IN the commodification of language in migratory and nonmigratory contexts, it is necessary to be cognizant of the fact that the use of language itself can be the actual performance of labor. Language is a skill, and the ability to use language fluently and accurately to perform certain tasks is a valued one. Needless to say, these professions and occupations require high-level and above-average language skills and proficiency, as these jobs are usually exemplars of good language use in society. In this category, I include office clerks, in whose work language production is necessary for business meetings and correspondence, and child carers, in whose work language modeling is given to the children under their care. While not all jobs would require high levels of language proficiency, certainly language skills, once learned, could be useful in putting oneself in a much better position than the rest.

Source: Manila Times June 30, 2024 04:03 UTC