OMG! Dude, can we like, make usap naman about this? You know, like, talk?

Critical Commentary: Critical Western Theories

As we finished discussing all the specific essential cultural theories or schools in class and as we then understood each and every one, we now look at a more generalized grouping. I learned that the theories coming from the Birmingham School of Cultural Studies, the Frankfurt School, French Cultural Studies, Postmodernism and Queer and Feminist Theories are among the more generalized grouping - Critical Western Theories. 

For this critical commentary, I would like to apply the Critical Western Theories to something quite familiar to us - the Conyo language. 

However, for those who are not aware of what Conyo language is, Gerry Avelino and Arik Abu were kind enough to share to us the 10 Conyo-mmandments. Ten rules or guidelines to tell whether someone is conyo or not.

The 10 Conyo-mmandments:

by Republika Habagat

1. Thou shalt make gamit "make + pandiwa"

"Let's make pasok na nga to our class!"
"Wait lang! I'm making kain pa kase!"
"Come on naman na, we can't make hintay anymore! It's in Andrew pa, you know?"

2. Thou shalt make kalat "no", "diba" and "eh" in your pangungusaps.

"I don't like to make lakad nga in the baha eh, no? Eh diba it's like, so eewy diba?"
"What ba! Stop nga being so maarte no!"
"Eh as if you want naman also, diba?"

3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It's SO pang-uri"

"It's so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"
"I know right! It's so sarap nga eh!"
"That's kadiri kahapon pa that! It's like so luma na, like grabe so old!"

4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude", "bro" or "pare"

"Dude, my subjects are so hirap, pare!"
"I know dude, grabe I might get bagsak nga in one quiz eh. Like 0.0 lang bro!"

5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!

"My bag is so super bigat today, like you know!"
"I know right! We have to make dala pa kasi this so heavy book eh!"

6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like it is English

"I like have so many kaibigans and kaaways naman talaga eh!"

7.  Like, when you cam make kaya, always use like, Like I know right?

"It's like, it's so init naman kase eh!"
"Yah, I know right! The aircon, it's like, like sira!"

8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know, your pangungusap?

"Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty the tao, like you know, people?"

"It's so tight nga there eh, you know, like so masikip!"

9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, daglat?

"Like OMG talaga! It's like so traffic sa LRT!
"I know right! It's so kaka! So kakaasar like so kaka!"

10. Make gamit the so pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para its like full effect!

"I'm like making aral at the Arrhneo! Like you know, the one in Kateps"
"So far naman! Me kasi I'm from Lazzal eh."

The Birmingham School of Cultural Studies simply teaches us that everything which happens for the everyday lives of a being is, and will be, considered as culture. Culture is experienced and practiced and that it changes everyday, as people move, live and survive. The school also endorses popular or mass culture. 

Language is one big part of our culture. It is experienced and practiced everyday by everyone and it definitely changes as the people, its medium, move, live and survive. Because of this, it is only natural that the Burmingham School would talk about a thing or two about language. The popularity and emergence of the  conyo language is surely one phenomena which the theorists of the Burmingham School would surely enjoy discussing as it is something experienced and practiced everyday and it is somehow a popular or mass culture.

On the other side of town, the Frankfurt School tend to focus on the study of high-culture or culture of the elites and upon analyzing these practices, they also stumbled upon the understanding of the source or origin of social movements or social revolutions which they call "New Media". Some people think that the conyos use such language because 

The conyo language can be considered as "New Media" as it emerged from already consisting forms of language. Some may say that the  conyo language is a practice of the young elites, confused between English or Filipino as to what main language to use. 

Michel de Certeau, a theorists under French Cultural Studies, talked about everyday tactics of resistance where one can see the revolution through the actions of the people themselves. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, they do something that does not support or even oppose the original goals of something. 

While others say that the conyo language is actually a practice of the masses, those who try their best to use the English language in coherence with the language they most commonly use, Filipino, without having to deal with the proper grammar and sentence construction which the English language normally restricts its "users" to do. If this is such, many people say that to use the conyo language is to bastardize both the English and Filipino languages, thus making some sort of tactical resistance.

Postmodernism tends to focus on Deconstruction. It also discussed how vague and distorted truth can be especially when dealing with abstract subjects such as culture. Postmodernism talks about the diversion of culture from a once dominant one, which was considered as the norm.

The emergence of the conyo language sort of talks about deconstruction and the diversion of language from the dominant English and Filipino languages. Some might even think that this sort of diversion is some sort of segregation or bastardization of that of the dominant languages.

Lastly, Queer and Feminist Theory promulgates equal rights of all genders, whether it concerns women, men, gays and lesbians. Somehow this also promulgates equal rights for all, in general, all citizens. So far, all which the conyo society have ever received from the society are negative and humiliating comments. Queer and Feminist theory can perhaps make society understands or sort of be more accepting on this new cultural emergence, just as it was able to make society accept the presence of the LGBT community.

This us how I understand what or who a conyo is based on the following Critical Western Theories. Let us watch this short comedic documentary, brought to us by Bogart the Explorer, the Philippine Explorer, to further be entertained by this new social class (if one permits it to be called so) the conyos. Enjoy!

♥ Reese Corpuz

References:

• Powerpoint presentations and Word documents from the reporters of the class retrieved from:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/168774083227337/
• Conyo-mmandments: http://habagat.i.ph/blogs/habagat/2008/09/11/the-ten-conyo-mandments/
• Youtube video: Bogart the explorer, The Philippine Conyo:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br2JPHYJ3jQ