Filipino conversation translation - an example of supreme efficiency in the minimum use of words and syllables:
"Be"
[excuse me Baby, could I have your attention for a minute?]
"Oh"
[yes certainly, what do you want]
"Itoh"
[that thing you were asking me about before, it's over if if you fancy coming over to have a look]
"Ate?"
[pardon me my dear elder sister, I didn't catch what you said]
"Itoh"
[I said it's over here, do you want to come and look]
"Oh"
[oh, I see, yes, I noticed it earlier, but thanks for pointing it out again in case I'd missed it, I'll have another look anyway]
"Sige"
[ok, come on then it's just here]
A true description of a conversation between my wife and her sister on our last visit. To the uninitiated, this could almost sound like a series of indistinguishable and meaningless grunts and monkey sounds.....
