Zephaniah Trust

"taking light into dark corners"

Language

LANGUAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Christian Aid told us before we went that there are more than 100 cultural groups in the Philippines, speaking approximately 87 dialects.

"Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language, but English (using American terminology for the most part) is spoken widely among the middle class. Most people who have attended high school have some proficiency in English," but we were warned to be prepared to speak slowly and clearly. "Provincial urban and remote rural communities tend to use a local language. Spanish is no longer in use."

chatting with the children of one of the barrios on Negros in their community centre on Independence Day

USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES

salamat - thank you

mabuhay - greetings or welcome

kumusta? - how are you?

sige - ok, that's fine, goodbye

barrio - village

sitio - small settlement

barangay - municipal district

banca - small boat

palay - paddy (i.e. rice plant)

carabao - water buffalo

pastor - protestant priest/vicar

Padre - priest (RC)

We found that most people understand English very well, and all the signs and public notices seem to be in English, and we heard some Christian songs and many popular songs in English, but in conversation, everyone apart from the hill people in Mindanao where interpreters were essential, seemed to speak Tagalon.

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