Filipino yet again! A Pinoy scholar is taking Philippine language and culture to exciting new heights at Yale University. Specifically, Dr. Louward Allen Zubiri has joined the institution as a Lector in Filipino (Tagalog) under the Council on Southeast Asia Studies and the MacMillan Center. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Bringing Philippine Language and Culture to Yale
Beyond teaching classes from elementary to advanced levels, Zubiri is actively leading the creation of Yale’s new program in Filipino/Tagalog language and Philippine Studies. Furthermore, his background features extensive research on Austronesian languages, language revitalization, and Indigenous Cultural Communities like the Mangyans of Mindoro. Before joining Yale, he also led language initiatives at the University of Victoria and taught at the University of Hawai’i.
On Decolonizing Language
In linguistic development, children naturally encounter diverse inputs. However, they only become fluent in languages actively maintained in their immediate environments.
To address this, Zubiri emphasizes that true decolonization requires embracing both multilingualism and multiculturalism. Consequently, scholars must reject Anglocentric ideologies, the hypervaluation of non-Filipino research, and the erasure of marginalized voices. As he explained,
Decolonization means that there is representation, our voices are heard and we take the lead in studying our languages.”
Elevating Filipino Scholarship on the Global Stage
Ultimately, Zubiri’s appointment represents far more than a talented scholar working abroad. Instead, it provides a vital global platform for Philippine languages, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural history. By documenting native languages and building a new program at Yale, Zubiri ensures that local perspectives directly shape international scholarship.
As a result, he is successfully placing Philippine Studies on Yale’s academic map.
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