Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Language refers to grammar, rules, and norms that allow humans to

make utterances and sounds that others can understand. Baker (2010)

emphasized that people use this to communicate, to share ideas and

emotions, to deduce complex and abstract ideas, to learn with others, and to

provide every want and needs. Also, language is used to reason, argue a

point, provide directions, and much more. It may be characterized as a basic

signifier of communication that is linguistic, physical, and physiologically

unconditioned. People mention linguistic communication as verbal behavior,

which includes gestures and organic structure motions as spoken word,

Casabal (2008).

In several countries, some are using English as primary language,

including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and many of

its former colonies, and the United States, Turbeza (2013). English language

is used as the second language of multilingual countries, including India,

Singapore, and the Philippines. Ong (2019) said that around the world it is

learned by children in school as a foreign language and becomes a common

denominator between people of different nationalities when they meet while

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being on the move, conducting business, or in other situations. The influence

of English language has also spread globally.

Given that the Philippines is a multilingual country, English is not the

only language that exists. There are a lot of varieties of language. In reality,

there are emerging new forms of language communication. One of the fastest

turning linguistic communication that frequently heard in the society is the

homosexual linguistic communication. Casabal (2008) described how

homosexuals are known for reinventing. It is a self–generated and self–

cultivated. According to Sangga (2015), homosexuals found it really hard to

name themselves before they have used the term gay. A defining trait of gay

slang is that it more often than not immediately identifies the speaker as

homosexual, making it easy for people of that orientation to recognize each

other (Rosales and Careterro, 2019). This helps its speakers avoid cultural

integration by creating an exclusive group among its speakers. Even non-gay

people have been known to employ this style of communication in recent

years.

Shadel (2016) argued that Swardspeak as a language is changing,

from old to new obsolete phrases frequently entering everyday usage,

reflecting changes in their culture and also maintaining exclusivity. The

dynamic nature of the language refuses to cement itself in a single culture and

allows for more freedom of expression among its speakers. Words and

phrases can be created to react to popular trends and create alternatives to a

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strictly defined lifestyle. By these characteristics, Swardspeak creates a

dissident group without any ties to geographical, linguistic, or cultural

restrictions, allowing its speakers to shape the language as they see fit, with

relation to current times (Remoto, 2015). In this way, the language is not only

"mobile" and part of a larger community, but also open to more specific or

local meanings and interpretations. The said linguistic communication was

never designed to get away notice.

At presents, the mentioned unfamiliar words are also used by Senior

High School students of Mabini Colleges. These words are generated to

conceal the existent significance of what they want to convey. Some people

use them to dish the dirt, while others just use them for pleasure.

Subsequently on, these words are categorized as conversational linguistic

communication or slang, which as a non-standard vocabulary belonging to a

peculiar civilization or subculture (Pascual, 2016). It consists of natural

unprocessed look. Many of which are considered forbidden, vulgar, and

derogatory. Filipino linguistic communication is besides developing. Linguistic

communication has been discovered. It is no secret that linguistic

communication has evolved as clip goes by. The importance of linguistic

communication is indispensable to every facet and interaction in the mundane

lives (Muller, 2018). It is used to inform the people around of what people feel,

what people desire, and question to understand the universe around. Maruja,

(2007) stressed that humans communicate efficiently with words, gestures,

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and tone of voice in a battalion of state of affairs. Being able to pass on with

each other, form bonds, teamwork, and it is what separates worlds from other

carnal species.

Here in the Philippines, gay slang or Swardspeak is an assortment of

words in Filipino linguistic communication (Alba, 2015). Obligacion (2015) said

that by utilizing the said linguistic communication, Filipino gay work forces are

able to defy the dominant civilization by making a infinite aim. This does not

follow the cosmopolitan grammatical regulations since these words are

created through the creativeness of the head (Turbeza, 2013). It is besides

invariably altering reflecting alterations in their civilization and besides keeping

exclusivity. Sangga (2015) highlighted that the dynamic nature of the linguistic

communication refuses to insulate itself to an individual civilization and let for

more freedom in look among its talkers.

