I love the scene with the Asian guy and the golf clubs on the ship. The skipper give all of Lt. Holden's stuff to the Filipino farmer. "Here, you like this? take it! You like? Take it!" Funny!
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Nick "A hell of a great guy! NOT!"
Anybody know any of that pidgeon-Spanish they speak in the Philipines? i've always wondered what "salamats(!)" means!
shareby - Gatorman9 (Sun Jun 25 2006 21:24:49)
Gatorman9 writes:
"Anybody know any of that pidgeon-Spanish they speak in the Philipines? i've always wondered what "salamats(!)" means!"
In that country of 7107 islands, there are 170 Languages spoken and used in everyday conversation. The most prominent are English, Chinese and Castillan Spanish. They also have 12 or more regional Languages. Aside from these, they also have over 100 different Dialects.
Most of its Citizens speak, read and write in the three prominent Languages mentioned above. Many as well, speak, read and write in at least 5 of their other regional Languages. On top of these, many speak, read and write or understand at least 3 of their other 100 or so Dialects.
"Salamat", literally means "Thanks". Variations from this root word, which is common to many of their regional Languages and Dialects, provide more emphasis to the proper courtesy, the word conveys.
BTW, if I may... the term is "pidgin", not "pidgeon". The pidgin Spanish you are refering to is called "Chavacano". It has two versions. One spoken in Cavite, near Manila, is Spanish mixed with "Tagalog", the Language of Central Luzon. The other, spoken in the South, in Zamboanga, is Spanish mixed with "Cebuano", the Language of the Central Visayas islands.
I never get tired of watching OP, it has so many funny and amusing scenes. CG and TC certainly have a way with comedy. I also enjoyed CG in "Father Goose" and TC in "Some Like it Hot".
Thanks greatly for your post. And ashamed as I may be about mispelling "pidgin" (I really ought to know better, I suppose), I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of this and the other films you referenced.
shareThat's a good answer, n6, but I don't think it's accurate to say that English, Chinese and Spanish are the "most prominent" languages in the Philippines. English is used everywhere for streetsigns and storefronts and placards and such, but the everyday language is almost always the local dialect (Visaya, Tagalog, etc.). It's pretty rare to hear someone speak Spanish or Chinese unless they happen to be visiting. Of course there's a lot of Spanish incorporated in the local languages, but I've never heard a single conversation take place in English among locals there, except on television, where there's a lot of phrases and words taken from English used interchangably. That's my experience at least.
"Salamat" is a variant of the Arabic "salaam", brought to the islands as
part of the spread of Islam, no?
Actually, it turns out that the "Asian" actor here was a once well-known character actor named Leon Lontoc who showed up in various things back in those days. While he played a classic Filipino manservant in THE GALLANT HOURS with James Cagney (as Admiral Halsey's personal steward) and even a houseboy for Frank Sinatra in a Christmas special he did with Bing Crosby, the best thing I ever saw him in (along with this) was as Gene Barry's chauffeur/manservant in BURKE'S LAW, where even better than here his natural comedic talent showed through, giving Jack Benny's Rochester and Birmingham Brown a run for their money in similar roles.
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