Difficulties in learning the Tagalog language

Image by Roberto Verzo via Flickr

Difficulties in learning the Tagalog language – http://ow.ly/41qgJ

Notes to the link above:

Even if this language is actually being taught at the Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University, some express their doubts about the appeal of Tagalog language in the international market. One major problem with learning Tagalog language is that you’ll encounter people who can speak the language but who are not proud of using it (or probably not seeing its strategic advantage) because they’d prefer to use their mother tongue, which is a common situation in the Philippines. I’ve met so many people here in the US who would rather be talked with in English (or say in Bisaya) rather than in Tagalog.

And having gained experience in doing Tagalog tutorials to some New Yorkers, I would always get surprised reactions from some people, including those who were born and raised in the Philippines, about the seeming incongruity of the idea. It’s as if it’s weirdest idea ever that they’ve encountered when it comes to offering services that they think won’t be useful. Well, there’s actually a market for the Tagalog language; you just have to be extra patient if you’ll be offering to teach it to those who are curious about learning the language. Don’t even market it to unbelievers as they’ll just waste your time.

The language itself is REALLY not that difficult to learn (and actually, language learning is a chore, to be honest about it). It’s just that some people you’ll meet abroad who will find out you’re providing Tagalog tutorials, they’ll be so amused and won’t even believe the idea at first hearing. And they’ll continue to disparage the effort to learn the language — how mean some of these people can be…But what can you actually do if some people get to be reminded of the perceived and unwanted dominance of people from Luzon (or Manila, specifically) in many realms of their lives that are pursued outside of the Philippines’ capital region whenever they hear Tagalog-speaking people in their midst.

In any case, just contact this writer in case you would like to learn Tagalog. He’s been speaking the language almost from childhood, with English. Actually, his first language is Bicol, which was then spoken in his household when he was growing up.  Needless to say, he’s proud being able to speak and do tutorials in Tagalog. He even did many proofreading works for Tagalog books (published before 1923) that were transformed into e-books via Project Gutenberg.

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Some People Can Be Mean Without Knowing It! I Can Be Mean, If Needed Be!

I’ve copy-pasted exchanges between 3 volunteer proofreaders of Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders (PGDP): myself (DYEROHM), LASERO, and MEREDITH. I’ve been doing volunteer proofreading works for Project Gutenberg for over 5 years now, mainly for Tagalog e-books. I was completely taken aback by the message sent to me by “LASERO” who sounded so contemptuous of my skills as a proofreader. He just sounded so mean to me; I only could just react, and reply with harshness myself. The saving grace though came from “MEREDITH” who sent me a message for another e-book project. “MEREDITH” was more specific, and sounded far from being judgmental. Consider reading the exchanges and judge for yourself. Consider also the context behind all these proofreading works the 3 of us are doing: we’re all DOING purely volunteer work. We don’t actually need to be put down, even for unintentional reasons. I just can’t help but be mean to others myself. Whew! (Deal with your anger management issues, yourself!!! LOL)

hi dyerohm,

i am proofing your pages of the above project that you did in p2.

i would like to ask you if you ever read the project comments, or even the proofreading guidelines?

i have never seen such poorly proofed pages in my years here.

i suggest in future that you try to proof only in p1.

thank you.

lasero

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

hello,

thanks for the feedback. you simply don’t really need to insult me, and pls watch your language, OK? i’ve never been as insulted as worst as you did…if you have nothing good to say to me just shut your mouth!

dyerohm

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hey,

I don’t know when or if you’ll read this, but I think you submitted the wrong file for this book; all that’s in it is a text file with the HTML tags and /* */ markers still intact (and looking at your other posted works, you obviously know how to do the text and HTML versions). Although I do notice you uploaded this originally in 2007, so if it’s just you were less experienced then, I would recommend taking the book back and reworking it. Also, since you’re a PPVer, you don’t have to resubmit it to the pool, unless you want others to look it other.