Swardspeak, or gay linguistic communication, is a type of slang, the

most prevalent of all. Muller (2018) said that Swardspeak is a common

linguistic communication derived from Englog or English and Tagalog

languages and is used by a figure of Filipinos. Maruja (2007) explained that it

uses elements from Tagalog, English, and Spanish, and some are from

Nippongo, every bit good as celebrities’ names and hallmark trade names,

giving the new significances in the context of this alone linguistic

communication. An alone trait of swardspeak is that it instantly identifies the

talker as homosexual, doing it easy for people of that orientation to signal to

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each other in a topographic point where such inclinations are non-easy to

expose, Ong (2019). This creates a sole universe among its talkers and helps

them to defy cultural assimilation.

Since, homosexual linguistic communication is widely use in our society

non merely by the homosexual, bisexual, and transgender community, but

besides with the people outside the said community. It is now going popular

among students and working grown-ups which pose a job with their ability to

talk the English linguistic communication proficiently, Casabal (2008). Ong

(2019) affirmed that English is one of the chief linguistic communications we

use here in the Philippines this is why Filipinos are really familiar with the said

linguistic communication. But aside from experience with it such as

grammatical mistakes due to the fact that everyone learns it at different rate

and environment. Therefore, it cannot be avoided to perpetrate errors in

utilizing it. Common mistakes according to Rao (2016), are the usage of

vocabularies, grammars, and pronunciation.

This study aims to discourse the flourishing usage of the Swardspeak

communication. This seeks to detect its factors, theories and the consequence

of utilizing it on the English fluency among the users specifically the member

of the homosexuals in Mabini Colleges, Inc. The primary intent of this research

is to assess the English language fluency of Senior High School

Swardspeakers. Based on those findings, it is interesting to examine whether

the homosexual and heterosexual people at Mabini Colleges, Inc. use exactly
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the same language. On that note, a research on home language and standard

language used by the students is interesting to conduct. This study aimed at

investigating the English language fluency of Senior High School students of

Mabini Colleges, Inc. and what solutions can be provided to enhance the

students' fluency in speaking.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the English Language fluency of Senior

High School Swardspeakers at Mabini Colleges, Inc. Specifically, this study

sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the SHS swardspeakers in terms of:

a. age;

b. sex;

c. grade level;

d. strand; and

e. numbers speaking swardspeak?

2. What is the level of fluency in speaking English of Senior High

School Swardspeakers in terms of:

a. Pronunciation and Articulation;

b. Fluidity in Speaking; and

c. Organization of Thoughts?

3. Is there a significant difference between the level of fluency in

speaking and the profile of swardspeakers?

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4. What intervention can be done in order to improve the oral fluency of

the students?

Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between the level of fluency in

speaking and the profile of Swardspeakers.

Scope and Delimitation

This study entitled The English Language Fluency of Senior High

School Swardspeakers at Mabini Colleges, Inc. focused on the fluency of the

students in speaking in terms of: pronunciation and articulation, fluidity in

speaking and organization of thoughts. This study sought to find the impact of

Swardspeak to the language fluency of the Senior High School students of

Mabini Colleges, Inc. This was limited to the above-mentioned, new form of

language which is the Swardspeak, oral language fluency and the relevance

of home language to the standard language.

Significance of the Study

This study is concerned with determining the English Language fluency

of Senior High School students Swardspeakers of Mabini Colleges Inc. The

researchers believe that the results of this study would be of significance to

the students, language teachers, school community and to the future

researchers.
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Students The findings provide them an opportunity to size up their

speaking performance. Moreover, this study gives the learners an awareness

of their strengths and weaknesses through speaking. The students would be

able to identify the importance of increased English-speaking skills and

comprehend the teachers' serious concerns in transmitting the best of their

talents and expertise. Students will be driven to enhance their speaking skills

as a result of this knowledge.

