Language Unites … and Divides

It is a fact that language emerged as a means of connecting to other people, to communicate. Language is one big factor why we can coordinate well with others, or why we can make better transactions. It created a giant web that connects us all.

We may not be aware of it but language can also divide us. The world is divided by different national languages, and the Philippines is divided by different provincial languages. What’s more interesting is that in each society, there are still certain groups who have their own language, their social dialect or what we call sociolect. It is fascinating to learn how the society that works in communion is somehow divided by a means of communication; a vibrant display of unity in diversity.

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When I was in college, I was exposed in a lot of different social groups. Even amongst the different colleges of the University, one could see how prominent sociolects are. It is some sort of mark or label where one can base his/her verdict in trying to pinpoint whether from which college someone is. One can base a pre-judgment over a person through the sociolect he/she uses. On a negative perspective, it is somewhat like a stereotype. Although, if we look at it closely and observe how it develops, it really shows that certain languages emerge from certain groups within a community which only they can use.

Sociolects seem to create a divide among social groups in a community. But somehow, it is a defining factor of a certain group’s identity. They do not want to be labeled as another so they have to keep an identity of their own, and language can be a big factor in finding that identity.

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I found it very interesting to hear a lot of different social dialects. Engineers use certain words which a communicator like me would interpret differently. Cab drivers have this sort of code which they use when asking for traffic situations in certain areas and in finding out alternative routes. IT experts use a different language in terms of communication, there are certain words which, when said by a typical person, would be entirely different in IT’s perspective.

As a communicator, I am entitled with this privilege to encounter and learn these different sociolects. It is a very interesting job to learn and interpret these languages back to their most basic form.

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Words have always been my companion since I was a kid. I have developed a certain kind of love and faith with words which I can never describe. But all I know is that I will always be grateful to have the ability to learn and understand many different languages, a gift I will improve and forever cherish.

Mood Swings

Wake up then see the wonderful blue sky. Look out the window and witness as the clouds pass by amidst the blue blue sky. Waking up in this situation makes the heart skip a beat. It makes all of the expectations for this day to be positive. It gives an optimistic perspective towards the hours yet to come.

Greet people. Wonder what to tell them to share the beauty of the day. Wait for their response and keep the mood light. Watch a series and eat breakfast. Imagine drinking milk – just imagine because there is no more. Try out new things like drinking coffee. But then decide not to anymore because it will just cause palpitation and an upset stomach. Hence, just leave things be. Just sit, eat and watch just like before.

Finish an episode. Keep it in your mind and feel how light everything seems to be. Everything is just right. Things happen. And this is just supposed to be as right as it is. Wash the plates left at the sink. Check the phone. Things happen. Yes, they do happen.

Open the messages. Smile when there are greetings and thanks. Read the last message and feel how all of the good vibes get crushed. Things happen, oh yes, they definitely do.

Watch the next episode. Sit in front of the screen and just wonder how things happen. But hey! They really do happen. Eat lunch and drink water. Laugh at the funny scenes. Be amazed by the weird characters. Just stay focused on what is being watched. Finish another episode. Think about things. Because things do happen.

Open the music player. Just play the songs. Then listen to them. Finally, feel them. Feel them to the very core of the bones.  Dance and feel the rhythm. Sweat it all out. Just feel it until it feels right again. Stop and breathe. Look at the sky, the wonderful blue sky. Remember how it all began when waking up earlier. The blue sky stained by the white clouds. Look at that empty blue space and understand how beautiful and marvelous it is. Close the eyes and breathe. Open them and see white fluffy clouds back amidst the sky. Things happen just like that.

Breathe deeply. Sit down and think. Think of nothing whatsoever. Wait for people to show up. Sit down properly and just keep listening to music. Stop feeling them. And start feeling the wind and the sun. Just feel them and just be.

People come in. Share some space. Feel the cold water from the shower. Look at the sky, yes that blue blue sky. Be captivated by its marvel and majesty. Imagine how good it will be floating at that sky. Keep things silent. Do not speak, just share that space. Stop the feeling of awkwardness as it tries to fill the body up. Sit down and listen to music. Listen and stop feeling them. Just remember that waking moment when the sky was wonderful and blue and things were light and easy. Because believe me, things really do happen. And there is nothing that can be done but to accept and move on.

Endless August

So far, this has been the longest August of my entire life, probably because I don’t do much every day. There is really nothing to do at all but to be stuck at home and be bored. That is why I have all the time in the world to blog about how bored I am as August passes by.

Weird enough, for five years it is every August that I seem to forget what time of the year it is. I spend most of my August days just doing whatever but not really remembering exact dates. I don’t hate August, mind you, but it has been this way for five years.

Five years, five Augusts. It’s not that I totally forgot that after July comes August which precedes September. But it is definitely weird that every time this month comes, it seems to be a big blur to me, and yet it is still seemingly the longest month during these past years.

I could not sleep last night even though I wanted to so I resorted to stay lying on my bed staring at the ceiling and thinking of the things that bother me during the day. The moment finally came when I realized why August bothers me too much. A painful memory five years ago, which led my subconscious mind to create its own defense mechanism as this month comes.

The sixteenth seemed to be the very root of all this. Although I could remember that moment as clear as crystal, my mind kept hiding the whole month from me so as not to inflict any pain to my heart. Then I realized I really hated this month after all.

Something like that, it was probably the saddest thing to ever happen to anyone’s life. But I’m thankful that those things happen. They make us stronger and make us more adept in living life. I was finally able to sleep after thinking about it for more than two hours.

I guess, after realizing such things, we become more alive. Things such as that can teach us how to be better persons and how to live our lives better.

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But still, after all those thinking I had done last night, I’m still unemployed. That’s the saddest part of my long long August this year.

Writer’s Block…Or Is It?

I’m writing this…I want to write…this is something I want to…

Ok, ok, I’m currently in a state of crisis nowadays. I wanted to write again, to blog again and to experience the creation of art again whether it be literary or visual (although I’m recently more stoked on the literary side).

It’s weird that there are many ideas stuck in my head, many colorful thoughts just waiting to be inked on paper or typed in a blog. But what’s weirder is that I can’t seem to find the urge to actually do it. I mean, come to think of it, it has been more than a month since I last posted a blog entry but within that span of time I could have made approximately two posts a day if only I did write, type, inked, or whatever all of those thoughts running in my head.

I wonder why I never did. Is it because my blog might sound different again (even though I promised to change the way I make my posts)? Or is it because I simply am lazy to write again (after the stress I got when writing my thesis)?

I don’t know. But what I do know is, and I’m certain about this, that I want to write again whether it is poetry, blog, or even scripts. It seems like I am missing certain things I once abandoned as my life goes on – like drawing, singing, and writing. I wish I could quench this thirst for art I am having right now. I want to become an artist again, because that’s what I really am.

Kudos to all the Artists out there who have mastered their craft and never abandoned them in exchange for practicality! As for me, I’ll try to relive my artist’s soul and do well in my craft, just like the old days.