Hope that helps,

Meredith

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

hi,

thanks for patiently explaining to me the problems you found (unlike some stupid sounding “lasero” who have that condescending attitude towards me over mistakes i made on another proofreading project—i just wish i can copy furnish him/her this reply, just to emphasize i hate his/her approach me!!!)…i’ll work on this project again, and will certainly find time to work on it…

best,

dyerohm

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You’re welcome, and I’m glad to see you came back, as I hate seeing projects sit in the PPV queue. Smile I’m sure you know this, but just as a reminder, you can return the project to your PP queue by clicking the button at the bottom of the project page. I’ll add that while you’re welcome to upload the project to the PPV pool if you want another pair of eyes to look over it, since you have DU access, it’s recommended that you include that in the upload notes so that the other PPVers will know that you’re not a newbie PPer.

Hope that helps,

Meredith

Ang Ibong Adarna: The E-Book on a Mythical, Operatic-like Singing Bird

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Ibong Adarna (large Print Edition): Corrido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan nang tatlong Principeng Magcacapatid na Anac nang Haring Fernando at nang Reina Valeriana sa Cahariang Berbania by Anonymous

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THIS POSTING

This was written originally for my Goodreads.com account, which I posted here, too, for those who may be  curious about Philippine literature in Tagalog. Actually, the book’s a textbok, i.e, we used it in elementary school to gain ideas by reading it together and about what makes old Philippine literature tick; expect my review to be slanting toward being more positive than usual. I personally like this book as it reminds me of a funny movie by Dolphy, a Philippine ‘legendary’ comic and great actor who’s still very much around as of this writing. And after doing proofreading works with this book on Project Gutenberg, I realized there IS more to be appreciated about the book,  including its wonderful lines of lyrical poetry that I seldom get to hear nowadays.  Of course, you have to be able to speak and understand Tagalog to appreciate this book, and that’s a different endeavor altogether. Get hold of the book even on its e-book version and start reading and giving feedback about it to others. It’s really high time to get into serious reading these days when a lot of bad things are happening in our midst, of which we generally don’t have control.

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
You can actually download a copy of this book from Project Gutenberg. Here’s the link if you’d like to start reading the book online: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16157/161…

The title translates to: The Adarna Bird: Songs and the Entangled Lives of the Three Princes and Sons of King Fernando and Queen Valeriana in the Kingdom of Berbania

I got to read this book while doing volunteer proofreading works for Project Gutenberg’s Distributed Proofreaders (PGDP). Written in lyrical poetical metered tradition, it easily reads like a very florid, ancient text of a manuscript that contains formulaic passages denoting magic, charms, and of old kingdoms that we see in movies and in our dreams. Its authorship is primarily unknown, as with the case with old stories that have been passed through many generations. It can be a difficult read, even, because of its use of old Tagalog words that are usually not much in use these days. But it can be very helpful to prop up one’s Tagalog vocabulary.

Those who have seen the movie made in the 70s by the great comedian Dolphy, which included his side-kicks (but who are esteemed comedian-artists in their own right) Panchito and Babalu as well as the sexy star Rosanna Ortiz from the Philippines would be surprised that the movie veered away from the storyline of the book. This e-book is all about morals, primarily about giving respect to one’s parents even in their old age when they’re sick and out of their wits, of the value of good friendships especially during bad times, of having sustained courage as one goes to life’s challenges, of being loyal to one’s life purpose amidst all imaginable hardships, among other themes. It can very well be a good tome for a children’s book to be done in several volumes, if only drawings and other pictures have been included in many of its pages.

Ironically, I’m sharing my thoughts on this Tagalog e-book in English,as I have a feeling that only those who read primarily in English and who understand Tagalog will read this book. Plus, I have a feeling that those who will read this are those who are required to read the text as part of their curriculum in school, as well as those interested in Philippine literature and culture. Unless I get some feedback from this posting from readers who read primarily in Tagalog, then I will continue believing that Tagalog e-books, like this one, will be just be awaiting for at least 50 more years of time for more and wider readership to set in place, to take hold. It takes a lot for a culture of reading to take place, considering the presence of all kinds of distractions (internet, TV, movies, music, dance, food, shopping, etc). But I’m delighted that books like this one has been made available again, and easily accessible to all interested, curious readers out there.

View all my reviews.

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