India's English-speaking Rickshaw Drivers

Here is an article written by Harmeet Shah Singh for CNN   last September 16:  "English lessons for today's rickshaw drivers".  It's great that India is paving an avenue for higher learning, giving access to those who need it and who can benefit most.  Moreover, it simply affirms a country's regard for the merits of language proficiency (in English) as an essential tool for efficient global progress.

" Indian tourism authorities will be holding English classes for auto-rickshaw drivers in New Delhi as the city prepares to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Auto-rickshaw drivers are being taught English ahead of the Commonwealth Games.  More than 40,000 natural gas-fueled auto-rickshaws, or motorized three-wheeled taxis, run on the Indian capital's dilapidated roads, according to the city government statistics. The city is expected to host around 100,000 tourists during the Commonwealth Games scheduled from October 3-14 in 2010.  About 9,000 athletes and officials of 52 Commonwealth countries are likely to participate. Some 8,000 auto-rickshaw drivers will be enrolled in the training program that will involve classes in yoga, life skills, first aid, spoken English and psychometric tests, federal Tourism Secretary Sujit Banerjee announced Tuesday. Each trainee will be paid Rs 200, or about $4, daily for attending the program spread over 200 sessions for a year.  Indian auto-rickshaw drivers have often been accused of overcharging, refusing short trips and misbehavior.  Traffic authorities have in the past opened a range of avenues for passengers to lodge their complaints -- such as on help lines, via text messages or simply calling a telephone number printed on the three-wheeled cabs. "The India image that we strive to convey to a foreign tourist depends, to a large degree, on how good the taxi/auto-rickshaw (driver) that he or she meets is in his demeanor and conduct," Banerjee remarked.

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?

The World Of Baffling Educational Videos

The Amazing Grace Of My Amazing Race In Tokyo

This is one of my older blogs, posted on January 24, 2008:

Six months ago, I boarded a plane alone for a business trip.

No mom to fill out my disembarkation forms, no friend to lead the way to the gates.

It was more stressful for mom, who thought her daughter to be clueless with a whacked sense of direction. It peeves her that I get lost around the malls of Glorietta and Megamall. What more when her daughter flies off to a country where she had no contact person, where the average Philippine mobile phones won’t work and a place that barely speaks English --- like Japan?

Mom said it felt like sending me off to my first day at kindergarten all over again.

I was surprised that all throughout the plane ride, I didn’t have anxiety attacks as I did as child. I was completely calm. I was at peace with my purpose and actions. As I arrived Narita airport, a floodgate of memories were rammed open. It was my third time to step into Japan ---but the first time as an adult.

Alone.

Initially, I was frightened and overwhelmed by the idea of going all by myself for an ocular of a high-end design trade fair. But when my visa was granted on a last minute application in just two days, I knew I was meant to leave. I must admit I had my pre-conceived realities of the culture in the land of the rising sun being very serious, formal and rather impersonal.

But as I made that decision to leave, all I had aside from my check-in luggage and my laptop was a staunch heart filled with nothing but courage. I chose to challenge my wits, for the global success of our company and the team players who rally behind each other. That saying, “No guts, no glory” and the theme of Rocky IV snowy-mountain scene were playing in my head all throughout my flight.

Going to the venue of the trade fair was a sight to behold --- it looked like a gargantuan space ship that landed by the bay of Tokyo. The three-minute windy and chilly walk to the fair was accompanied by a brisk sea of black-suited men and women. It was overwhelming, I kid you not. Filled with exhibitors from across the planet, it was slightly intimidating at first as I saw names like Minotti, Disney, and other big names in the design industry. After I let that feeling pass, I felt honored to relish in the presence of fantastic and leading talents from all over. It was inspiring.

It was amazing.

It took me two days to finish going through all 600 booths. I was left with one and a half days to trot around the city. And gallop at full speed I did.

My hotel was located at the border of Tokyo --- meaning it was far from the action of the city. The next hurdle for me to overcome was riding the subway and the monorail. Now see, the only form of commute I do here, aside from driving my own car in Manila, is riding cabs which take me directly where I want to go.

The concierge handed me two maps --- a city map and a subway map. The latter looked like psychedelic noodles printed onto a sheet of paper. The city is mounted on an underground system of moving carriages. My vision blurred for a split-second with all the colors and the symbols and numbers suddenly fusing together. I was terrified all over again. The concierge, Sato and Tanaka, whom I spoke with over the phone, made me a step-by-step instruction and an itinerary to boot ready the next day.


The morning I was supposed to board my first subway by myself, I procrastinated. I sat on the bench for a good thirty minutes just watching the people hurriedly go in and out of the underground cars. Finally, I got tired of delaying so I just ran right in before the doors closed behind me. Let me tell you this --- I never had so much fun by myself in such a long time. It was so easy to follow the maps as the color of the lines on the map matched the colors of the actual signs of the stations. It was a no-brainer even for a greenhorn traveler such as myself. What I also got from the rides of my life was the chance to encounter many people in the process of getting lost.

