[Ilonggo Notes] Binastos sa Ilonggo 

I grew up in a family the place swearing and cussing had been thought-about crass and vulgar. I don’t recall listening to my dad and mom, aunts or uncles  utilizing these phrases, besides maybe very not often in a match of anger, and solely those thought-about “delicate” reminiscent of yawa or panulay (each referring to satan, Devil) and linti or lilinti-an (could you be hit by lightning)…., after which, in a pang of guilt, one’s hand would go briefly to cowl the mouth, as if attempting to push again the “unhealthy phrases” uttered.

Going to a Catholic faculty, use of such phrases had been frowned upon, and transgressions can be admonished by “Thou shalt not converse unhealthy phrases” as if it was the eleventh commandment.

However in fact all these modified over time, and when a nationwide president was elected, whose restricted vocabulary included a collection of swear phrases and cussing, delivered with regularity on primetime TV, it grew to become mundane, anticipated and finally, boring.

Ilonggo is taken into account to be maybe essentially the most melodious and “delicate” of Philippine languages, Audio system are described as malambing or affectionate, even conservative. Nevertheless, it’s not devoid of swear phrases and cussing.

There is no such thing as a language the place such phrases don’t exist. Wanting on the selection, although, one sees parallels with different languages. Having lived and labored in a number of international locations, I feel these phrases serve a function — to assist folks vent off, categorical themselves, show conceitedness or energy, intimidate, or to retaliate.

Thus, these phrases are an indispensable a part of any language and tradition, and all the time appear simplest, when uttered within the native tongue, with aplomb!

The Ilonggo time period for cursing or swearing is pamuyayaw; somebody cursing may additionally be described as naga pang yawyaw.  The vulgar phrases used are termed bastos, although this can be utilized to an individual. Synonyms for this in English can embody foul or abusive language, obscenities, or expletives.

Usually, in print, the entire phrase is probably not used or spelled out and sure letters could also be expressed as blanks or symbols, reminiscent of f_ck you. However everybody will get the which means anyway. To invoke otherworldly influences, one says, gaba-an ka gid (you’ll be cursed, one thing unhealthy will occur to you), implying deities will do the give you the results you want. 

Swear phrases usually make reference to the genitals and to the intercourse act. This is perhaps attributable to cultural attitudes about intercourse and intercourse, that are presupposed to be non-public and never talked about in public.  F_ck you otherwise you mom f_cker assaults not solely the particular person but additionally the particular person dearest to them, their moms, and likewise implies incest, which is a taboo observe in most societies. 

Thus, the extra excessive the supposed insult, the extra reference and emphasis it might include on sexual issues in addition to on issues regarded with deep respect. All of the extra to shock the recipient. Different swear phrases describe shameful traits or deviant traits, psychological or bodily defects, or soiled issues like excreta.  

In Iloilo lots of the swear phrases mostly heard are Spanish in origin. The most typical insult, hijo de puta (son of a whore) grew to become putang ina mo in Tagalog, however the Hiligaynon model, yudiputa, appears nearer to the unique.

In case you add, ka or kamo, it turns into extra personally directed. These phrases later grew to become a part of our nationwide vocabulary. Spaniards weren’t amiss in baptizing Filipinos with names like puto, which other than a fluffy rice cake, truly means to f_ck; it’s also a time period for a male prostitute. Maybe, the time period daw na puto nga Intsik (like a Chinese language whose enterprise fell aside) comes from this f_cked up, puto, versus the rice cake we all know at present.

It doesn’t imply although that there are not any indigenous swear phrases. The phrase, billat (sic) is a survivor — this was famous by Pigafetta within the sixteenth century, in a listing of native phrases, as referring to the feminine genitals, and it’s nonetheless used at present. 

Some folks, when stunned, will abruptly utter bilat, in the identical approach that Tagalogs would possibly say puki, usually to the amusement of these round them. I’ve heard older ladies utter, ay boto or ay pisot (dick or penis) in shock. English audio system could say, “You c_nt”, however that is meant as a direct insult, not as a response of shock.

