You are what you speak
You are what language you used. In the present days of exploding knowledge and information, words have become more colorful, exciting and accurate. The words you speak reflect your family culture or breeding, educational background, the kind of people you mingle with everyday of your life and nature of friends or acquaintances you have.
While watching children play at recess time I always hear incident words. Call them what you may, these words come in different forms. They are green words, cursing, bad, vulgar, unpleasant, dirty, filthy and obscene. Many of these words are four letter words that cannot be printed but spoken.
The most commonly used indecent words "son of a bitch" which are referred to parents, when translated in Filipino language, "p-----i--m-" alludes to the mother.
In our present global culture, language arts is flooded with words in print or electronics media which are picked up from communication groups. Comic books are one of the sources of bad language. Nowadays the cellphone is also creating new words adopted through usage. Sad to say that cellphone also spreads not only dirty jokes and messages, but also pornographic pictures among texters. Movies and tapes spread bad words to the people too.
The gays, commonly known as "bading", is also one of the sources of indecent words (of course, in fairness not all gays). They invent new words usually vulgar ones such as syota, datong, erpat, yosi, etc. which are easily adopted as treasured vocabulary by the youngsters. Other common sources of bad words are men's magazines and pornographic materials which children sometimes read in secrecy.
The most powerful influence of indecent words is the community where a child lives. The influence of community is overwhelming where street language abounds with indecent and bad words. The people who live in squatter areas, frequently witness verbal fights among family members. Such fights produce words of hatred, anxiety, worry, anger, stress, tension and lead to adoption of the situation among children. They imitate what they hear. The words they hear contaminate their system.
It is difficult to control or minimize the habit-forming use of indecent words among children. The only thing teachers can do is to reprimand, warn, and create punishment system relative to conduct and language arts grades. These children who are fond of using vulgar words maybe sent to school guidance counselor for counseling.
Teachers of English must encourage children to memorize beautiful poems and read classic literature for the refinement of their taste and entertainment.
Parents are advised to speak the words of God at home. Let the words of God be heard within 24 hours inside the house. The words of God must be printed on the walls of the homes or classrooms.
Words have power, once spoken will always find means and ways to become true.
What you speak is what you get.
(The author is Teacher III at Bakhaw Elementary School, District of Mandurriao, Division of Iloilo City.)