Relocating Philippine English in Schneider’s dynamic model

Abstract

It has been claimed that Philippine English is in phase 3 of Schneider’s dynamic model, probably approaching phase 4. This paper argues that Philippine English has already met the parameters set for phase 4 and that this phase may be dawning in the development of Philippine English. Event X already took place in the development of Philippine English, the ratification and implementation of two inequitable Acts that were supposedly to be an aid in the post-war rehabilitation of the Philippines. Aside from this Event X, several incidents took place after that also contributed to the feeling of separation of the Philippines from the United States. The Philippines has long achieved its freedom and independence and has been self-governing since its independence from the United States. It has likewise formulated its own language policies without any external control. There seems to be general acceptance of an emerging local norm, though there remains residual linguistic conservatism. English has been in use in literature almost ever since the language was introduced in the Philippines. There are signs of structural stabilization both synchronically and diachronically. The English used in the country has already been homogenized to a point that codification is now possible through dictionaries and reference grammars.