MikeLigalig.com

Written By Jes Tirol
Columnist
The Bohol Chronicle

Proem

The anthropologist Benjamin Lee Whorf was among the first to ask the questions: "To what extent is our thinking influenced by the language we use?" "Can communities as a whole have abilities?" According to many linguists, the answer is YES!

Language has symbolism, pattern and system. These characteristics of a language influence the thinking pattern of the brain. If a community has the same thinking pattern, it follows that a common ability will soon develop.

Thinking Pattern

In the province of Bohol, the town of Dauis and to a certain extent the town of Panglao, speaks an abbreviated form of the Sugboanon Bisaya. We are told that mathematics is the shorthand language of science and philosophy.

Therefore the thinking pattern developed by the manner of speaking in Dauis and Panglao is very suited for mathematics. This is the reason why you can find many Dauisanons or people from Dauis who are topnotch in the trade, vocation, or profession that involves mathematics. You can find them in engineering, accountancy, architecture, arts, carpentry, and even in gambling.

In a community like Dauis and Panglao, many of those who do not opt for mathematics related professions tend to be mavericks and non-conformists. According to Dr. Jane Healy, "they tend to make their own definitions and picture." (J.Healy, "Endangered Minds." p. 87).

Dauis-Speak

In Bohol, there are differences in intonations but basically the Sugboanon grammar is the same. However, in the town of Dauis and to some extent those of Panglao, Bohol, have a definite variation in their Sugboanon. We can call it "Dauis-Speak."

The Dauis-Speak does not use articles and connectives. It uses only the comment and topic words. For example, a Dauisanon can perfectly understand the following; "Adto ka Dauis? Sakay jeep ka Aryong." The standard Sugboanon is, "Moadto ka sa Dauis? Sakay og jeep ug adto hunong tungod sa balay ni Aryong." = You want to go to Dauis? Ride a jeep and stop at the house of Aryong."

Sometimes the pattern is carried when speaking English. Question: "What color bird?"

Answer: "Color bird green." However, their schooling forced them to speak the correct English grammar. So a Dauisanon has an advantage; they know the set pattern of their peculiar Sugboanon Bisaya and the continuity pattern of English.

An Analysis

As an engineer, this writer (Jes B. Tirol) has studied mathematics "to the highest level."

I have also studied the Sugboanon language for past 23 years. I have noticed that the language pattern in Dauis, Bohol is practically similar to a mathematical equation.

Notice the similarity in set pattern of "What color bird" with "Two plus four" and the answer, "Color bird green" with "equals six."

It is not surprising therefore to find good engineers, accountants, carpenters, jewelers, etc. in Dauis. These professions are suited to their thinking pattern as developed by their language.

Felipe Penales, who is honored by a street name in Dauis, was the first Filipino Provincial Auditor of the Philippines during the American era. The late Congressman Luis "Yowing" Clarin was a first placer in the Civil Engineering Board examination. He developed a method of simplifying algebraic equations that he called "Clarination."

Those who excel in non-mathematics related courses are always noted to be "different" in their approach.

Why are Dauisanons good in mathematics? It is because their speech pattern is the same as mathematical expressions. Their brains no longer exert effort to untangle the mathematics equatio.

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