Comments on: “It’s Over There” Communication Differences in the Philippines http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/ A Forum about an American Expat Living in Davao, Philippines Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:31:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-5125 Bruce Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:45:07 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-5125 Rey, Even in English there are sayings if taken literally It would mean something different. That is why, even when you learn a language from a book or a good teacher, you will need to adjust it for local usages. Rey,
Even in English there are sayings if taken literally It would mean something different. That is why, even when you learn a language from a book or a good teacher, you will need to adjust it for local usages.

]]> By: Rey Pinyoko http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-5120 Rey Pinyoko Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:39:37 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-5120 Bruce, we filipinos also find it difficult to understand each other hahaha. you will be more amused when you find out that the colloquial tagalog we are using now and what it meant when transalated into it's direct tagalog meanings..yeah there's a direct tagalog hehehe. example: "pahiram mo ng sipon ang kapatid mo"..direct translation in english is "wipe your brother/sister's (face) with snot". what we really meant is "pawiin/punasan mo ang sipon ng kapatid mo" ,"wipe your brother/sister's snot" lol Bruce, we filipinos also find it difficult to understand each other hahaha. you will be more amused when you find out that the colloquial tagalog we are using now and what it meant when transalated into it’s direct tagalog meanings..yeah there’s a direct tagalog hehehe.
example: “pahiram mo ng sipon ang kapatid mo”..direct translation in english is “wipe your brother/sister’s (face) with snot”. what we really meant is “pawiin/punasan mo ang sipon ng kapatid mo” ,”wipe your brother/sister’s snot”
lol

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2885 Bruce Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:37:31 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2885 Pinaywife, I am glad I made you laugh, if you lived here and knew me, you would hear me joke very often. The word I eluded to to wildcat is an old tagalog word for F___ You. I will not print it here. Pinaywife,
I am glad I made you laugh, if you lived here and knew me, you would hear me joke very often.
The word I eluded to to wildcat is an old tagalog word for F___ You. I will not print it here.

]]> By: pinaywife http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2879 pinaywife Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:54:01 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2879 great post, Bruce! I was rolling with laughter and I do agree we Pinoys have unique ways of non-verbal communication. Here in Cambodia, there are lots of Filipino teachers, I have one friend (a teacher) who said students in her school knows now that if you make the "psssssst!" sound and somebody turns around or responds, 99.9% sure that person is Filipino :) i also agree with wildcat, I consider myself moderately fluent in Tagalog as I've lived in Manila for more than 10 years but there are really "deep Tagalog" words that I don't understand myself. I was raised in Bicol and our language is a mixture of Bicol, Bisaya with a lot of Spanish phrases.. great post, Bruce! I was rolling with laughter and I do agree we Pinoys have unique ways of non-verbal communication. Here in Cambodia, there are lots of Filipino teachers, I have one friend (a teacher) who said students in her school knows now that if you make the “psssssst!” sound and somebody turns around or responds, 99.9% sure that person is Filipino :)

i also agree with wildcat, I consider myself moderately fluent in Tagalog as I’ve lived in Manila for more than 10 years but there are really “deep Tagalog” words that I don’t understand myself. I was raised in Bicol and our language is a mixture of Bicol, Bisaya with a lot of Spanish phrases..

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2763 Bruce Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:05:33 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2763 Evelyn, Actions and gestures might speak louder but can be misunderstood. As you know and have read, with our cultures beeing so different, I am trying to learn and understand. That is why I enjoy Filipinos reading my site and letting me know if my observations are correct from my view or if I am wrong with my understanding. Evelyn,
Actions and gestures might speak louder but can be misunderstood. As you know and have read, with our cultures beeing so different, I am trying to learn and understand. That is why I enjoy Filipinos reading my site and letting me know if my observations are correct from my view or if I am wrong with my understanding.

]]> By: Evelyn http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2735 Evelyn Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:33:49 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2735 yah i know words are much less confusing but there's a saying that says "actions or gestures speak louder than words"..so there you go... i am glad you are learning so many things there now..that is what we call immersion....immersing yourself to a new culture.. just hang in there and just enjoy every moment you are having there..hi to elena for me yah i know words are much less confusing but there’s a saying that says “actions or gestures speak louder than words”..so there you go…
i am glad you are learning so many things there now..that is what we call immersion….immersing yourself to a new culture..
just hang in there and just enjoy every moment you are having there..hi to elena for me

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2734 Bruce Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:14:34 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2734 Lynne, This is reminding me of an old college drinking game, you had to point with your elbow. If you used your finger you would have to take a drink. Lynne,
This is reminding me of an old college drinking game, you had to point with your elbow. If you used your finger you would have to take a drink.

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2733 Bruce Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:09:32 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2733 Banot, Yes American humor and Philippine humor is so different. Also Filipinos, even if fluent in English do not think of double meanings. Picking each others nose???? Now that is a close marriage. hahaha Banot,
Yes American humor and Philippine humor is so different. Also Filipinos, even if fluent in English do not think of double meanings.
Picking each others nose???? Now that is a close marriage. hahaha

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2730 Bruce Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:04:12 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2730 Wildcat, I was not looking for translations. It is just the old tagalog word I know is very bad. But thanks for the offer. Wildcat,
I was not looking for translations. It is just the old tagalog word I know is very bad. But thanks for the offer.

]]> By: Bruce http://americanindavao.com/blog/2009/06/%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-over-there%e2%80%9d-communication-differences-in-the-philippines/comment-page-1/#comment-2729 Bruce Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:02:38 +0000 http://americanindavao.com/blog/?p=740#comment-2729 Evelyn, I am sorry I missed replying to you. As I see here, lips are to point directly at something and fingers is for an action or general location. With lips, index finger and eyebrows, words are much less confusing. Evelyn,
I am sorry I missed replying to you. As I see here, lips are to point directly at something and fingers is for an action or general location. With lips, index finger and eyebrows, words are much less confusing.

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