Travel in Tagalog is one of the world’s top tourist spots. Boasting stunning beaches and an enthralling history, Philippines have become an indispensable travel destination for millions around the globe.
However, language barriers have presented numerous travelers with difficulties when visiting the Philippines. To minimize such difficulties and ensure a smooth experience when visiting, it would be prudent to learn Tagalog before visiting.
1. Ask where things are
Philippines are an archipelago of islands, and Tagalog, their official language, has adopted words from different cultures that have had an influence over its development – Arabic, Chinese, Indian and Malaysian being among them.
Philippine writers have borrowed many grammatical forms and concepts from English, leading foreign learners to be confused by Philippine grammar. For instance, Filipinos frequently use English terms such as days of the week and months of the year in conversation but often add in Tagalog words which change their meaning in daily conversations.
English-speakers might find Tagalog difficult, but those willing to put forth effort will find that its vocabulary and grammar provide ample opportunity. Pronunciation is generally straightforward, while there are also a few grammatical features which are refreshingly straightforward.
2. Greet and introduce yourself
When meeting someone new, the first step toward making an impressionful first meeting should be greeting and introducing yourself. Doing this can lead to positive outcomes and create long-lasting impressions.
“Tom is my kaibigan,” you would say in Tagalog, or alternatively use the informal greeting ako for short.
Ask someone how they’re doing by saying kumusta (this phrase resembles Spanish “como estas?”).
An effective way to learn Tagalog is through tutoring. A tutor can keep your language goals on track while making learning enjoyable, as well as teach pronunciation of words; this is crucial as most words in Tagalog are phonetic so sounding out letters is key for getting close to what the word actually stands for.
3. Express what you need and want
Tagalog is filled with foreign words, predominantly Spanish and English due to its long history under Spanish (and later American) rule. Additionally, Filipinos tend to be more comfortable speaking American or Spanish forms due to code-switching between these languages.
“Okay” (pronounced similar to ‘yes’ in English) is often heard when agreeing with or seeking permission for something, as well as when showing regret or expressing sympathy. Tagalog uses an ergative-absolutive word order; therefore the subjects of intransitive verbs are treated like objects when used with transitive verbs, and there exists both an inclusive first person singular pronoun and exclusive first person plural pronouns for first-person singular and plural subjects of sentences.
4. Ask for the time
Tagalog is one of the world’s most commonly spoken languages in both the Philippines and globally; thus making it an integral part of cultural life in many countries including America and Canada.
Telling time in Tagalog is straightforward. Hours and minutes have similar English translations; however, their phrases differ. For instance, “a quarter to seven” would be expressed in Tagalog as: labinlimang minuto sa oras ng gabi.
Tagalog, like many Asian languages, belongs to the Austronesian family of languages; these include Hawaiian and Malay among many others. Many Tagalog words also have roots in Arabic, Chinese and Spanish languages – making its unique combination of culture and history truly captivating and vibrant.
5. Shop for things
Discovering Tagalog will open up new doors for you – whether that is on holiday, impressing a business partner, or finding true love! It could open doors that were previously closed to you.
Tagalog (Taga-ilog) is the principal language spoken in the Philippines and second most spoken non-English language worldwide, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of Austronesian languages.
Baybayin script, a syllabic alphabet with letters with inherent vowels as well as those needing diacritics above them, is used for its writing system. Furthermore, vowels tend to be pronounced separately rather than as diphthongs for easier reading – giving an English-sounding edge!
Due to Spanish and American colonialism, many English words have made their way into Tagalog; these, together with Chinese and Indian elements make the language easier to grasp than initially imagined.
6. Order food in a restaurant
Tagalog is an easy language to learn. Its alphabet combines 26 Latin letters with some sounds influenced by English, Spanish, Chinese Arabic and Malay sounds – making for a relatively quick learning process!
This course will equip you with essential travel-related phrases in Tagalog for your trip, such as those required to ask for directions, greet and introduce yourself, express needs/wants and inquire of time. In addition, the course will teach you to shop and describe items by size/color before ordering food from restaurants while having conversations about meals as well as asking for assistance during emergencies! All in all, the course will make your experience in the Philippines even more fun and memorable allowing you to take your time exploring this vibrant country!
7. Have a conversation about food
Filipinos take great pleasure in conversing while dining, not seeing it as rude or inconsiderate but as an opportunity to display their skills as conversationalists while creating genuine bonds between themselves and those they dine with.
If you are allergic to peanuts (mani), or are unsure of the ingredients of a dish, it is important to inform your waiter. Simply ask “Pahingi ko ng Menu?,” so he or she can inform the kitchen accordingly.
Tagalog is an exciting language with roots in Arabic, Sanskrit, Chinese and English that has undergone gradual adaptation over the years. As one of the primary spoken languages in the Philippines and increasingly becoming the norm among immigrant communities overseas, knowing basic words and phrases of Tagalog should be essential knowledge for anyone traveling there.