This is my weekly column that appears in SunStar Davao every Friday. I am publishing a copy of it here for LiP readers to enjoy too. Much of this information has been covered in my many previous LiP articles on the subject of Language, but perhaps this has a bit of a different angle that you will enjoy.
In my article a couple weeks ago, I told you that I have been studying and learning how to speak Bisaya. I started learning the language a little over 2 years ago, despite the fact that I have lived here for nearly 10 years. When I first moved here, in 2000, I figured that I could get by with only knowing English, since almost all Filipinos speak English as a secondary language.
Living here for a while, though, I started realizing how much I was missing out on by not being able to speak the local language (or should I say, “one of the local languages”). When people specifically wanted to address me, of course they would speak to me in English. However, when there was a group of people, the language would often shift to Tagalog or Bisaya, unless a comment was directed toward me in particular. It left me uncomfortable, and feeling like I was not fully part of the conversation.
Talking with Muslim kids in Marawi City
One day, some Americans were visiting me at my house. They were not residents of the Philippines, only visitors. They mentioned the old thing that so many Americans always say…
Immigrants coming to America are rude because they don’t learn English!
Oops! Suddenly it hit me. I am an Immigrant to the Philippines, but I have not learned the local language. I decided that I needed to do something about it.
My first decision was a tough one, though. What language should I learn? Tagalog is the National Language. My wife, and her family, though, mostly speak Bisaya amongst themselves. Most of the “common people” around the area seem to speak Bisaya, although certainly not all.
Well, I decided that since I don’t live in Manila, or anywhere “up north” that I should go for Bisaya. So, my language learning journey began. I went through a few different teachers before I found the one that was right for me.
Being able to speak Bisaya (not perfect, but I can do pretty well), has opened a lot of doors for me, especially among my wife’s family. Some of my relatives on my wife’s side don’t even speak English, or very little at least. My mother-in-law, before she passed away, could not speak much English, only a few words. Mama and I had a nice relationship, but could never directly speak to each other! Once I learned enough Bisaya to hold a conversation, a lot of the relatives became much closer, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Still, though, sometimes I still feel “left out” of conversations, though. Why? Because I am among Tagalog speakers sometimes, and I can’t speak Tagalog! Knowing Bisaya helps me to understand a bit of Tagalog, but not enough to participate in the conversation, though. So, now I am starting to think that maybe I need to learn Tagalog too! I just don’t know, though.
For an American, learning a second or third language is not common. You know what a person who can speak two languages is called, right? Bilingual, of course. A person who can speak more than 2 languages is called multilingual. You know what a person who can only speak one language is called? American! Ha ha…
When it comes to the ability to speak multiple languages, Filipinos are certainly way ahead of us Americans!
About MindanaoBob
Hi Bob – Oh, you would throw in that how to you recognize an American (they speak only one language–hehehe). I know what you mean, friend. My first marriage to a Brazilian woman suffered cause I didn’t speak Portuguese! Now I absolutely must learn Bisaya (and Tagalog) so I won’t feel like a 3rd wheel in conversations with Jeanette’s relatives. I had better hurry, too! I’m due back in Davao come April 2010.
Good morning, Henry! You can do it, my friend. It takes effort, and time, but it can certainly be done! Even for us language-challenged Americans!
Great article!
BTW, whatever happened to Rusty? Notice he’s no longer here or his other websites are updated.
You have brought up some good points here Bob, just this morning I was in a store ( USA’s biggest discount retailer ) and I asked a few of the employees there on the sales floor some questions and could barely understand their reply. They made their best attempt to answer me in English so I guess I can give them credit for that.
People who only know one language = Americans ? You know I never thought of it that way but it has raised a good point and I am one of them LOL.
Those that I have met and have become friends with in Iligan and Cagayan De Oro speak and can converse in English in varying degrees and in some situations certain words or phrases may have a difference in meaning even though the words are the same. Some of them speak English as if they were Americans and as if they could have lived right down the street from me here in the USA. This really impressed me.
There were occasions when all of a sudden the conversation instantly changed to all ( I presume ) Bisaya. I did not so much feel as if I were being left out of the conversation or that they were trying to say something to eachother they did not want me to know but rather I sat there in amazement. One second they are talking as good as many Americans do and another second they are talking in an entirely different language and then switch back to American English. It has always kind of amazed me how people can do this.
I have often wondered when I chat with people there on the internet in text format if when someone whoose primary language is one of the languages of The Philippines, when they read or write do they mentally convert the English words and phrases into their own language before replying or are they conducting the conversation in all English including comprehension of the conversation.
