⌛ Learning Cebuano

Anyone have any hints or resources for learning Cebuano?

 

You can ask anyone for a translation here.HEHE!:D But on how to pronounce them, asking for a translation face-to-face with a Cebuano would be better.

 

It ain't easy, I can tell you that if you don't work on it, it wont rub off on you.

 

some of this was talked about on another thread. I find it difficult personally, because of the repetitive mono sylabic sounds strung together in different combinations. I have not lost hope. If you take time to learn the basic intonations, and unique pronunciations like mga (mingah) nga (ngah) Like pronouncing ing winth out the I. The double letters are not something I think the western tongue is used to saying, and couple that with volwels in tandem pronounced the exact same way. Hard for me, but I can say the words now. Looc, pronounced "low oak", with very short long o sound.

I am an academic learner, so I try to understand some of the grammer, but, admitidly I don't make the time to study. And the pervasive use of slang, abreviations and shortcuts,makes book learning almost impossible. Couple that with bad hearing, and then you have some trouble
Basic phrases will get quickly learned, and that will get you going.

The true visayan dialect uses about two thirds the english alphabet, The omited ones are used in foreign words however, which there are plenty, both spanish and english.
Tense and gender are somewhat loosely defined in some instances I think.

I had an interesting conversation last night in our bar. A german visitor walked in with a Filipino friend. I walked over and welcomed him, he said sorry, no English. I said ok, I know a few German words. So the three of us tried at having a conversation. Shortly later, his wife (Filipina) joined us a translator. Poor girl was trying to translate everything he said to me, a mine to him, and then to the Filipino. After a while it kind of all blended together and we were speaking visaygermlish to each other. Very interesting.

 

Do you think there's any value to the tapes that are out there? I live in a town of 800 and there's no Philippine population. There is a community in Reno, NV about an hour away and where we do our shopping, but most speak Tagalo (sp?)

 

you might as well wait until you get here really, English is spoken almost everywhere so you ill have no problem getting along. If you want to get a head start I gan give you a link, I'll send it in A pm as not sure rhoody would approve a hyperlink. It is a complete guide to the grammer and pronunciation, but with out actually hearing it, it only will help a little.

I have not seen tapes here for Visayan, only books, and they all leave something to be desired. They will give you the basic phrases and words for various everyday tings. If you can get a tape it will help, but it will no doubt be the Cebuano version which differs from the dialect here slightly. Not enough to be a hinderance though.

 

there are resources in the net.... but each written word does not help yo anything. you travel 40 miles and all you get are smiling faces who respect your effort but think : buang ka... My GF speaks cebuano but is a complete foreigner here. better speak english or taglish instead of making yourself to a complete looney toon here. catch some phrases by talking to people and some extensions to that ...

 

I'm in big trouble, My honey saw one my posts regarding Visayan, she now speaks no English to me, nor the other young girls that work for us,

You will learn she smiles.

 

I have a pdf file of the Cebuano Language Packet, put out by the U.S. Peace Corps to give their members who are being sent here, a basic understanding of the language. If you email me at davis4121@yahoo.com, I will send you a copy of the file. It is 319 pages and includes excercises, vocab, etc.

Gary

 

Do you have one copy for me too. Mail is on the way.It will be nice.