Language Snobs

[puppyandroses]

On my perspective, the reason why some Filipinos would rather converse in English is because they really don't want to attract other people's attention. Most of you noticed when someone talking so loudly on thier native vernacular, I bet you'd likely to turn your head and check that person(s) by curiosity. As much as possible when I met a Pinay and happens to know her, I'd speak to her in Tagalog/Cebuano in lower voice so as not to turn other people's heads on us. It's also a way of respecting native English speaker's sanity. We tend to eavesdrop, right? Can you imagine a native English speaker listening to a language that they don't understand? You're driving them nuts!

To those Filipinos who have higher education, whom would rather interact and converse in English --- this has nothing to do with superiority or being a snob or arrrogant but it's a matter of being confident to oneself who's able to relate to others, not just in Tagalog/Cebuano but also has fluency in English. But not all who have college education speaks English fluently, some still have rough edges that needs refinement.

Finally, when you met a Filipino (who grows up in the Philipines and came in the US) and can be able to speak English smoothly, don't be envious to them. Spend time working on your English language and accent, rather than grudging other Filipinos who speak way better than you. It doesn't have to be perfect, as long as you can communicate them clearly and be understood, that's what matters.

[puppyandroses]

On my perspective, the reason why some Filipinos would rather converse in English is because they really don't want to attract other people's attention. Most of you noticed when someone talking so loudly on thier native vernacular, I bet you'd likely to turn your head and check that person(s) by curiosity. As much as possible when I met a Pinay and happens to know her, I'd speak to her in Tagalog/Cebuano in lower voice so as not to turn other people's heads on us. It's also a way of respecting native English speaker's sanity. We tend to eavesdrop, right? Can you imagine a native English speaker listening to a language that they don't understand? Drive you nuts!

To those Filipinos who have higher education, whom would rather interact and converse in English --- this has nothing to do with superiority or being a snob or arrrogant but it's a matter of being confident to oneself who's able to relate to others, not just in Tagalog/Cebuano but also has fluency in English. But not all who have college education speaks English fluently, some still have rough edges that needs refinement.

Finally, when you met a Filipino (who grows up in the Philipines and came in the US) and can be able to speak English smoothly, don't be envious to them. Spend time working on your English language and accent, rather than grudging other Filipinos who speak way better than you. It doesn't have to be perfect, as long as you can communicate them clearly and be understood, that's what matters.

[LornaDoone]

To those Filipinos who have higher education, whom would rather interact and converse in English --- this has nothing to do with superiority or being a snob or arrrogant but it's a matter of being confident to oneself who's able to relate to others, not just in Tagalog/Cebuano but also has fluency in English. But not all who have college education speaks English fluently, some still have rough edges that needs refinement.

If one is truly intelligent, it should be relatively easy to converse with anyone about anything and find individuals who are intelligent regardless of their formal schooling.

Spend time working on your English language and accent,

then they are no longer Filipina. they must be American or non pure Filipina. I suggest find a kana instead of Filipina.

[LornaDoone]

puppyandroses;247552]On my perspective, the reason why some Filipinos would rather converse in English is because they really don't want to attract other people's attention.

If they attract other people's attention, they must be talking very loud.

Most of you noticed when someone talking so loudly on thier native vernacular, I bet you'd likely to turn your head and check that person(s) by curiosity.

do you mean they are not used to seeing people from different backgrounds? they must spend their whole life living in Alabama; and that is making them narrowminded and ignorant in comparison to the rest of America

As much as possible when I met a Pinay and happens to know her, I'd speak to her in Tagalog/Cebuano in lower voice so as not to turn other people's heads on us. It's also a way of respecting native English speaker's sanity.

I agree, if there are non Filipinos around, they should be speaking English. Some people make a big deal out of it; some do not mind if their wife speaks her own language, because that is the only chance she has to speak her native language here in the US.

We tend to eavesdrop, right? Can you imagine a native English speaker listening to a language that they don't understand? Drive you nuts!

you'd be better off marrying a Filipina, if listening to people speaking in a foreign language drives you nuts.