Nice article Bob, thanks for making your Sun-Star article available here on LIP.
I have to say that foreign people always commented on us Pinoys not being able to speak English. They are wrong about it though. We understand English, it is just the pronunciation and sometimes conjugation that we have a problem with. Mind you we were thought English at school from the beginning. I have been living in Canada for 20 yrs but still it is hard for me to say the correct usage of gender. He/She is always mix up well because we do not specify it in different dialects and in Tagalog. We just laugh about it. I’m glad that you recognize our skills of being able to speak different dialect and I amaze of how you are able to learn bisaya as well. Good for you but still,you guys sounds funny while speaking our languages same with us speaking English.
Hi melba – Ummm.. thank you.. I think!
Actually, I never said anything about Filipinos not being able to speak English, or about pronouncing or anything… Maybe you misinterpreted something I said, I am not sure.
Well, I try to pronounce Bisaya words the proper way, and my teacher, Bebe, teaches me the proper way to say it. I think I can do pretty good.
Funny thing, I was telling my gf this morning who speaks Tagalog that should we move outside the typhoon belt I will have to teach her Bisayan. I don’t speak Bisayan or Tagalog but still can impress her with the few words and expression that I do know.
From an outsiders view, there is always so much to learn with so many dialects.
I think Dubya has a similar book of quotes
Go for Tagalog Bob – they say learning your third (or fourth or fifth) is easier than learning your second.
Hi Bob,
That joke about Americans is quite common over here in Europe! Canadians are not much better, but we do learn a bit of French in school. The one thing you have to remember is that most of the Filipinos started very young learning languages. The same here in Europe. I met a 5 year old girl in Greece who spoke 3 languages fluently – Greek, English and German. In a group of people she switched between them without even thinking. Amazing! Most people in Europe are bi- or tri-lingual, mainly because the lands are small and close together. One just has to learn more than one language.
Oh dear, I sure hope a old dog like me can learn a few new tricks. Meriam speaks 4 different languages. She told me to just stick with English. I am not very good with English! I am in deep trouble.
Hi Bob
How are you doing? What has happened to Bebe`s Bisaya lessons, they stopped quite a while ago! As you know I speak Bisaya and have learnt quite a lot of Tagalog lately. In some ways they are similar, in other ways poles apart! It does get easier to learn foreign languages after the first one or two, so I advise you to go for it! I am learning Dutch at the moment as my daughter has moved to Belgium with her dutch partner!
Keep up the good work
Regards
Malcolm
hi bob,
you don’t need to learn 2 or more words a day, you only need one!. that is 365 words in a year!
Hi Dave – The teachers are out there, but I agree, they are few and hard to find. I am very happy that I found Bebe when I did, she is the best, IMHO. Thanks for the compliment.
a lot of first generation Americans speak more than 1 language everyone i grew up with spoke at least 2 languages, we are a land of immigrants in my day it was Italians,polish, Spanish, Greek, Serbians, Russian, Ukrainians, and so on in the city’s in the usa most people speak more than one language . its the americans familys who have been here a few generations that are not bi-lingual.
Hello Bob – Maayo article. Gusto kong magtuon og Cebuano. I appreciate all your help with the setup of the lessons. I start my Skype lessons with Maestra Bebe mamaya gabii (my time).
I find my effort in learning bisaya shows respect to Juramie family. The nice part is being able to participate in the conversations with mga higala in Tagbubunga. Of course, I make mistakes with Juramie in Skype. I typed kuotan (thief)ka instead of buotan (nice)ka yesterday. Luckily, she laughed.
Hi Bob,
Go for it!! Tagalog is not hard to learn. You know Visayan already so
Tagalog won’t be hard.
You did the right thing to learn visayan first. Visayan is harder to learn.
Toting
Hi Toting – Thanks for the encouragement. Well, I am not done with my Bisaya lessons, but when I am done… maybe!
Angay jud ka malipay sa imong naabtan na kabutang sa bisaya. Naa koy kaila nga tao na maayo kaayo sa mga pinulongan, apan di niya mada ang binisaya. Nidako ko didto sa may Cebu, mauna kaya kay nako magbinisaya, apan bisan ako di kaayo kahibaw unsaun itudlo sa uban! Nalipay ko para nimo nga naa kay nakitan nga maistrang maayo. Mas nalipay sad ko nga nakakatun ka sa bisaya. Kahibaw na man siguro ka nga di kaayo sayon ang mga pinulongan, so angay ra tika pahilipayan
Salutations from Canada! I really enjoy your website and wish you all the best in your future endeavors! Kaya mo iyan!
