...do you snicker or laugh when a beginner foreigner speaks Filipno?
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
May 31, 2011 12:19am CST
I often wonder why we Filipinos (in guise of reporters of any kind) try to coax some foreigners or half-Filipinos who are famous in speaking our language, Filipino. I personally don't know why they do it or even think to request something like that. Why do you think people pressure a foreigner into speaking another unknown language? Is it a tactic to make us more closer to them? or should we act surprised that they can actually speak even the simplest terms?
Then, there are people who snicker or laugh when they hear a foreigner's attempt to speak our mother language. Why do think this happens?
5 responses
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
31 May 11
Hello Jeanne,
I really hate to say this and ashamed of myself sometimes, but yeah, i can't help feel the embarrassment if they are saying it wrong in pronunciation. but it made me realize, why get mad when americans get mad if we are saying english wrong most specially those who are not trained in efficiency.
It's an HONOR! if a foreigner learns our Language
because most filipinos now a days are more addicted in learning english and not teaching their mother tongue. and the most frustrating is that i get upset when eer some one tries to teach me our native tongue because i don't have the desire to learn it no more.
Learning tagalog is not easy to foreigners unless they have Filipina or Filipino spouses. look at Ogie Algasids ex wife Michelle, i was surprise for her speaking tagalog because of ogie.
Why do you think this happens? maybe Filipinos in majority aren't used to seeing foreigners speaking tagalog. i don't see anything wrong with it.
because most filipinos now a days are more addicted in learning english and not teaching their mother tongue. and the most frustrating is that i get upset when eer some one tries to teach me our native tongue because i don't have the desire to learn it no more.
Learning tagalog is not easy to foreigners unless they have Filipina or Filipino spouses. look at Ogie Algasids ex wife Michelle, i was surprise for her speaking tagalog because of ogie.
Why do you think this happens? maybe Filipinos in majority aren't used to seeing foreigners speaking tagalog. i don't see anything wrong with it.@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
31 May 11
Well, I am afraid that I'm guilty of that particular habit. But I now see and understand your view. Of course, it would be a struggle to take up an entirely new subject and impress the native speakers (a good reason why I'm not going to France anytime soon, that aside form the plane ticket).
I also have this 'shock' if you will, when I hear a foreigner speak our mother country, be it flawlessly or in a 'broken' state. I guess they do take the time to learn even though they do have a limited time and education about our language.
They should just not try to speak it...
@greenpeas (998)
• Philippines
31 May 11
I dont think it was meant to ridicule, but as a sign of gratitude and happiness. Other cultures when you misspoke their language they are just silent and later you hear criticisms from them. But we Filipinos, we take it lightly and we forgive foreigners for their mistakes in our language because we know they are not used to it.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 May 11
We request a foreigner to speak our language , even if we are just coaxing them , because we feel proud that a foreigner gets to speak Filipino.
And to think, that some Filipinos, when already abroad, would try hard to speak English with the slang twang, even when with fellow Filipinos only.
