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I have found the opposite problem...my Pinay wife knows "bigger" English words than I do. ;o))  Sometimes I'll pause when I can't think of the right word to say and ask for her help. Somehow she always knows the best words to complete my sentences. American slang and expressions are a bit of a challenge, but my she is quickly learning. She is happy that she can usually understand my Midwestern accent and the words that I use. Both having a medical background and similar education levels has been helpful for us. I am teaching her Spanish words (often the same in Bisyan or Tagalog) and she is trying to teach me Bisayan. I am a poor student. ;o))

Dave H.

You know, I’ve seen a whole lot of guys speak a kind of “baby talk” whenever they are talking to a Filipina. I think it sounds ridiculous and insulting, as if to imply that they are too stupid to understand the English language. It actually sounds as if they were speaking to a very small child. A lot of guys don’t even consciously realize that they are doing it. I just sort of turns on and off automatically.

Speaking from experience, my advice to anyone in a relationship with a Pinay would be to try to remember to communicate verbally in a normal tone with standard vocabulary, as much as possible, just as they would with their own friends or family. If your mahal has limited English skills, she will learn much faster if you just communicate in your normal way. I have found that Filipinos generally appreciate it if you don’t “talk down” to them like a lot of us Americans “seem” to be doing from their perspective. Your lady doesn’t need to feel intimidated if you reach an understanding early on and agree to correct each other’s foreign language usage (your Tagalog/her English). You need to encourage and remind her to stop you and ASK when she doesn’t understand something you say. Try it and you’ll likely be surprised at how fast she will pick up the “standard” English that we use in our every-day lives.

How about you Greg? Do you sometimes find people “talking down” to you or treating you somewhat like a child because of your handicap? No offence meant, I’m just curious as to your experience.

How’s that little Greg doing? Is he playing football yet? The Raiders will be needing him in a few years if they are going to keep beating the Chargers (LOL!)

Ray

-- Jeff S.

Ray

This may not be exactly on subject, but I thought I'd tell ya'll anyway. It's kind of funny.

A couple of months ago we went and adopted two cat's. My wife named them. One is called "Tiger", the other is "Pepper". Criselda walk's around the house calling the cat's saying, "here Tiger, here Paper!". She named the cat and doesn't even get the name right. :) LOL!

I sometimes just shake my head and yet thank my lucky star's....

Jay

I posted a story and other cautions about this particular combination 6 months ago...

Boy did I piss her off when I gave her notebook paper when she asked for pepper.

stupid me... :-)

Hi Jay,
that's me! :)
I'm also bad in pronunciation and my hubby is a bad speller. If my hubby is writing and can't remember the spelling of words He'd always ask me how to spell such words and if I'm uncertain on how to pronounce slang words I'd ask him and He would pronounce it to me slowly, It must have something to do with my hard Visayan accent :) I call him my phonics teacher and He calls me his walking dictionary actually we're learning from each other everyday :))

NNP

I'm from rural Michigan, so some of my toes aren't quite as long as they used to be. :o))

Dave H.

It's a good thing I stayed away from Northern Vietnamese women. ;o)) I strongly believe that much of who you are is not only from upbringing, but in the blood. You just described my grandmother (Dad's mother) to a T! 1/2 German and 1/2 Irish...WOW what a temper. Hugging you one minute...beating you the next. My grandfather's family were Orangeman (Scots-Irish) from N.Ire. Talk about conflict! My mother was 1/2 Scottish and 1/2 English. Fortunately, she favored the English in her calm, strong, reserved demeanor. My brother and I only saw her truly angry once in our lives and quickly realized it wasn't a good thing. My father was true to his roots and usually became enraged at the drop of a hat, and fought like a Protestant-Catholic battle in the streets of Northern Ireland. My mother knew how to calm him. He never crossed her or directed his anger at her. I never heard her raise her voice and never heard them argue. She always said that it took two to fight. She always accomplished her objective...that which was best for the family. My father always felt like he was the King and in charge. Fortunately, I have a long fuse, but then... Unfortunately, my ex learned how to bypass my long ignition sequence. I didn't think much about the fact that she was 1/2 Puerto Rican and 1/2 Cuban when I married her...two fiery cultures with no love for each other. Sometimes when I hear my sons arguing, the next sounds I hear are of metal striking metal...Ca-Ching...Clank. Then I run upstairs and confiscate all of their knives and swords. Hmmm...I wonder how well Filipina blood will mix with mine. It's a good thing that I'm getting old and no longer drink. Well...there's a half empty bottle of San Miguel in the ref, that has been there for two weeks. I drank 1/4 while I was boiling hotdogs in the other 1/4. That ought to bring the wrath of the San Miguel beer lovers down upon me. ;o))

Dave H.

Steveb

What a mix! When you and Juliet have kids, they can check the Asian/Pacific Islander box too. :o))

Along with the Spanish, my kids have Taino (Carribean Indian) as well as Canary Island blood. Not enough boxes to check.

Dave H.

steve mutt b

Ray

Please forgive me! I would have never done that with the authentic, non-imported San Miguel. Still, I know it was wrong. But those hotdogs were plump and sure tasted good! ;o)) I did use my vaccum sealer to retain the freshness of the remaining San Miguel. Hey, they started selling it at the local Spanish supermarket chain. However, San Miguel is still cheaper at the sari-sari store.

Dave H.

It's funny, Gerlie just said the same thing to me about Germans being strict.  She was concerned because I am a 1/4 German on my mother's side.

Is that another Filipina Myth for the list?  LOL

Hope all is well with you and Mr Feb :)

H

- Kevin