Consuelo Paz

Touted as the “Grand Dame of Philippine Linguistics,” Paz has published numerous pioneering works on historical and comparative linguistics as well as sociolinguistics and ethnolinguistics, strengthening the connection between language studies and the social sciences.^[3] Her academic endeavors were focused primarily on the languages spoken in the Philippines, and how each has been contributing to the development of Filipino, the national and official language of the Philippines. She advocates that the evolution of the Filipino language should reflect its democratic nature, and should not privilege one dominant ethnolinguistic group over another. She has also conducted research studies that delved into the historical development of these languages and how they are used in contemporary social interactions. A Reconstruction of Proto-Philippine Phonemes and Morphemes, her doctoral dissertation, is now considered a milestone work in Philippine diachronic linguistics. Her works have been read and cited by linguists, language planners, and specialists of Austronesian culture.

A number of her articles were published in international academic journals, such as "The effects of language on social structures: The Philippine multilingual scene", "The nationalization of a language: Filipino", and "A multidisciplinary study of stigma in relation to Hansen’s disease among the Tausug." Some of her studies that are published in local journals such as "Wika sa konteksto ng komunidad" (Language in the context of the community), "Ang Filipino bilang linggwa frangka" (Filipino as lingua franca), "Ang Unibersal Nukleyus at ang Filipino" (The universal nucleus and Filipino) and "Wika ng naghaharing uri" (The language of the dominant class) among others, are still presently used in graduate and undergraduate linguistics and language studies courses at UP Diliman and other institutions in the country.

• Paz, C. (1981). A Reconstruction of Proto-Philippine Phonemes and Morphemes. Quezon City: Cecilio Lopez Archives of Philippine Languages and the Philippine Linguistic Circle.
• Paz, C. (1995). Ang Wikang Filipino: Atin Ito [The Filipino Language, Its Ours]. Quezon City: Sentro ng Wikang Filipino-Diliman.
• Paz, C., Hernandez, V., Peneyra, I. (2003). Pag-aaral ng Wika [The Study of Language]. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.
• Paz, C. (2005). Gabay sa Fildwurk [Guidebook on Fieldwork]. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.
• Paz, C. (ed.) (2009). Ginhawa, Dalamhati, Kapalaran: Essays on Well Being, Opportunity/Destiny, and Anguish. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.