Why do we use so much English into our language?
I'm also Filipino. I was born there but I moved to Canada when I was 8 years old.
I don't remember much but I remember having English and Tagalog classes.

But, why is it that we use so much English to substitute words in Tagalog?
Is it because the literal translation into Tagalog is too long and hard to say?

It's kind of weird because when people ask me how to say a word in Tagalog, sometimes I can't find the literal translation. Or do I need to learn more words and improve my vocabulary?

Thank you ^_^

I've been trying to increase my Tagalog skills lately. How ever I'm doing a pretty lousy job thanks to my lack of resources. Anyway, I have some questions about a specific sentence.

This morning I herd the phrase "Masakit ang ulo ko." which I know (or think I know) means my head hurts. But I don't actually understand the vocabulary.

Ang means the?

I'm writing a paper in both english and Filipino for my language class. I want to make sure or I guess have an idea of how to go about goal-focused and subject-focused verbs.. so if someone could translate these paragraphs it'd help me majorly!

Food is a major part of Filipino culture. IN fact, the number of meals per day is greater than five. These meals consist of at least two meriendas in between the main meals during the day. Today, we will be looking at how to cook on of the most popular dishes in the Philippines, Adobo. You can cook adobo with pork, chick, or beef...

You will need the following ingredients:

(I have already translated the ingredients and steps for cooking)

but also need translated the following facts:

Filipino cooking reflects the history of the islands. Chinese, Hindu, Spanish, and American ingredients and customs have influenced the cooking.

*here I am supposed to talk about curry (hindu) and ketchup/banana ketchup (american) and champado (spanish) foods in Philippines and also how the many sauces - fish sauce/shrimp paste etc are used*
if anyone has ideas about those influences it'd be greatly appreciated! Keep in mind as well I am also only in first year Filipino so I don't have a huge extensive vocabulary but can look up almost anything.

I know it seems like a lot but I am also doing a speech tonight. Thanks!!

I'm learning Tagalog, please help me enrich my vocabulary and conversations.(good or bad)

When I mean stories, I mean from novels down to the short stories....
I want to know if there are still people out there who write and read books in Filipino... I want to read Filipino books to widen my Filipino vocabulary so that I can write a story in Filipino.... I've always found Filipino ... (its so indescribable!!!)..... sweeter than English....
Correction: Do you read any Filipino books?
Hey, Joe C!!!! Filipinos DO have a written language!

Dialect- Linguistics. a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.

Like English in the UK and in the US; or Spanish in Spain and in Argentina. They speak the same language but different dialect.

Now how could these be similar?

(good morning)

Tagalog: Magandang umaga
Ilocano: Naimbag nga bigatyo
Hiligaynon/Ilonggo: Maayong buntag
Kapampangan: Mayap ayabak

They clearly differ in phonology, grammar, and VOCABULARY. I think the Commission on the Filipino Language should have known better before declaring each indigenous "dialects" as dialects. It just makes most Filipinos unaware of what a dialect really is.

Do you agree?

I believe it will help me build my vocabulary.

For those who have read ibong adarna or understands filipino, please help me translate! My vocabulary in Filipino is not that good. Also, please don't use an online translator. Just say it in your own words or interpret it.
Chapter 12

half of stanza 474:
ngunit likas na sa ating
ang wala ay paghanapin

475
tayo'y hindi masiyahan
sa abot na ng pananaw
iniimbot pa rin naman
ang lahat na ay malaman

476
Langit man ay mararating
sapilitang aakyatin
matalos lang yaong lihim
na balot ng salamisim

I wanna polish my Filipino grammar and build my Filipino vocabulary (because it's a shame naman that I don't speak my native tongue fluently). i'm fil-chi but I'm more fluent in English >.< I was wondering, what books could help me do that? I was thinking: books by Efren Abueg, Edgardo M. Reyes (those are the authors in my HS third year textbooks)..but I can't find them anymore anywhere!

I tried reading Bob Ong's MACARTHUR but it wasn't my thing...so I guess that rules him out.

Ayaw ko rin ng local/native setting. Those settings really depress me! It's very hard to choose Filipino books...because majority of 'em are set in native provinces... I want to read a Filipino book that I could relate to.

And I also DO NOT like the romance books they sell in National Bookstore! (Yung Filipino version ng Mills and Boon!)

Of course, Eli Fili and Noli are out of the question! (Truth is, masyadong malalim yung Tagalog dun para sa akin)
btw, in case it helps, i'm currently 16.

Tagalog is a language since it have different structure from other Malayo-Polynesian language such as Bahasa, Cebuano, Tausug, Ilokano, Bicol, etc... Will you call Filipino a Tagalog dialect? Or is it the other way around? Since they got the same structure but sometimes use a different set of intonations and vocabulary.