Things to Talk About Colloquialness

Communication has always been a fundamental aspect in a society. Without this, we might as well end up as loners who thrive in life without understanding anyone. But just like everything, communication, in time, evolves from a simple set of words to complex terminologies and, in this case, slang words, which may be put under the category, "colloquial words." Now for those who don't know yet, colloquial is "the characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech." In other words, we can say that colloquial terms are considered "informal." (Kudos to TheFreeDictionary)

Colloquial words has indeed help humanity to ease their expression of feelings. With this, we are spared from talking too much, and we can summarize what we're trying to say, while from others, this might be their way of appearing cool verbally. But then again, despite these advantages, there are things to be considered about using colloquial terms in everyday life. Sometimes, we must consider if people will understand what you're saying, not just for the sake of being "cool" or too lazy to explain in the normal lingo. First, why are we using these curious terms, whether intentional or not, in our daily lives to begin with?

1. To make your statements brief. As I have mentioned before, using colloquial terms is being used partly to spare yourself from speaking too much. Colloquial terms can also help for you to substitute a difficult term that you keep forgetting when conversing. While this is considered as some kind of verbal advantage, but we should consider who are we talking to, whether it's a friend or a business agent, or when we should talk, when it's a friendly party or a serene soiree.

Formal: I'm just laying low before exams.
Informal: Pumepetix lang.

2. To seem "cool." This might sound hilarious, but I assure you I know people who use colloquial terms to sound intimidating and cool to the eyes of others. While I'm able to perceive through their appalling verbal disguises, I must say it's pretty impressive when it comes to others. However, one wrong thing about this is that oftentimes, cuss words and offensive statements are disguised as some sort of codename. Most of these blasted terms hurt my ears due to sheer annoyance.

Thus, this is one of the noticeable disadvantages in a democratic country that allows using such words. On my perspective though, this is inevitable in a number of people, but seriously, you have free will, so if you plan to be a cowardly git to cloak a cuss word in a codename, then so be it. I can understand it, anyway.

Formal: My girlfriend is pretty, dude.
Informal: Shet, ganda ng shota ko, erpats.

3. To conceal some hidden agenda. If disguised cuss words to seem cool is bad enough, this is one of the downright worst disadvantages of the evolution of colloquial words. As I listened to our adviser's past school experiences, she actually revealed that roguish students actually used colloquial terms to conceal their hidden intentions.

Next thing she knew, a student was robbed. Of course, the two got what they deserved, but this serves as a serious warning at the same time, that we must be constantly vigilant at what someone's saying; it could be the next snide ruffian. When someone says, "Tara, shopping tayo!" in the middle of the class hours, don't be so sure about it. Learn to be observant enough to distinguish truth from excuses for crime.

Example: Tara, dekwat tayo! (Intention is to steal something)

4. Influence. This is a pivotal reason why people tend to use slang words in everyday communication. From parents who accidentally use these informal terms, from friends who use them as though it's their primary language, and even from different types of media; the TV, videogames and the Internet. This proves the truth of the adage that, "values are caught, not taught." If this is so, then we must be keen at what we are getting into, whether this is just too much. Who knows, subconsciously, these words might be a part of your normal speech, and that's not very good indeed.

We must learn to control ourselves on what is good and bad. While colloquialness is not entirely bad, we must use it at the right time and place, to prevent ourselves from becoming a Txt-speak sort of person, forgetting our proper language.

Funny Habitual Remarks

Mind you, colloquialness doesn't only come in form of just informal terminologies, especially in our language. These types of words can be stringed into a sentence, which for some reason, has become a habit of people to the point that they actually forget what that means to begin with.

Example: Pabili ng Colgate, iyong Close-up.

Now this is a strange and funny sentence, but this is where my point comes along. You see, if you put this in a literal sense, it will seem that you're expressing that Close-up is a sub-genre of Colgate toothpaste, which is wrong. They are completely different brands of toothpaste, and this causes misunderstandings, especially to those who aren't familiar with this habitual remarks. This just proves that we ought to be careful about what we're going to say, to avoid confusion.

Example: Anak, ingat ka sa biyahe ha, tumabi ka sa jeep.

Now this still brings a smile to my face, because this shows how Filipinos tend to ignore what the meaning of the sentence they were saying. If you put it in the logical way, you were actually implying that your son must stand right beside a moving vehicle. So please, think twice about scolding a child about being "pilosopo." What will a foreigner practicing Filipino, unfamiliar about these funny habits, react to this? Let us consider these situations and try revising our grammar a bit. Another good example for this matter would be:

Example: Anak, pahiran mo ng sipon ang kapatid mo.

In case you might need some idea, I've got some colloquial vocabularies for you all:
1. Erpat/Ermat - Dude/Dudette
2. Dekwat - Steal
3. Olats - Defeated
4. Toma - Drink alcohol
5. Churva - Kuwan (This, it)
6. Tol - Friend
7. Amats - High (From alcohol or drugs)
8. Shota - Short-time girlfriend
9. Jowa - Refer to Shota
10. Chibog/Tsibog/Lamon/Lapa - Eat
11. Tabachoy/Baboy/Tabachingching - Fat
12. 1-2-3 - The process wherein you ride a vehicle without paying
13. Petix - Relax
14. Japeyk - Fake
15. Jeprox - Punk

I assume you already got the idea. What I'm pointing out, is that many of us are full-fledged diplomats and graduates employed in brilliant companies, but it's funny to think that a good number of them still fumble about these habitual colloquial sentences that prevents better communication. Practically everyone of us have used these terms, wherein some times, we subconscioculy say it before we can stop ourselves.

There's nothing evil about being colloquial, but we must determine whether this helps us in a particular scenario, especially when talking to authorities or influential figures. What shame to tell a chairman something that you don't even mean at the first place.

I'm gonna make this as brief as possible, and this has always been a rule for every language: We are not just privileged, but obliged to pick the correct words as we speak, to establish good communication, unless you want some misunderstandings and end up beating the daylights out of each other.

Another thing is that we must choose the right time and place if we are to choose a specific type of speaking. Who would want to say "Ang cute ng churva ko chenes" to the school principal? Who would understand you if state, "Ako'y lubos na nalulugod sa iyong pagdalaw, dahil matagal na akong nangungulila sa iyo" to a young sister?

Well, I hoped I did my part by filling you in with interesting stuff and advices about the real life. Remember, the key to an ideal understanding is not just being able to speak a particular dialect; it's also about expressing yourself as good as possible by picking the right words, picking the right speaking style, in the right time, in the right place, whether it's okay to be informal, or it's time to be seriously formal.

Note: If this article has similarities with the others of the same genre, this is completely unintentional.