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Bisaya is perhaps the most prevalent language spoken by Pinoys aside from Filipino. Bisayans, or Pinoys who speak this language, are often ( if not always ) derided for their peculiar accent when talking in English. For example, Bisayans are known for pronouncing the word "battle" as "bah-tol" or the word "apple" as "ah-pol". Pinoys regard the Bisayan accent in spoken English as irrepressibly comical, so much so that numerous jokes allude to how Bisayans end up in hilarious situations because of their perceived mispronunciation of English words. Thus, we would hear jokes where Bisayans say "Amen" and the listener understands it as "Hey man!", among other contrived anecdotes.
Among Pinoys, a person who speaks English with a marked Bisayan accent is an object of mockery. To talk in English with this accent places a stigma on the speaker as someone who belongs to the maleducated class, an individual of "low breeding" or "second-rate" social standing. Precisely why Pinoys poke fun at such persons. The Bisayan accent of spoken English, in short, is one of the most undesirable traits a Pinoy could have, especially when a Pinoy seeks legitimate recognition as a "person of breeding".
Pinoys would prefer that fellow Pinoys speak English with an American accent. If you are Pinoy and you sound like an American when talking in English, you are accorded a higher and more admired status.
The question begs to be asked, however, whether speaking English with a Bisayan accent ought to lessen one's respect for the speaker. Should we Pinoys constantly mock and decry the accent as "second-rate" and "unacceptable"? Even the most recognizable Pinoy in the planet today, the extraordinarily talented boxer Manny Pacquiao, is often taunted about how he speaks English with his "Bisaya" phonetics. Shouldn't Pinoys be proud of their own unique accent when speaking English, whether it is Bisayan or not?
Americans perpetually poke fun at how Indians mangle their pronunciation of English. The British, in turn ( from whom the English language originated ), also regard the American accent with contempt as being improper. Even among native English speakers, there is disagreement as to what the proper accent should be.
And yet, Indians themselves don't see their own accent of spoken English as hilarious. The Americans are proud of their accent, even if the Texans have a twang that defies belief ( just listen to former US President George Bush ). The Australians, who pronounce "today" as "to die", are perfectly comfortable with their own accent.
Shouldn't we Pinoys also be proud of our Bisayan accent in English? Shouldn't we regard our peculiar accent as part of our identity, something we can unabashedly display to everybody?
Or, conversely, should the Bisayan accent be forever imputed with its less than favorable reputation?