To those Filipinos who have higher education, whom would rather interact and converse in English --- this has nothing to do with superiority or being a snob or arrrogant but it's a matter of being confident to oneself who's able to relate to others, not just in Tagalog/Cebuano but also has fluency in English. But not all who have college education speaks English fluently, some still have rough edges that needs refinement

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intelligence has nothing to do with having formal education. it is "common sense"; you either have good sense, or not. having a formal education is good for making a good living.




[/quote]

[LornaDoone]

Finally, when you met a Filipino (who grows up in the Philipines and came in the US) and can be able to speak English smoothly, don't be envious to them. Spend time working on your English language and accent, rather than grudging other Filipinos who speak way better than you.

I never heard that before some people are envious or feel grudging to other people because they speak perfect English.

[puppyandroses]

If someone can’t communicate in English well how can she/he be able to function effectively in this country? How can that person find a job? I mean, not just a job but a career. Get real. I am not trying to demean other Filipinos, all I want us, Filipinos, is to excel in this new country. You’re no longer in the Philippines, your life is now evolving around American cultures, and you have to adapt to fit in to this society. Don’t seclude yourself to Filipinos exclusively --- because majority of the populations here are Americans, and that’s the fact. What if there’s no Filipinos in your neighborhood and no Filipino co-workers in the company your working, are you going to seclude yourself then?

Language barrier is one of the problems that a Filipino will face when coming to America. It’s hard to interact and make friends to locals when one has a communication problem --- because of the fear that people might laugh and misunderstand you. But most Americans are forgiving and patience when dealing with non-native speakers, although some are stereotypical about it. They’re mostly cautious about not offending non-native speakers feelings so they tend to listen carefully and help you out enunciate words that you are trying to express. And I can attest to that.

We don’t have to be negative towards Filipinos not conversing in our own language when in public. I am sure each and every one of you experienced blurting out words in English subconsciously when talking to other Filipinos without the intentions of showing off your fluency in English language. Have you ever contemplated in English when you’re driving alone? Have you ever cussed in English profanity when you’ve done something stupid? Have you listened to Lea Salonga when she talked? She mostly speaks in English even if she didn’t mean it. I bet she’s not trying to insult or make us feel small because she spoke English fluently. She’s just being spontaneous. At the end of the day, English will be part of our system as we get used and comfortable with it. It will be engraved in our brain then, as we keep using it for a very long time.

Also, we don’t have to worry about those Filipinos not speaking in our language when in public, because when these people attend Filipino conclaves and gatherings, definitely they’ll be jabbering non-stop in our lingos.

As I said on my earlier post, this has nothing to do with the notion of superiority but it has to do with one’s adaptability with the second language. Get the grip, this is a new country, be realistic that English is the spoken language here. You don’t come to one’s country to teach them your language and cultures; it’s the other way around.


Lastly, I really don’t like commenting just the context of the whole post. Because sometimes we misinterpret idea, as you know our brain physiology don’t work and think in the same manner. If you would like to comment, lay your perspective not just quoting and picking context and even distorting the whole post. You don’t have to be antagonistic, chill.

And if we are going to debate this back and forth, no one will win. This will go on and on and on. Nevertheless, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilonggo, et al. will always our mother tongue.

PS: I may not be able to reply to all your comments here at once because I have a full-time job, part-time school and I also have a life. I don’t spend much of my time stressing out and criticizing compatriots for not speaking their own vernaculars to other Filipinos when in public. That’s one of the Filipino mentality that I want to outgrow. I was able to post here then because I have three day weekend Memorial holiday off. If you’ll have tons of comments (context quotes), compiled it and I’ll get back with you on my next three day weekend holiday.

Peace, buddy!

[Dabyano]

In my part of the country, many people speak Spanish. Spanish is spoken at home, at work, in social situations and in professional situations. Most people here, prefer to speak Spanish to other Spanish speakers. Unless you keep yourself locked in your house and do not turn on the radio or TV, you will hear [and speak] Spanish every day.

