The more I pick up words and phrases of Japanese, the more I reflect on the words used in the languages I do know: English, Fiipino, and Hiligaynon (commonly refered to as Ilonggo).
For example:
English (e) - you (singular and plural)
Japanese (j)- anata, kimi, omai (s); anatatachi, kimitachi, omaira (pl)
Hiligaynon (h) - ikaw (s); kamo (pl)
Filipino (fil) - ikaw (s), kayo (pl)
E - I, me
J - watashi(neutral), atashi(f), boku (m), ore (m), etc.
H&Fil - ako
e - us, we
j - wareware, (add -tachi to the words for "I")
fil - kami (not including the one spoken to), tayo (including the one spoken to)
h - kami (ditto above), kita (including the one spoken to)
E - love
J - suki (like); koi (love)
Fil - gusto (like); mahal (love); pag-ibig (romantic love)
H - palangga (affectionate love); higugma / gugma (romantic love)
e - body
j - karada
fil - katawan
h - lawas
e-male
j- otoko, dansei, danshi
fil - lalake
h - lalaki
e - female
j - josei, on'na
fil - babae
h - babayi; bayi
e - song
j - uta
fil - awit, kanta, himig (this usually refers to tunes, though)
h - kanta
e - wait
j - matsu
fil - hintay
h - hulat
e - annoy
j - mendo
h - sabad
fil (no exact translation that I can think of) - iniinis (um, "inis" is "angry", but this is what is usually used when someone is annoying another)
e - water
j - mizu
fil - tubig
h - tubi / tubig
These are all I can think of right now.... I'll add more if they come to me... :)
I'm kinda fluent in conversational Filipino and Hiligaynon, and I'm kinda ashamed to say that I'm more fluent in English than either of the other two languages, though my first language is (supposedly) Hiligaynon. You see, in this country, English is the medium of instruction, and some schools even prohibit the use of the language (or dialect) of the area during school hours.
So, I didn't know how to count in Hiligaynon until I was about...um, 9 or 10, I think... And I didn't learn Filipino until I was in Grade 1 (7yrs old) I think... K2 (6yrs old) is the earliest time I could have been taught Filipino formally. Before that, all my education was in English. So, I can read English texts very quickly, but I read Filipino and Hiligaynon texts (the ones written in more formal language, anyway) at a snail's pace. If they're written in conversational language, it's ok, but the formal forms...defeat me.
Even so, I'm glad I was educated in English, because I can access so much more information with this language. If I was educated in, say, Hiligaynon, I would only be able to understand people in my area (Iloilo City, Bacolod, Capiz). If I were educated in Filipino, I would only understand the information translated into Filipino (national language of the Philippines).
This way, I can communicate with more people, and access more information. I have a good grasp of common Filipino and Hiligaynon, anyway, so I could communicate with people in my area, my country, and the world with these three languages. I would really love to add a fourth language (and a fifth, sixth, seventh....) to the list of languages I know, but that will take some time...I hope I can learn at least 10 languages by the time I go....but I'd be happy with 3 more (preferably French, Japanese, and Italian or Spanish) ;p
