this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
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Do we really need to understand how to read and write baybayin and other related scripts? I don't know what others may think, but imposing a indic-based script to a nation that has already adopted a Latin-based script for mostly everything doesn't seem to be a worthwhile undertaking. Especially considering that in our local dialects, as far as we can tell, we have no recorded use of an indic-based script, which defeats the purpose of learning it.
I have no issue with it though I think it should remain as a novelty instead of forcing us all to use it.
Agree here. It's cool and fun to some extent but it's extremely limiting as well considering modern Filipino borrows various words that won't work well with the alphabet.
This is concerning to me as well. I hope there would be a standardized, modernized version of baybayin that is maintained by some governing body (not necessarily a government body, it could be a committee composed of academics and scholars) that would sort this kind of issue, and a lot more (such as how it can be supported on computers and smartphones). Text entry is also an issue I want to be standardized (providing a set, or several, of standards on how text entry should be handled).
As others have already commented, I also don't have any issue with baybayin seeing a resurgence. I don't think there'd be any imposition either as it is way too much effort switching to it, as well as the implications of making it more difficult for people to access material written in the Latin-based script (cf. Vietnamese, Mongolian, as well as discussions RE: Japanese for such).
I pressed enter too early, my apologies.
Now, let's keep in mind that when the Spanish exerted control over these islands, they burned all the written stuff they can find. Add to that the materials we've written stuff on (mostly wood bark, banana leaves and whatnot), it's pretty easy to imagine a scenario where even the ones that escaped destruction wouldn't able to escape the ravages of time.
There are also other Philippine languages such as Hanuno'o that have used (and still use, though whether or not it saw continuous use, IDK), a Brahmic-derived script.
I'm putting it on a separate reply rather than an edit.
I've missed this part of the linked article:
And following the link in that paragraph, I got to this press release. I'm quoting the following section for discussion:
I can't find the actual full text of the house bill (I found a sketchy one on scribd, but I only got to the first two pages of the bill, and it's a dodgy copy), but as far as I understand, there is no imposition to change over to baybayin, but rather, a requirement to use it.
I do have issues with the former (mandatory switch to baybayin) but I'm okay with the latter (mandatory use of baybayin alongside the current latin-based script for Filipino/Tagalog). Also missing is the IRR for this bill (assuming it already got passed into law). IANAL, but there's some questions I would want to be answered:
While I do want to see more stuff written in baybayin (because novelty, plus it's just a nice script to use for ceremonial purposes, IMO), I want to see how this is going to be implemented if ever.