Kumusta ka, Annely – Oi! Laluma ang imong bisaya! Ha ha… Pero, OK lang, kasabot ko! Salamat sa imong buotong mga pulong!
I guess you’re learning Cebuano. “Bisaya” could be Cebuano, Ilonggo, Waray-Waray etc. I noticed in the photo that you were in Marawi. They speak Maranao. I worked on a small project in the Visayas, and noticed the people I worked with preferred to speak English since I only knew Tagalog, they did not.
Here’s a link to a website written in Tagalog by a guy in Winnipeg (Canada) who learned the language, including the accents used in written Tagalog. It looks like he was self taught (or with the help of his Filipino friends.) Very proper.
http://www.mts.net/~pmorrow/origin.htm
Good luck.
Quite to the contrary, some of the people I met during my visits to The Philippines and those I met via internet before comming to visit spoke as good ” American English ” as if they had always lived right down the street from me here in the USA. There were other times where I had to listen more carefully, and speak a bit slower and more distinctly. The sequencing of words in a sentence were different at times but the overall communication remained consistent. That is the primary function of any language, ” communication “. Occasionally I would use a word while talking with people in The Philippines they had never heard of or did not know and I explained what it meant and directed them to how the word is used here in the USA by showing examples on web pages.
There are many different forms of the ” English ” language. As the opening pages of a hard copy dictionary commented ” The English Language is one of the most far flung languages in the world.
There are some major differences in ” English ” language where you would least expect to find it and those are the differences in ” American English ” and ” British English ”
Some of the most amusing conversations I have had are with my friends in England when these differences in a common language enter into the conversation !
Hi, Bob!
How are you?
In my case, I’m still struggling to learn Japanese which is a main language of the company I’m working with. I usually use Japanese (but not always) to communicate with our Japanese expats and customers. What’s very difficult with Japanese (or Chinese) is their ideographic writing system or Kanji. You have to learn at least 2,000 basic characters to be able to read/write the most basic words and they can be combined (with thousands of other characters) to form an almost infinite set of words. Compared that with Philippine languages-you only need to know 20 letters (of the Roman alphabet)-even simpler than that of English.
Oh by the way, I remember an incident sometime last year, when I was a riding a jeepney one night on the way to my hometown, when (would you believe?) an American lady of European descent boarded along the way with some baggage. When the jeepney made its supposedly final stop, and everybody (except the American lady) is about to get off, the jeepney driver seemed confused as why she wouldn’t get off. (I was at the other end of the seat, still observing the two but decided not to intervene.)He asked her nervously: “Where are you, Ma’am?” (Well, we know he meant: “Where to? Ma’am”) Turns out the lady was not exactly sure of where she’s going, but she has the address. After they seemed to understand each other, the jeepney driver decided just to take her to her destination address-at which point I got off. Many Filipinos (including myself even) still can get really nervous when communicating with our foreign guests. And most of us get pleasingly surprised when foreigners speak to us in our native languages-even to a small degree!
Well, good luck to your study of any of the Philippine languages! It really shows how much you give importance to your living here in our country. Mabuhay kayo, Bob!
Hi Bob. I had my first lesson with Bebe by Skype on Saturday morning (your time, Friday night my time). Everything you said about Bebe it true. Maayo sobra (tagalog?) maestra. Buotan s’ya. I am looking forward to future lessons and I am studying the lesson 2 vocabulary. Bugoy ako if I didn’t study.
The skype worked very well. Bebe was at a Kape shop and the connection was good (just in case anyone else is interested in mga leksyon using Skype.)
Salamat kaayo for your help again in setting up the lessons. Please give my regards to Bebe.
Great news, Jack! I personally believe that Bebe is a great teacher!
Hi Larry – You must have missed it, I posted this comment yesterday:
Hi Bob NY – Thanks. I have always been so impressed with Feyma’s language abilities. She can speak around 6 different languages or so. Some more than others, but that’s pretty good, I’d say. We Americans are so insulated from other languages, and have little skill in the world of languages!
“I have often wondered when I chat with people there on the internet in text format if when someone whose primary language is one of the languages of The Philippines, when they read or write do they mentally convert the English words and phrases into their own language before replying or are they conducting the conversation in all English including comprehension of the conversation.” – Bob New York
You may find the following quote hilarious, Bob, but it may answer your question in part:
Joseph Ejercito Estrada, when elected vice-president of the Philippines six years ago, was asked about his view on unicameralism — the plan to merge the Filipino congress and senate into a single house.
”The democratic system is still the best for us,” he replied. ”We should not entertain communism, unicameralism and other isms.”
