Language Issues with Your Filipino Lady

Most Filipino’s (who have gone to school) were taught English. English is the Philippines second language. No other Asian country has as many English speakers. Street signs, and the labels on products in stores, are all in English. You can communicate easily and survive without speaking a word of Tagalog in the Philippines.

 However, most ordinary Filipinos prefer to speak Tagalog during every day conversations, or in whatever regional dialect is spoken where they live. The less educated and the poorer the person is….and the further you get from Manila…the less that person will want to have a conversation in English. Those that are forced to speak English to communicate with you will commonly say – “it gives them a nose bleed”

The Aussie Mumble

One very important thing you should recognize is that – very few will learn how to speak or understand the Aussie Mumble! I can honestly say being and Aussie myself, that we tend to mutilate the English language, pronouncing some words very strangely. We make entire sentences sound like single, long words, by running words into each other.

Entire letters can be mumbled away into oblivion. Our adenoids are just as important to speech as our vocal chords are! As the locals are fond of saying - we “swallow our words.” There isn’t any clear exact pronunciation for the Aussie. No-way-mate!  And the poor ladies have to try to interpret what the heck we are talking about in our mumbling Aussie drawl. 

No worries – your Mahal will get used to it in time, just as you will have to get used to her accent, which is another whole issue that we will leave for another post!

So until she gets used to your accent and speech patterns: Speak slowly. Speak clearly.

Try to annunciate each letter and syllable of a word, the ones that we have long considered superfluous.  And very importantly - encourage her to please TELL you if she doesn’t understand what you, or other Aussie family or friends are saying. What’s funny is that she will feel like it is her English that is poor when she is in your world of language mutilators and mumblers, and not yours!

The “Shy” Filipino Stereotype

Filipinos may avoid talking to English speaking people, or even make eye-contact if they feel insecure with their English and be embarrassed, which comes off as shy, and to Aussie’s, this can also be seen as a sign of rudeness or contempt. Explain to her and try to help her overcome her shyness so as to not cause any unnecessary offense or misunderstandings with your relatives and friends, who may think she is being aloof or ignorant. Explain this to them also.

When you are with her family, realize that this is why they may seem to be ignoring you, just because they feel embarrassed about their poor English. While it is fun and cute for you to learn Tagalog, and a little is useful, her improving her English is much more practical.

So just hang in there, it is a learning experience, and you and your Mahal will gradually be in sync and understanding each other on a higher level. And remember - love conquers all!