Languages
Eurasians usually speak the native language of their home country, and may or may not speak the language(s) of an ancestral or parental ethnicity.
The overwhelming majority of all Eurasians with Filipino ancestry of the younger generations speak English as their first language, and have a basic command of at least one Philippine language, and at least one European language of their own ethnicity. Eurasians and some Filipinos of certain strata in society use a language code-switching, between English, Spanish, and indigenous Philippine languages, called Taglish or Bislish.
The Kristang and Macanese groups have formed their own languages. The Kristang language is a dialect of Portuguese influenced by Malay as well as Petjo, a dialect made up of Dutch words based on a Malay grammatical structure. The Macanese language is a Portuguese creole influenced by Cantonese, but now, most Macanese people speak Portuguese and Cantonese.
Intermixing between locals and colonials gave rise to the Ceylonese Portuguese Creole, the lingua franca on the island for over 400 years. Dutch was also in common use by members of the Burgher community on the island of Sri Lanka. The use of Portuguese was so dominant, that the Dutch also began to speak it. The modern lexicon of Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala are infused with words from Portuguese, Dutch and English.
Read more about this topic: Eurasian (mixed Ancestry)
Famous quotes containing the word languages:
“Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.”
—J.G. (James Graham)
“I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigree of nations.”
—Samuel Johnson (17091784)
“People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we cant pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as exotic but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (19111978)