To me, there is no difference if the language is Tagalog [or in our case, Visayian]. Speak whatever is comfortable. In my part of the country, people are used to hearing more than one language, even if they don't understand everything that is being said. Around here, you say something. If the person does not understand, switch languages and say it again. Most people here just jump around back and forth from one language to the the other [Spanglish]. So "Taglish" is no big deal.

True, you do need to be understood and you do need to understand what is being said. But the ladies that I was talking about in my original post were using language as a weapon or a shield rather than a way to understand. Should English be the dominant language? Yeah, I think so, but, this is America, a multi-cultural society.

Daby

[LornaDoone]

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puppyandroses;247559]
If someone can’t communicate in English well how can she/he be able to function effectively in this country?

Of course, it is okay to be able to speak English well; nobody is disagreeing with you about that.

How can that person find a job? I mean, not just a job but a career. Get real. I am not trying to demean other Filipinos, all I want us, Filipinos, is to excel in this new country. You’re no longer in the Philippines, your life is now evolving around American cultures, and you have to adapt to fit in to this society. Don’t seclude yourself to Filipinos exclusively --- because majority of the populations here are Americans, and that’s the fact. What if there’s no Filipinos in your neighborhood and no Filipino co-workers in the company your working, are you going to seclude yourself then?

I did not mean I only want to limit myself to contact with filipino people; in fact, I enjoy mingling with different types of people, from different races & different backgrounds, such as hispanic, asian, polish etc etc

Language barrier is one of the problems that a Filipino will face when coming to America. It’s hard to interact and make friends to locals when one has a communication problem --- because of the fear that people might laugh and misunderstand you. But most Americans are forgiving and patience when dealing with non-native speakers, although some are stereotypical about it. They’re mostly cautious about not offending non-native speakers feelings so they tend to listen carefully and help you out enunciate words that you are trying to express. And I can attest to that.

well..duh..blah blah blah blah

We don’t have to be negative towards Filipinos not conversing in our own language when in public. .

you are the only one here who is negative, for telling us "don't do that, don't do these because" etc etc.

I defitenitely don't care whether other Filipino people speak tagalog or not. You are the ones who make a big deal out of how they're supposed to act in public, and when to speak English or tagalog.

Also, we don’t have to worry about those Filipinos not speaking in our language when in public, because when these people attend Filipino conclaves and gatherings, definitely they’ll be jabbering non-stop in our lingos.

try to teach them your language and cultures; it’s the other way around.

If they're intersted to learn our culture they always find ways; I am proud of my culture as a Filipino, but I don't want to force my culture on other people who are not even asking about it. People find unsolicited advice or teaching annoying.

Lastly, I really don’t like commenting just the context of the whole post. Because sometimes we misinterpret idea, as you know our brain physiology don’t work and think in the same manner.

Exactly you did misinterpret my previous post

if you would like to comment, lay your perspective not just quoting and picking context and even distorting the whole post

I answer the way I think to be appropriate; don't dictate to me about how I should answer. I never distorted your whole post; I just answered it directly,and to the point. If you don't like the way it is, then that is your problem.

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You don’t have to be antagonistic, chill.

I do not feel antagonized by your posts. I may sound that way, but I'm sure I never felt antagonized by your posts; why should I? I have a high tolerance for those people who have different opinions than mine, unless they happen to be my husband. I don't need to force my opinons on other people because everyone has different opinions and it doesn't mean yours are better than others'.

And if we are going to debate this back and forth, no one will win. This will go on and on and on. Nevertheless, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilonggo, et al. will always our mother tongue.

PS: I may not be able to reply to all your comments here at once because I have a full-time job, part-time school and I also have a life. I don’t spend much of my time stressing out and criticizing compatriots for not speaking their own vernaculars to other Filipinos when in public. That’s one of the Filipino mentality that I want to outgrow. I was able to post here then because I have three day weekend Memorial holiday off. If you’ll have tons of comments (context quotes), compiled it and I’ll get back with you on my next three day weekend holiday.

Peace, buddy!

Well..good luck in your schooling, I hope you succeed in whatever dreams you want to have.