Understanding the Language and the Culture

A guest of out list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LivingInThePhilippines3
wrote to another:

I just wanted to answer your question. It can be a bit complex but here it is:

It has been said that to learn the language you will learn and/or understand the culture.

I just wanted to give you this background to answer your next question. Any archaeology, Sociology or Human Geography discipline would tell you. Like culture, language is shared. Passed down from generation to generation, it is transmitted oral or written form and dictates norms, beliefs, values and traditions. Without it, a culture would die along with it. (Ex. lost tribes in Tasmania and many of the lost languages of American Indians).

How does this work? My stepson is an American citizen, yet speaks and read Tagalog fluently and has lived in the PI for 8 of his 23 years. He has no idea of what his culture is, yet he speaks Tagalog fluently.

The question is one of cultural identity. Is he or isn't he? Not to confuse the two issues: He is MULTI-CULTURAL. He is brought up by parents of two cultural backgrounds and each one contributing his and her beliefs and ideas through social interaction. Simple.

How can you understand the people's beliefs, values and their common image of the world when all that's spoken are words?

Keep in mind that language is written and oral and involves social interaction, complex pattern of thought, emotion, knowledge and belief that could be passed from individual to individual. Words by themselves are empty. You do know people's beliefs and values by interacting with them in their own language in wedding ceremonies, birthdays, in the market, at the neighborhood, WHEN they do certain things, etc. That's when you come to understand why they hold certain ideas and beliefs and their views of the world. As mentioned in previous post, Filipino families value helping one another and cooperation. That value and belief is symbolized by a picture of men carrying a little hut over their shoulders. I bet many non-Filipinos didn't know that and sometimes a few resent the fact that they have to monetarily help their wive's relatives. Others are very good, too.

And, I'll give you an opposite example of how the Filipinos view the world. For them, it is shameful to put old folks in nursing homes.

That phrase does not exist in the native language. You never almost see their old grandpas living on their own but always with the family. That's their view of the world. What does this mean to foreigners living in the Philippines? The likelihood of foreign husbands ending up in nursing homes is slim to none.

Without knowing their thought processes and how they came about their beliefs you might might get a response of I don't know if asked why they belief this or that, or I don't know.

Of course, you almost never understand their thought processes alone unless you understand where they're coming from. You can always deduce from their cultural background or social experiences. With a multicultural child, you always assume he gets his values from both parents and socio-cultural experiences. No one has probably asked him an intelligent question like that before which caught him off-guard.

Language is good to know but to understand the culture and beliefs of a country one has to rely on more than empty words.

You got it. You have to use your Tagalog with someone in a social setting. You can't keep your dictionary knowledge and get frustrated why Filipinos don't behave as Hawaiians do. That would be ETHNOCENTRIC -- judging other cultures through your culture's terms.

I speak the language a little, (I am no good at learning a second language, although I have tried) yet I feel I have a basic understanding of the culture just from reading and observation.

There's nothing wrong with that. That's assuming you don't interact much with the local people and you keep to yourself 90% of the time. What's the point, right? The fact is many foreigners interpret what they see in the Philippines through their own cultural experiences. They see Filipinos as so and so and conclude that "Oh, it must be because...." without understanding from cultural context. It's when you get frustrated because you don't understand why they do things a certain way that you start to say negative things about the Philippines or the Filipinos or the way they do things. You complain because wife or so and so chose to do such and such OR why you just made a fool of yourself because you didn't know Filipinos don't do things that way. For example, going to the bank in your slippers and sleeveless shirt and shorts (because you didn't read the unwritten rule)!!!

Hope you understand. Arlene This was preceded by:

"Arlene C. Meyer" wrote:

The member to whom Arlene responded.......... wrote:

Why is learning the native tongue so important? Because language is the heart of learning the local culture. When you understand the meaning of the spoken language, you also understand people's beliefs, values, and their common image of themselves and the world. When you choose to learn and truly understand, you get a sense of where you are biased on certain things. You tend to be more understanding, more patient, less prejudiced, broad minded, world-educated, etc. etc.

They are not arrogant if they don't learn all 78+ dialects spoken in the Philippines. The question was whether for foreigners to learn or not to learn Filipinos are not foreigners in their own land. A human being will adapt to the environment where they live. I agree. I can understand enough to get around but I can't speak the language well, so most people will come back to me in English even when I try.

I commend you for making an effort :-) You are a model that everyone should emulate. No one requires that you be 100% fluent. The local people can sense that you are trying and in doing so tend to be more accepting and accommodating of your needs. Now don't misunderstand me. You want to learn the local language not because of the future reward or whatever. You want to try to learn because you want to. Good luck! [Arlene]

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