In my recent video comparing Indonesian and Tagalog, I mentioned that Spanish has had a big impact on Tagalog vocabulary, since the Philippines was controlled by Spain for hundreds of years. An estimated 20% -33% of Tagalog vocabulary is of Spanish origin. This vocabulary is deeply Continue reading
Tagalog
25 Basic Tagalog Phrases and Greetings
Who needs Tagalog?! Filipinos pretty much all speak English, right?!
Well, yeah, more or less. But when you’re visiting a country as social and fun as the Philippines, knowing some Tagalog will not only endear you to the locals, but inspire almost inexplicable positivity everywhere you go. Continue reading
2 Weeks In Philippines – Experiences With Tagalog
Here I am at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport on my way home from a 2 week sojourn in Philippines (or Pilipinas as thy call it here). Before departing for this trip I had studied Tagalog (aka Filipino) for about a month, and as usual learning the basics of the language made for a richer, more Continue reading
Tagalog 12 Days In – Some Interesting Discoveries!
It`s always fascinating and exciting when I first start studying a new language, because that`s when I discover so many of the language`s unique peculiarities, as well as its similarities with other languages. You get an introduction into the personality of the language and culture. Continue reading
Taglish, motherf*@ker! Do you speak it?!
A funny thing you`ll notice when you visit the Philippines – especially Manila – is that people do a lot of codeswitching, meaning they switch between languages, mid-stream (as opposed to switching languages for different activities). Continue reading