I think we should avoid Filipinoism while talking to foreigners
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
Calgary, Alberta
June 9, 2012 6:12pm CST
I had seen so many foreigners here in mylot having a hard time to understand and conversing with Filipino members not because they cant speak English but because they use Filipinism or Filipinoism a lot. Sometimes misunderstandings turns into fight and its not funny anymore.
What is Filipinism? well there are English words that means different in the Phillippines. I notice a lot of Filipinos here cant help using Filipinism to foreigners.
For example, The word Maniac-internationally it means a crazy and hostile person, here it means a sexx offender.
The word Salvaged, It means assassinated in our country.
Then this word had been a cause of many fights between Filipinos and foreigners here in mylot. The word Gay.... Its a word that originally means happy, but I think some time in the 70's it became a word associated with homosexuality. Apparently in the Philippines this word is associated with male to female transexuals.
In the west, Transexuals and transvestites are not counted as gay.They see Transexual women as real women.
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Then there is the word Liberated- It means free from oppression in western societies...But here in our country, its like a term for skanky women.
I just want Filipinos not to involved with fights that leads to arguments again due to the rapid use of filipinism. I know there are some harmless Filipinisms that we can use to foreigners but there are some that can put us in trouble,
6 responses
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
10 Jun 12
We must be careful the words we used in all our post. I understand it will turn to misunderstanding and sometimes misleading.
Filipinos are aware on it, so need to insist our own language to others especially if they are not among us. If misunderstanding arise, don't argue. Instead, support your words with a clarification.
Filipinos are aware on it, so need to insist our own language to others especially if they are not among us. If misunderstanding arise, don't argue. Instead, support your words with a clarification.1 person likes this
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
11 Jun 12
I agree with you. Lot of our words definitely misleading. Our countrymen should bear in mind that some of our words have different meaning in other country. Instead of insisting our own point of view, they should mean others welfare to minimize disputes with other mylotters
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jun 12
sometimes instead of clarifying, a lot of them is makign the misunderstanding get worst, they kept on insisting and pushing our use for that words which means different on their countries. the word tomboy means a boyish girl or a girl who is athletic and tough but in our country it means a butch lesbian.
Lots of straight American women call them selves tomboys, if they said that to Filipinos, Pinoys will think they were lesbians,but the word Tomboy doesnt mean lesbian.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
10 Jun 12
Well, I'm a local.
You do have a point. Using Filipinoism is an action that might confuse other people who are not' familiar with our languages and idioms. Although, I think explaining the term would be another chance to discuss the said term.
I guess sometimes we cannot help ourselves. We are so used in using it in our everyday language that we use them all the time, even on international sites like this (mylot) and when communication with foreigners by any means.
I guess that each culture has its own quirks. But, yes, we should avoid them for the sake of clarity.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jun 12
what Filipinism you hated the most? Mine would be "pure american" (when it comes to talking about white people) Ask a white American what is their lineage and they will mention different european lineages. American is not a race. Its a nationality. Lucy Liu have Chinese parents and she is American. Eminem is American but his ethnic background is Polish,Scottish,English, Luxomborgian and Swiss.
The real Americans are Native American Indians like Pocahontas.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jun 12
its posted in the Philippines category, intentionally targeted to Filipino mylotters.But everyone is welcome.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jun 12
Help I am invaded 
, three times. 
Thats like the Phillippine History, Fist Spain, Next USA, then Japan.
, three times. Thats like the Phillippine History, Fist Spain, Next USA, then Japan.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
13 Jun 12
That's true Albert. We should be careful in our choice of words whenever we post some discussions.
If other nationality would argue on the meaning of the word, then politely tell them it's what it's meant here in the Philippines.
Nice of you to mention those words albert. You really are very observant and wise.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
14 Jun 12
Oh yes, i know that too Albert.
SO can you tell us other words that connotes another meaning in western societies, albert?
I'd like to enrich my knowledge .
SO can you tell us other words that connotes another meaning in western societies, albert?
I'd like to enrich my knowledge . @CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
15 Jun 12
barbecue, for Americans this is a barbecue:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/BBQ_Food.jpg/800px-BBQ_Food.jpg
for Filipinos this is a barbecue
http://www.longislandpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/chicken_skewers.jpg
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step in---sandals
gimmick- In the Philippines it means to hangout, gimmick refers more as an image or persona.
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Now here are some Americanisms Filipinos and even some non Americans wont understand.(lol a lot of Brits dont understand these words,) we need to learn some of these so we will understand what they say.
Badass- It means you are cool and awesome, well some Filipinos thought its an insult cos of the word bad and a$$.
Do the Math- It means doit with your self, dont ask for help
smart alec- sounds like a cool word,well its an insult
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jun 12
I really want the fights to be ended and seeing more fights starting just because a Filipino mylotter used a term that means different on their country is a lame reason for a fight but I encountered many Filipino mylotters getting through trouble because they used Filipinoism.
another thing I can add, Tomboy doesnt mean lesbian in western societies, Its a term for a boyish girl or a sporty girl. so yeah if an American woman said she is a tomboy, it doesnt mean she is a lesbian.
@jeth88 (68)
• Manila, Philippines
10 Jun 12
Thanks for reminding us about these words and situation. I will always keep this in my mind. :)
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32693)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jun 12
okay then, using simple english will make things easier. just try to search those terms they wont understand and avoid them.
@PhillyDreamer (3039)
• United States
10 Jun 12
Liberated would be a euphimism for a skanky woman here in the US as well. That's cool, I do finds that sometimes MyLotters use a different term to describe things, and sometimes I try to read the word the way they are trying to use it. I do admit though, my own English is taking a hit as I find the grammar check is catching more mistakes. LOL.
1 person likes this