100% of all the people I asked:
1. stopped what they were doing to listen to me talk in English
2. gave me instructions in Japanese plus lots of body language, and
3. changed their minds and said, “Ah! Come. I take you there!.”

It was totally unexpected.

I always thought they would be annoyed at some foreigner getting lost and interrupting their routine and harried pace. But I loved the fact that they smiled when I approached them as I said, “Sumimasen (Excuse me)”. As they gave me directions, they looked actually happy to have a surprise conversation --- from well-dressed businessmen reading the daily, to subway attendants signaling the train to leave, to policemen watching the people on the streets, to drugstore clerks, to old ladies punching in for a ticket and to students listening to their mp3’s. Most of the people I talked to folded their cell phones or laptops, left their own ticket queues and walked me to the right train platforms. And I must tell you, it isn’t a near walk.

Even elderly ladies who couldn’t speak English happily showed me how to work the ticket machines and showed me which buttons to press. I also encountered other foreigners who calmly explained whether I was on or off track. I came across this young family whose son took over the conversation and gave me very detailed instructions how to get to the Yurikamone station. His parents beamed at him.

Once during the trade fair, I set out on a dare to myself to point to a restaurant at random on a map and see if I could find my way. Needless to say, after people signaled they couldn’t understand me, or didn’t know the resto, I got lost and was way off track. I found myself in a rather deserted corridor that led to a taxi and bus stand. No diners in that area. Mind you, eating in Japan could be a surprise unto itself because I couldn’t fully understand what my meal was about.. I never perfectly knew what to expect because pictures weren’t always available.

At that point, my feet were aching mad in my high heels. I wanted to call it quits and just go to the common areas where all the diners were. Then I saw a tall, well-dressed man (actually, they’re all well-dressed!) with his laptop trying to do wi-fi on the stairs. I took another chance, as I wearily said, “Sumimasen. Do you speak English?”

Not only did Shibata speak English, he was also one of Japan’s government volunteers sent to the Philippines in 1991 to help in the Mt. Pinatubo disaster. He regularly shuttles in and out of the country to help in trade relations between our country and his. He not only gave me instructions, but he stopped doing his email, shut his laptop and brought me all the way to that resto I randomly chose.

During my trip, I also made it a point to observe universal kindness.

As an old man in tattered pants hobbled into the subway, I noticed from my peripheral that something fell off his pocket on the platform --- his weathered wallet. The woman behind him saw my alarmed face through the window and saw the wallet --- she picked it up and ran all the way in the subway to catch the man to hand it back and left without expecting a word.

One time I asked a middle-aged lady with her octogenarian-looking mom about the train to Ueno. She gave me some instructions strictly in Nihonggo. I gathered the meaning, and headed to where she was pointing. Then she chased after me. I realized she gave me the wrong instructions. Both mother and daughter started to give me directions at the same time in a language that sounded to me like nothing but melodies. I started to laugh at my own helplessness, as I said “Wakarimasen (I don’t understand)”. She kept repeating, “Ichi! Ichi!” I knew ichi means one, but I thought --- one what?” She signaled to stay by her side. When the train doors opened, she crossed her arms to form an X and said “I-ye” which means “no.” That was when I realized she meant, “Wait for one more train”. When I boarded the train amidst the sea of exiting commuters, I saw her look around and as she spotted me, she gave a nod of approval, and an OK sign.

On a deserted station after 7 hours of racing through the streets and Asakusa temple to the glittery world of techie Akihabara, I just wanted to get home. I had no one to ask except for this lone pretty teenager who couldn’t speak English. I just said, “Train to Ariake?” She signaled that she wasn’t sure. When she saw my distress, she made a gesture to wait, as she rushed into the open doors of the sub. I saw here look at the route posted on the wall, then she looked at me to hurry inside and motioned that it was the correct car. Then she hopped out and the train doors closed and whooshed towards Ariake before I could fully say thank you.

I only had 36 hours, including 14 hours of sleeping, to cover three areas --- the shrines of Asakusa, gadget wonderland of Akihabara and wacky Shibuya near Harajuku. It was no easy feat for the feet as I was billeted 45 minutes away from everything by subway and monorails and I also allocated 30 minutes of “lost” time per way.

In my total of 96 hours spent in the land of sushi and Tokyo street-fashion --- I experienced a tremendous level of hospitality and warmth not commonly known to many, from people whose names I’ll never know.

Most of all, I experienced the human yearning to reach out and connect --- regardless of words, regardless of language.

My own, and those of others.

At this point, I felt I had stumbled upon a very, very good secret.

Truly amazing.

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.