It’s this uncanny knack of mangling the English language which earns Estrada notoriety, and popularity, in Filipino politics. He is especially distinguished for his penchant in dispensing new meanings to a stream of English words.
Estrada, fondly known in the Philippines as Erap, was a movie star before turning to politics, and if the public opinion polls would have it, he would be the next president of the Philippines.
Erap’s popularity on the ground is bad news for the business community who is unsure of how this enfant terrible is going to handle the economy. And it doesn’t look good, judging from Erap’s command of English. But Erap appears not particularly concerned about that. Indeed, he seeks to capitalise on his eccentricism by turning his flaws into a political asset. Three years ago, he launched a book entitled ”ERAPtion: How to Speak English Without Really Trial” which contained snippets of his more memorable comments — some of which are true, others are concocted and attributed to him.
According to the book, Erap’s eccentricity was evident even when he was at school. In a class, Erap smugly displayed his knowledge in dinosaurs — he knew of ”the tyrannosaurus, the brontosaurus and the thesaurus”. And his definition of bacteria — ”the backdoor of the cafeteria”.
A teacher once praised him for his ability to remember names. He beamed. ”I’ve a pornographic memory,” he said. And when asked whether he was asthmatic, he replied: ”No, I’ve always been Catholic.”
Legend has it that when President Ramos set up the Presidential Anti- Crime Commission (PACC) to curb the rise in major crimes, Erap immediately volunteered to head the outfit.
”I don’t have to speak correct English to catch thieves, murderers and kidnappers,” he claimed. But he was dead wrong.
On one of the PACC’s rare successes in prosecuting a gang engaged in white slavery, Erap triumphantly declared that the ”prostitution” had rested its case.
One morning, after reading that arson was suspected in a rash of fires in Manila, Erap ordered his PACC agents to hunt for ”Arson”. Apparently, ”Arson” is always a suspect in mysterious fires.
Apart from his bad English, Erap has the infamous reputation of being an unrepentant womaniser. At one singing party, before breaking into a rendition of his favourite tune, he announced: ”I’d like to dedicate this song to my one-and-only, and they are the following …”
A number of years ago, Erap was charged with sedition. When questioned about it, he replied: ”Sedition? Never! Perhaps seduction, yes. But not sedition. I’ve never ‘sediced’ anybody.”
On another occasion, a women’s group asked him to deliver the keynote speech at its function. After his speech, Erap thanked the women for giving him a ”standing ovulation — given at the sperm of the moment”.
For most people, to be interviewed live on TV can be a nightmare. But Erap thrives on such situations. One TV host asked what his favourite flower was. He answered ”chrysanthemum”. But when asked to spell the word, he hesitated. Then he said: ”Well … my real favourite is rose.”
Even when it comes to eating, Erap has the extraordinary tendency to put his foot — not food — in his mouth. At a dinner party, the host asked the guests if they would like to try some steak. A vegetarian, who sat next to Erap, politely refused: ”Thank you, but I’m afraid not.”
Erap looked squarely into the host’s eyes and told him that he wanted steak. ”I’m not afraid,” he proclaimed.
At a luncheon, he was seated next to the then president Corozon Aquino. During the meal, Aquino turned to him and said, ”Erap, rice please.” Erap promptly stood up.
There was also the celebrated story about Erap at a restaurant. Unable to get the attention of the waitress, he complained to the manager: ”I’ve been fingering the waitress for a long time, but she refuses to come.”
Once he led an entourage of his aides to a bar in New York. He stopped when confronted by the sign at the door ”Under 18 Not Allowed”, he cried with disappointment… ”There’re only 11 of us.”
Even the very young is not spared from his idiosyncrasy. Erap once tried to teach his granddaughter how to sing. ”Put your right feet in, put your left feet out,” he crooned, ”then kick them all about.” ”Dear, you’re wrong. It’s foot,” his wife corrected him. Okay, said Erap. So he sang, ”Foot your right feet in, foot your right feet out …
” The post of the vice-president which he has held over the past few years is only a heartbeat away from the country’s most powerful position. And naturally, it’s expected of Erap to be familiar with the affairs of the nation.
At one press conference, he was grilled on his objection to United States military bases in the Philippines.
”I’ll not allow the presence of those bases,” he retorted. ”It’s some sort of foreign denomination.”
While the business community is looking at the possibility of Erap becoming the next president of the Philippines with great trepidation, women are said to gain most if he were to take the highest office in the country. After all, Erap was once asked what he would do about the abortion bill if he was to become the president. He replied without hesitation… ”I’ll pay the bill”.
