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Showing posts from November, 2012

The Little Prince By Antoine De Saint-Exupéry Is Now Available In Chabacano!

While Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) written by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry in 1943 now has over 300 translations in different languages worldwide and is now considered the world’s most translated book (not counting religious works), there have been surprisingly only two translations of his book in the Philippines (Filipino and Bicol). El Diutay Principe is only the third edition featuring a Philippine language. The Little Prince is a classic French novella about a pilot who gets stranded in the desert after a plane crash and encounters a little fellow who asks him to draw a sheep for him. Through the course of their meeting, the pilot rediscovers the true meaning of life and what people should value the most. When I came across the book in 2013, I found that I could relate very well to the negative image given to “growing up” in the book. When the idea to translate the book into my mother tongue was presented to me, I didn’t think twice. I thought, ‘a lot of people my ...

Origins of the Chabacano Avisa

The Chabacano avisa means to tell on someone or to squeal. Here are some examples of how this word is used in Chabacano. Chabacano: Avisa yo con mommy kay late ya tu ya volve ayer. English: I’ll tell mom that you went home late last night. Chabacano: Ya avisa conmigo tu amigo na tiene tu otro mujer. English: Your friend told me that you’re cheating on me. (Literally: your friend told me that you have another woman) Chabacano: Ta avisa ba aquel ele? English: Is that person a squealer? Chabacano: Tiene quien ya avisa conmigo na tu el ya ruba con el cen. English: Somebody told me that it was you who stole the money. In Spanish, the word avisar means to inform or to notify. In both Santos' and Camins' dictionaries, this word is defined as to inform or to give notice. However, I have yet to encounter an individual who uses this word in that manner. Based on my experience, people would use the word habla or informa (in formal settings) when they say 'inform...

Origins of the Chabacano Volve

In Chabacano, the word volve means to go home. This most probably comes from the Spanish volver . Here are some examples of how we use the word volve in Chabacano. Chabacano: Que hora tu volve? English: What time will you go home? Chabacano: De noche ya cuando ya puede yo volve ayer. English: It was already night time when I was able to go home yesterday. Chabacano: Cuando tu volve na Zamboanga? English: When are you coming home to Zamboanga? Chabacano: Volve ya yo. English: I'm going home already. Chabacano: Donde tu ta volve? English: Where do you go home to? A word that is derived from volve is pavolvida . It means to head home. For example, you could say pavolvida ya ba tu (are you heading home already).

Origins of the Chabacano Suena

The Chabacano suena can be adjective when it means 'loud' and an adverb when it is used to ask people to speak louder. . Here are some sample sentences. Chabacano: Hace suena tu voz. Hinde yo ta oi. English: Make your voice louder. I can’t hear (you). Chabacano: Suena gayod el radio. English: The radio is too loud. Chabacano: Suena conversa favor para puede yo oi contigo. English: Speak loudly please so I can hear you. Chabacano: Bien suena gayod el voz de aquel mujer no? English: That girl’s voice is very loud, right? When asking somebody to speak louder, you can also use the word duro instead of suena . In Spanish, sonar (the infinitive of suena ) means to make a sound and this is probably how the Chabacano suena  came to be.

Origins of the Chabacano Entra

While the literal meaning of the word entra in Chabacano is the same as its Spanish counterpart (to enter), it has several figurative meanings which are unique in the Chabacano language. The Chabacano  entra  can be used to mean to go to work or school. Chabacano: Entra ba tu escuela este dia? English:  Are you going to school today? Chabacano: Entra ba na oficina si mama este dia? English: Is mom going to work today? The word entra in Chabacano can also mean 'to join'. Here are some examples. Chabacano:  Entra ba tu na juego? English: Ar you joining the game? Chabacano: Entra yo na raffle. English: I am joining the raffle. A very useful usage of the word entra is when saying the English word 'include'. Chabacano: Puede ba tu hace entra ya con el drinks? English: Can you include the drinks too? Chabacano: Entrao ya ba el parking slot si compra yo con el condo? English: Is there a parking slot included if I buy the condo? Chabacano: Entrao...

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Porque by Maldita Lyrics (Original Chabacano and Translated Spanish version)

Here are the original lyrics of the song Porque by Maldita as well as a rough Spanish translation below. Original Chabacano Version: Solo-solo na mi cuarto Hinde ta puede dormi Vira-vira na cabeza El dolor yo ya senti Por que pa contigo yo ya quiere? Como bula lang tu ya perde Por que contigo yo ya escoge? Ahora mi corazon ta sufri Bien simple lang yo ta pedi Era senti tu el cosa yo ya senti Ta pedi milagro, vira'l tiempo El mali hace derecho Na de mio rezo ta pedi yo Era olvida yo contigo Todo-todo yo ya dale Ahora ta arrepenti Sobra-sobra el dolencia Tormento para vivi Por que pa contigo yo ya quiere? Como bula lang tu ya perde Por que contigo yo ya escoge? Ahora mi corazon ta sufri Bien simple lang yo ta pedi Era senti tu el cosa yo ya senti Ta pedi milagro, vira'l tiempo El mali hace derecho Na de mio rezo ta pedi yo Era olvida yo contigo No tu distorba Y no atraca kay baka palmadea yo contigo Nunc...

How To Say 'I Love You' And 'I Hate You' In Chabacano

Saying I love you in Chabacano is a bit tricky. Most people just say 'I love you' (pronouncing the word love as lab ). But in songs or formal occasions, Chabacano speakers say 'I love you like this': ta ama yo contigo . Let’s dissect this sentence. Ta= Present tense indicator Ama= love Yo= I Contigo= you Again, you’ll only hear this in songs. You really won’t hear people saying to each other  ta ama yo contigo. Saying I hate you in Chabacano is also a bit difficult. In the dictionary of Santos (2010), the word hate in Chabacano is rabia or odia . However I’m not really sure how to use these two words in a sentence because to me ta rabia yo contigo or ta odia yo contigo just doesn’t sound natural. Rabiao yo contigo (which is something people frequently say in Chabacano) just doesn't convey the correct emotion because it means something like I am angry at you (milder than hate). So how do we say the English 'I hate you' in Chabacano? One of...

A Chabacano Christmas Song + An Interview in Spanish With A Former Zamboanga Mayor

It’s that time of the year again when we all feel generous and kind towards one another. For most of us, Christmas is a very busy time of the year with family reunions and Christmas dinners to think about. But there was a time in the not so distant past when Christmas was a quiet holiday. This is what is being described in the song that is featured in this blog post. Noche sagrao, brillante maga estrellas oh noche que el Salvador ya nacé. Por largo tiempo el mundo ya esperá se que aquí canaton el Dios hay vené. Ta gozá el mundo por este esperanza, un día nuevo hay podé llegá. Todo hincá y oí voces del ángel, oh noche divino, el Cristo ya nacé ! Divino noche, oh noche de amor! Ta llevá el luz de fe sereno y claro, y adorá con el Niño Jesús. Ta llevá el luz del cielo bien ardiente, ya llegá Magos de lejos lugar. Na un pesebre el rey de los reyes, amigo diaton, Ele ahí quedá. Sabé el Señor hacé lo que se debe, mirá con el rey y na su presencia incá. Ta aquí el ...