Language Teachers The result of this study would provide them

important information which are necessary in making teaching adjustments, so

as to fit their teaching to their students’ speaking potentials and capabilities.

Teacher can use this study to make themselves mindful to the needs of the

students in order to increase their teaching effectiveness in oral instruction to

be considered in creating worthwhile communication and learning activities.

School Community This study would guide them in providing a

conducive teaching learning atmosphere, well suited to the learners’ speech

needs and in instituting measures for effective teaching oral communication to

students.

Future Researchers The result of this study could serve as the basis

for further investigation since there are only few researches about

Swardspeak. This would also serve as reference for researchers who are

willing to expand this area of study.

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Definition of Terms

The following concepts were theoretically and operationally explained

to provide readers with a better grasp of certain key terminology used in this

research:

Articulation. Based on Oxford Dictionary (2019), it is the formation of

clear and distinct sound in speech. In this study articulation was used to

determine the student’s clarity in speaking English language.

Fluidity in Speaking. Rao (2016) refers to the ability to speak

spontaneously, easily and accurately especially in English language. This

particular category measures the students’ capabilities in expressing thoughts

and ideas easily and accurately.

Language Fluency. Baeta and Galvan (2012) defined this term as the

ability of an individual to speak or perform in a language. This study focused

only on the language fluency of the Senior High School students of Mabini

Colleges, Inc. in terms of speaking. In order to measure the fluency in

speaking of the students, the researches categorized it into four aspects:

pronunciation, diction, articulation, and fluidity in speaking.

Organization of Thoughts. Rao (2016) defined this term as a state of

mind in which one's ability to analyze and categorize conceptual information

using a systematic and logical thought process is considerably increased. This

impact also appears to help the person to keep more relevant knowledge in
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their head, as indicated by gains in language comprehension in their train of

thought, which can be advantageous for long mental computations,

expressing ideas, and assessing logical arguments. In this study, this term

was used to measure the ability of the students to create systematic thoughts

and ideas smoothly.

Pronunciation. Based on the definition of Oxford Dictionary, it refers to

the ability to use the correct stress, rhythm, and intonation of a word in a

spoken language. A word may be spoken in different ways by various

individuals or groups, depending on many factors. These factors include the

area in which you grew up, the area in which you now live, whether you have

a speech or voice disorder, your ethnic group, your socio-economic class, or

your education. In this study, this term was used to measure the students

correct usage of stress, rhythm and intonation in speaking English language.

Swardspeak. Casabal (2008) also known as Gay-speak or “gay lingo”

is an argot or informal language which is derived from Tagalog and English

and other languages. It is used not only by gay men but almost any gender. In

this study, Swardspeak refers to the language used by the Senior High School

students of Mabini Colleges, [Link] their daily conversations.

Swardspeakers. These are persons who speaks gay lingo. Since this

language is growing rapidly, even heterosexuals are able to speak and adapt

this into their day-to-day conversations. In this study Swardspeakers refers to

the students who are capable of speaking gay language.

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Notes
Articulation. (2019) In Oxford Dictionary Retrieved from
[Link]
on?q=articulation
Baker, (2010). Polari, a vibrant language born out of prejudice Retrieve from
The Guardian. [Link]
Casabal, (2008). Gay language: Defying the structural limits of English
language in the Philippines
Retrieve from Kritika at Kultura, (11), 74-101. M.A. Th. in Ateneo de Ma¬nila
University.
Ong, (2019) Gay language could come and go — KWF Retrieved from
[Link] 2018/06/08/1822705/gay-language-
could-come-and-go-kwf
Rosales and Careterro, (2019) Stylistics Variation: Understanding Gay Lingo
in Social Perspectives Retrieved from
[Link]
download/1240/405
Sangga, (2015) The Impact of Swardspeak Language to Filipino
Sociolinguistic Retrieved from [Link]
The_Impact_of_Swardspeak_Language_to_Filipino_Sociolinguistic. Tubeza,
(2013)Gay Language and Jejemons Retrieved from
[Link]
Review-