People in Manila have a notion that they are the center of correct accent and right pronunciation.
But the longer I stay in the capital city of the Philippines, the more it revealed to me that Metro Manila is too a cradle of funny and erroneous pronunciations.
If you’ve been born in Manila or Luzon, this is for you. If you’re a promdi (from the province), this is a guide for you not to mimic the tagalogs’ pronunciation blunders.
| English word | Tagalog pronunciation (Incorrect) | Correct pronunciation (click the speaker icon) |
| Battle | Bat-tell | http://www.answers.com/battle |
| Boxing* | Boksing | http://www.answers.com/boxing |
| Boyfriend | Boypren | http://www.answers.com/boyfriend |
| Concert | Koonsert | http://www.answers.com/concert |
| Eagle | Egel | http://www.answers.com/eagle |
| Fifty | Peptee | http://www.answers.com/fifty |
| Five | Pive | http://www.answers.com/five |
| Girlfriend | Gerlpren | http://www.answers.com/girlfriend |
| Gogell | http://www.answers.com/google | |
| Office | Opis | http://www.answers.com/office |
| School | Is-kool | http://www.answers.com/school |
| Seconds | Sekoons | http://www.answers.com/seconds |
| Single | Sing-gell | http://www.answers.com/single |
| Stupid | Is-toopid | http://www.answers.com/stupid |
| Taft | Tap | http://www.answers.com/taft |
| Triangle | Trayang-gell | http://www.answers.com/triangle |
| Uncle | Ang-kell | http://www.answers.com/uncle |
*Because of the popularity of the sport, this error has spread throughout the country.
I therefore conclude that the tagalogs/Luzonians have been fed with erroneous english pronunciations all along.
Related topic: School Bukel
April 4th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
[…] In the Philippines, the Tagalog-speaking Filipinos in Manila have the penchant to negatively discriminate provincial languages or dialects and accents. Ironically, they even spread the wrong thinking that they have the correct English pronunciation. The discrimination has reached to the extent that it’s ethnical. If you are from the province and your accent doesnt sound like the Manila language, you’re a second class citizen. Manila is the capital and the richest city. They have the money. They virtually are in charge of television and radio. […]
September 25th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I guess there is a problem with Filipinos both Tagalog and Visayan when it comes to the discrimination of the pronunciations and accents of the English language. Each claims to be correct but from an English-speaking person’s perspective is completely wrong.
Let’s just say that English is not our primary language hence we have no right to declare ourselves as an authority of the language. The same can be said with Indians, French, Italian, Latinos, Dutch etc. Those who can discriminate however are the ones who use the language naturally, Brits, Australians, Americans, Canadians whichever nation that declares their official and primary language to be English.
Therefore, as Filipinos, it is pointless to debate whose accent is correct and incorrect.. it’s all wrong. Solution: speak without an accent whatsoever. Pronounce words based on the dictionary. Or, of course if you can, mimic.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I’m not sure, but it seems to me that your perception of a Luzonian=Tagalog? it’s like saying that all Mindanaonas are Muslims when there is a huge Christians over there are non-Muslim tribes. Not all people in Luzon speak like that. I met tagalogs who are of middle class who pronounce those words properly. I think it’s between being educated and not educated.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
BTW, I am not Tagalog nor do I have Tagalog blood. I have a friend who is from Batangas and she has a good English diction(pronunciation). Not the trying hard type but natural.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
@Kris
It’s a generalization, i mean mostly do that mispronunciations i wrote above. Becuase we bisayans are often subjected to racist remarks not only by those in Manila but also those in the nearby provinces.
My post is a sort of an “eye opener.”
October 4th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
I partly agree with you above SOME Manilenos(just like other people) having air but then I don’t think it’s a Tagalog/Luzonian thing. I would not even say it’s a Manileno thing. I think it’s a media ting that had SADLY permeated to the minds of many non-Visayans. Even SOME Manilenos laugh at the Batangueno accent when in fact, the Batangueno-tagalog is ‘purer’. Now the whole of the Philippines thinks that the Batangueno Tagalog is funny. XP. It’s not only the Bisayans who are subject to discrimination. Other Filipinos as well. I do not have something against Bisyanas in general but the guy who wanted Marky C. out of SS because he was na igorot(half, to be exact) was from Cebu. Foregeting the fact tat Marky’s dad is a Bisaya from Mindanao. Marky speaks the language, it’s just that he’s more acculturated to the highland culture.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
The first time i personally heard the Batangueno accent inside the restaurant last year, i smiled, because it was like hey i only hear hear this on tv or radio, now i am hearing it right next to me.
Admittedly, when i was a teenager i used to mock Batangueno accent, thanks to our Filipino TV or movies.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I bet you will agree with me if I suggest that rather than countering discrimination with another discrimination or mockery, we should reform our entertainment media and to a certain extent news media, the nasty tabloids especially. I really think discrimination started there and permeated through the mind of many Filipinos. Media miseducation. =(
If you come up here to the north. People here speak tagalog which is peppered with ngay. Alam mo ngay yung kwan I’m not sure how you’ll take it but my classmate from Batangas seem to have acquired it! Haha =)
Just trying to take things lightly.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
This article was one of the earlier ones, it is more filled with discrimination against discrimination. But on my later articles it is more geared towards in the middle, no taking sides. Or at least trying not to take sides. I’m still learning :).
October 4th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Oh I see. I apologize for not looking at the date. =)
January 4th, 2008 at 7:23 am
hello!!! not all manileños are good in English and they are not also good in pronunciation of the tagalog words..