Obsession with intercourse and sexuality, caused by non secular repression — and the disgrace with which we deign to speak about these elements of the physique between the thighs and used for procreation (and pleasure) could have led to utilizing these elements of the physique in swearing.  

Thus there are a lot of cuss phrases that particularly confer with the genitals, significantly these of the feminine.  I think there is perhaps some gender or misogynistic biases at work right here; males are likely to swear extra usually than females. English talking cultures point out not solely the feminine vagina — there may be “you a-hole,” for which I nonetheless have to listen to the Pinoy or Ilonggo equal used to insult.

There may be walang bayag (no balls) for somebody who’s timid or afraid, or below the saya (below a lady’s skirt) for somebody henpecked. Insults may additionally confer with scent, discharges, and many others. from the genitals, implying being unclean and unhygienic.

As regards to shameful, deviant traits, or bodily defects, these are sometimes captured in insults attacking an individual, and may additionally be used to bully others. Phrases like bigaon or bigatot refer to 1’s sexual perversions and being “wild” and uninhibited, like a slut or prostitute. Once more that is an assault on individuals, accusing them of transgressions of social norms of being reserved and chaste.

Buang means loopy — different variations of this are buangit and buang-buang; Brenda, is brief for brain-damaged, and Rita, for retarded. These are of more moderen origin — first used within the ’80s and ’90s, indicating an evolving language.  

Different insults will confer with psychological instability, swings of temper and character (alabuton), somebody who can’t be taken severely (labutaw, yamuhat), being a traitor (traidor), being silly (gago/gaga, tanga, hangag); one benefiting from others or all the time dishonest, to 1’s benefit (swapang, ventohoso), or one thought-about to be nugatory (wala pulos, bulay-og).

The soiled phrases categorical moralizing views — puta (whore) thought-about to be the bottom, most despicable occupation; thus calling somebody the son of a whore implies they belong to the bottom of the low, or a product of some nameless, unrecognized liaison. 

Whereas many Spanish clergymen fathered youngsters, regardless of their supposed celibacy, have you ever ever heard somebody name any person else anak ng pari? Later, when Castilian options happened within the progeny, these even grew to become marks of distinction in our colonially subservient tradition.

In Ilonggo insulting, context and who does the name-calling, is vital. Some insults could also be thought-about a type of endearment, relying on the connection between the individuals concerned. 

Homosexual mates could name one another hoy agi or hoy bigatot with out a lot as elevating an eyebrow. But when somebody outdoors of the circle makes use of the identical phrases on them, there may be certain to be a response or retaliation.

In studying a brand new language, it usually helps to know what the cuss phrases are, lest the beginner turns into the butt of jokes. I imagine that is true in lots of cultures, and this you get this from road slang, or interacting carefully with locals, and undoubtedly not out of your formal language classes. 

In our highschool (a Roman Catholic college) within the early ’70s, we had a classmate from Thailand, and a few of our mischievous classmates taught him to say the “unhealthy phrases.” Fifty years later, these are nonetheless the phrases he remembers.

Mellowing the cuss, softening the blow?

One can choose to melt the blow by modifying a number of the phrases.  For instance, yudipota turns into yudipuga, yudiputput. Iyot or f_ck turns into yuts or yugs or yors. These are thought-about to be extra acceptable in public.

Bilat could also be modified to bilatinana (your mom’s c_nt), bilik sang ilik or to bilatibay (Visayan relatively than Ilonggo, could imply c_nt of a lady (bayi, babayi). Nana is Mexican for mom; later it grew to become Filipinized into nanay.  

One other peculiarity famous in Ilonggo and Kinaray-a is the duplication of the phrase. Saying the identical phrase in succession appears to make the phrase much less intense, or a milder model of the insult. 

So for instance, daw sa gaga-gaga may be taken to imply that she isn’t actually all that silly (gaga), however appears only a bit silly, even simply appearing silly. Equally, agi-agi-on is a milder model of the attribute of being agi (flamboyant, effeminate male gay). 

Modified methods of cussing are a vestige of the disgrace and guilt one feels when utilizing these phrases; subsequently, to be extra well mannered, or much less vulgar, one resorts to these euphemisms, that are immediately understood by all, anyway. – Rappler.com