8 Instances of Filipino English vs.

American English Jan 6, 2014 | 18,199 views By Walter Ang 1,192SHARES Share Tweet Pin

In every region in the world that speaks English, youll notice unique slang and quirky usage. These different ways of using English add to the language, make it stay alive and keep it evolving. While Filipinos generally regard American English conventions and rules as their frame of reference for correct English, whos to say the way(s) we use English isnt (also) correct? Depending on the way you see it, its either a bastardization of a language or an indigenization of it. Now, now, its not as if were not guilty of doing the same to our own Filipino languages. See how broadcast journalists have been using the Tagalog word kaganapan (fulfillment or consummation) to mean pangyayari (event). The linguists and dictionary-makers can decide whether some of our more unique Filipino English terms and usage are (already) considered correct or not. Meanwhile, the rest of us non-experts just use them in daily life. Here are 8 instances of Filipino English terms/usage that may elicit much gnashing of teeth and knotted eyebrows or knowing nods and flat out laughs.

Pinoys have been heard saying Na stuck-up yung gulong ng sasakyan sa putik. Dont let your eyebrows get stuck-up together (tee hee), but stuck-up means arrogant.

Pinoys have been heard saying Nakahanda na lahat. You have nothing to worry. The line is usually with an about at the end, but if youre in the Philippines and you forget the about, hey, no worries!

Pinoys have been heard saying Pull a chair. If you simply pull a chair, you could end up pulling it all over the place. If you add the word up after pull, it will mean to bring a chair close to where you are and to sit on it.

Speaking of simply, Pinoys have been heard pronouncing simpler as simplier. If youre having a fight with a pronunciation-Nazi, better not pronounce simpler incorrectly, or things could get uglier.

Pinoys have been heard saying Last 2013. (Or any other date in the past.) Usually, the correct way is to say In (date), and to use last only to refer to the most recent occurence. For example, when you say Last Christmas, I gave you my

heart, it would mean you are referring to last years Christmas and not the one in 1982. Bonus: Pinoys also are used to saying last last (date) to mean the (date) before last. For example, Last last Christmas in other English-speaking regions would be said as The Christmas before last, or The Christmas two years ago.

Pinoys have been seen spelling homebody as home buddy. Perhaps its not surprising that one of the friendliest people in the world have ascribed a context of friendship into the term homebody, transforming it into home buddy and making it mean, ostensibly, a friend who likes to hang out at home? That said, homebody means a person whose life and interests are centred on the home. It may or may not be one of the characteristics of being an introvert.

Pinoys have been heard saying I (verb in past tense) already. Since we usually append na to Tagalog statements that denote actions done in the past, that may be where the already counterpart in English comes from. Just so you know, the usual way to say it is I already (verb in past tense). Perhaps you knew that already?

Pinoys have been heard saying Good morning maamsir. Unless youre going for the androgynous look, it can be pretty annoying sometimes when you certainly know you look like the gender youre supposed to be and then to have someone call you a maamsir.

However, life is too short to constantly hate on this little quirk. After all, if you put yourself in the shoes of the person greeting you, you can well imagine that its no joke to work in the service industry. It can get pretty stressful when youre up on yo ur feet the whole day on the receiving end of instructions from stressed out (and sometimes rude) customers. What if we look at maamsir as a word generated out of a need for efficiency? What if we just look at maamsir as a quintessentially Pinoy way of expressing our worldfamous courtesy and hospitality (and even gender-equality!)? Onli in da Pilipins! What other Filipino English terms or usage gets your goat or makes you laugh? Share in the Comments Section.