place for 3 months and quickly assimilate using a fragmented new language.

I was once coming home from Tokyo and was standing in line waiting to get my passport stamped at NAIA. There was a Filipina holding a blue passport who tried to be discreet as she squeezed herself in the middle of the queue and made exaggerated motions of fanning herself. She had very flawed grammar but a funny-sounding American accent as she said, "Oh my gad. I habent bin to da Pilipeens since ten yearz. Iz so mainit ha. Naku, hindee nakow marunowng mag-Tagelowg." I'm almost certain I gave her a look. This woman had just insulted the language she claimed she no longer knew and, at the same time, offended the language she advertised was now hers.

My advise for you, Brian: I'm guessing you were raised to be bi-lingual, and probably even multi-lingual depending if you speak dialects. So please, by all means, uphold our tradition but master both the words of our motherland along with your acquired language. Be highly proficient in both and do English and Filipino justice by respecting their inherent rules of articulation.

In case I missed out on something, let me know.


All the best,

C.B.

Brian Writes From New York City

Dear Grammar Project,

My friends from grad school have told me that they like my accent very much, not as sing-song as those from other cultures, with very good intonation and inflection (I am not sure what those exactly mean, really). In any case, I get the same thing from front desk people or receptionists when I call for dental appointments. Some even try to guess where I am from. Most would guess incorrectly, except those who would have a lot of Filipino friends.

So my question is, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of having a Filipino accent? Also, is it a good idea to take on the accent of the place where I am at? Or
should I try to neutralize mine so I am more understandable in more places? Is that even possible?

Thank God that coming from the Philippines will mean an easier time to catch on with how other cultures speak and talk. I recall from years ago, after just a few days of staying in Sydney, napapa 'mate' na rin ako. Hahahah. So please, any advice on this would really be helpful.

Maraming salamat po at more power sa inyo pong blog.

Sincerely,

Brian, NYC

P.S. I really like the contents and articles on your blog. I visit it everyday and I thoroughly enjoy reading through the anecdotes and learning devices. Thank you and more power to you and your endeavors.

Comments on PJ's Thoughts

Allan reacts to a previous post from PJ:

"I agree. Correct grammar takes priority. Never mind accent. In my opinion, trying to speak with an American accent only tells American clients that they are talking to someone outside their country. It's obvious, it sounds fake and it is not needed.

I've been asked in the past to teach "American accent" to call center trainees. I refused unequivocally despite the "raket" rates. I said that it's impossible and unnecessary. For one, I am not an American; I could put on a cosmetic accent but it's going to be contrived and fake still. Learning correct grammar is hard enough at a late stage. And in order to learn a foreign accent, one must first pronounce properly, then "act" your desired accent. The only real way to learn an accent is maximum exposure, meaning you immerse yourself in the country of that language and accent you want to acquire.

I've spoken to many English speaking foreigners and most of them have said that they find the way we speak to be good because our English is devoid of accents. Some problems arise however when they encounter those with regional accents. But that should not matter. With all due respect to the Ilocanos for example, they have a unique accent when speaking English but mind you, they also have very good grammar. That opens the avenue for easier communication. Accent can be overcome the same way we learn to understand the British or the Australians when we speak to them for the first time. Bottom line still, GRAMMAR TAKES PRIORITY."

The State Of Philippine Education

What can be done?

Erring teachers, questionable textbook accuracy and content, spiraling statistics in proficiency --- we need a miracle.