The politics of Philippine English: neocolonialism, global politics, and the problem of postcolonialism

Abstract: This paper deals with the politics of Philippine English. For more than three decades now, Filipino scholars have argued for the legitimacy of this variety of English in the country. Studies of Philippine English, however, have so far failed to consider the fact that a self‐determining variety of English is deployed across structures of unfreedom in the midst of neocolonial and global political realities. Scholars need to democratize studies on Philippine English to include ‘non‐standard’ uses of Philippine English spoken by a majority of Filipinos, and to consider its neocolonial moorings. This recognition of political weakness offers renewed possibilities of resistance and situated agency for Filipino speakers with whom scholars of language may consolidate their energies towards social action and change.