Hi John – I have a sort of favorite book of quotes from Estrada. It is called “ErapTION: The art of speaking English without really trial.” Have you ever seen it? It was popular in the late 90′s when Erap was President.
Some of those lines kind of remind me of commedian Morey Amsterday. Interesting reading with a good chuckle ! Maybe the world could use a few more people like this. Nothing like a bit of humor to put people into a good mood.
Hi, Bob, I think the quote from The Nation that I have just posted, written by a Steven Gan, was excerpted from ErapTION. I’m sitting here, typing on my laptop and laughing like crazy. Thanks for the article, Bob.
Hi Ed – Not trying to be picky, but Bisaya is not a dialect, it is a language in itself.
I think no matter where you or anybody would decide to settle in the Philippines, there are choices that must be made on language. Even several languages might be desired to be learned.
Hi Gary – Ha ha… Dubya probably has a multi-volume set of books!
I may do the Tagalog, but have to solidify my Bisaya first.
Hi John – Yes, Europeans (except possibly the Brits, because they are isolated by water) learn languages easily, because the countries are relatively small, and have different languages, so they hear a lot of other languages, and have a chance to practice it themselves.
I used to think that age had a lot to do with learning languages. Youngsters can indeed learn more readily, but I do not believe that advancing age is a huge handicap. I used to think so. But, what I think, from my experience is that the most important thing is getting a proper teacher. A teacher who knows how to teach a language is the most important step. I believe anybody can learn a language, at least enough to get by.
Interesting indeed. And it points up , yet again, one of the huge missed opportunities for business/income. I’m well known for tryig to awaken foreigners to the idea that there is a huge worlds market for English language teaching/tutoring online, but you know what is harder to find in the Philippines that a restaurant table that doesn’t rock back and forth continually? A Tagalog teacher.
You’ve even tried to help me on this, Bob, but my goodness it’s a commodity in short supply … either face-to-face or online.
I’ve been here just a few days less than three years now and I have yet to be able to find formal or informal training. I’m seriously think about asking my four year old nephew’s nursery school to accept me as a student .. like all the kids in my wife’s family he learned English first and now is making rapid progress in Tagalog. The tables there are a little small for me and I am sure they rock also, but it’s only for an hour or so a day. Hate to wear a uniform though
But seriously, you would think a lot of folks would be into this … Tagalog (or another local language) for adults.
I’ve heard you speak Bisaya and watched people’s faces as you spoke with them and I can attest you have been a good student and Bebe’ is a good teacher. I’m sure you will do well with whichever one you choose.
Hi Gary – You can learn a language, you just need the right teacher, somebody who is a linguist and knows how to teach a language. When you find the right person, it’s actually not very difficult.
Hi malcolm – Bebe has been busy. I hope she will do another lesson soon, but I can’t force her.
Good luck with your Dutch! I hope you do well with it.
Hi dans – I’m not sure I understand… I never said anything about needing to learn 2 words per day??? Where did that come from? I did say something about the possibility of learning more than one language, though. In general, with my lessons, I need to learn 20 to 40 new words every week.
hi bob,
sorry if you misunderstood me, what i meant to say is this, just learn one word a day or at least remember it, and in a year you’ll have 365 words to construct your own sentence. that is what i did when i am learning a foreign language, in less than a year i can fluently speak the foreign language.
I got you, dans. But, there is a lot more to learning how to speak a language than just memorizing words. Grammar is important too!
Hi mike – Yes, without a doubt, first generation Americans can speak other languages. Some first gen Americans can’t even speak English, though. But, the average American who’s family has been there for generations can usually speak only one language.
Hi Jack – a couple of “tips” – theif is “kawatan”.
Malipayon ko sa imong leksyong bisaya. Maayong maestra si Bebe!
Good luck!
Hello Alex – Yes, Cebuano, Waray, Ilonggo, etc are all branches of Bisaya. Bisaya is a language, and the others are dialects of Bisaya.
You are right, most people in Marawi speak Maranao, but most also speak Bisaya (Cebuano) and Tagalog as well. I have been to Marawi many times, and almost everybody there can speak Cebuano with no problem, although Maranao is their first language of choice, no doubt.
You are right, most people in the Visayas and also Mindanao prefer to speak English over Tagalog, which is one of the reasons I chose to learn Bisaya, or Cebuano.
Hi JR – Nice to hear from you after a bit of a break! I hope you are doing well. I am doing fine here.
Thanks for your supportive comments. I do feel that living here in the Philippines is an important part of my life, and I try to fit in here as best I can.