Could Duterte, PHL benefit from his speaking Bisaya instead?

There's a portion of the population still waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte to get on a jet ski and plant a flag on Kalayaan Island. Between that statement and many others, comparing what he says to what he probably means is an interesting task—and the Palace has even offered a few tips and tricks to understanding the president, including when to tell if he is serious or joking.

"Minsan din nakadududa; puwede mong isipin na 'ay, palusot na lang 'yan'. Para maibsan 'yong ganung pagdududa kailangan natin siyang harapin sa antas ng wika," Professor Jethro Tenorio from the Department of Filipino (Kagawaran ng Filipino) at the Ateneo De Manila University told GMA News Online on Wednesday during the press launch of the 2017 Salinan Conference: Translation and Translation Studies in Local and Global Contexts.

This conference is the first of its kind in the Philippines and it hopes to highlight the value of translation, especially in a country that is home to more than 170 languages. With the head of state speaking three languages with varying degrees of clarity in several of his speeches, translation seems more important than ever.

Even the man tasked to clarify the president's statements, Presidential Communications Office chief Secretary Martin Andanar, has apologized for his imperfect Tagalog, saying he speaks Bisaya better.

Last December, Duterte said that it was the public's problem if they didn't understand what he was saying.

"The entire Filipino nation, kayo ang may problema," he said.

"Sa isang banda, maaring lehitimo kasi talaga 'yong sinasabi na 'yon na 'Hindi ako naintindihan', pero 'yong ganoong realisasyon o 'yong ganoong pahayag na hindi siya naintindihan ay hindi dapat manatili doon sa antas na 'yon," Tenorio explained to GMA News Online.

He continued, "Kung pangulo ka ng Pilipinas at hindi ka naiintindihan, tungkulin mo rin na ipaintindi ito sa taong-bayan. Hindi naman puwedeng taong-bayan lang ang mag-aadjust."

Tenorio said that it might be time for the Duterte Administration to recognize the benefits of having a translator or interpreter. "'Di kaya ay kailangan niya [Duterte] ring magsanay. Hindi naman natatapos ang pagsasanay ninuman sa wika," he opined.

But even with practice, Tenorio said, "naroon pa rin kasi ang tendensiya na mahuhuli't mahuhuli mo ang sarili mo na nag-iisip pa rin sa kung saang wika ka sanay."

In those instances, an interpreter could come in handy. Still, Tenorio cautioned, "Hindi ko rin masigiguro kung anong magiging bunga noon."

What he is more sure about is that President Duterte speaking Bisaya would be a boost in the language's visiblity.

"Magandang representasyon rin 'yon sa Bisaya ... Kung may representasyon ng wikang Bisaya sa pinakamataas na posisyon sa bansa, posibleng makita ng mga tao 'yong halaga ng wikang 'yon, lalo't sinasalita rin siya ng maraming tao sa bansa," Tenorio said. — BM, GMA News