Today, one of my co-workers asked me if
I knew the English word for “balae.”
(Prounouced as /ba-la-e/) I did some quick research and I could not find
any. The closest terms we can use are:
Co-parent-in-law
Co-mother-in-law
Co-father-in-law
My son’s
father or mother-in-law
My daughter’s father or mother-in-law
The word “balae” exists in Filipino,
specifically in Tagalog. The fact that such a term exists is proof that the
extended family is important in traditional Filipino culture. “Balae”
indicates that the relationship between the parents of both the husband and
wife is significant. Perhaps in Western
culture, the parents of the husband and wife are not really expected to form a
strong bond, a long-term relationship or they are not expected to be really
involved in the married life of their children. However, I am just speculating
so please correct me if I am wrong.
When I was growing up, I often witnessed
my relatives interact with their “balae.”
A: “Hoy, balae, kamusta na?”
B: “Naku, balae, may problema ang ating mga anak.”
A: “Huwag kang mag-alala, napagsabihan ko na ang anak ko.”
B: “Ako rin, pinagsabihan ko na rin ang anak ko.”
A: “Ang kabataan talaga! Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi parang mainit na kanin na bigla na lang isusubo at kapag napaso ay bigla na lang iluluwa.”
B: “Sinabi mo balae.”
Being an unorthodox English teacher,
perhaps it is time to create a new English word for “balae.” One funny
suggestion from a co-worker was “balei” (sounds like ballet).
How about “chidadilaw”
/chee-da-dee-lo/ and “chimomilaw”
/chee-ma-mee-lo/, which are the shortened versions of “my child’s dad-in-law”
and “my child’s mom-in-law” respectively.
Example: "This is Susan, my
chimomilaw."
What do you think?
Hahahaha! I laughed at chimomilaw when I said it aloud to myself. XD It sounds very exotic but I also think that they should try to make a word for it in English.
ReplyDeleteI need exact meaning of balae in english.
ReplyDeleteWe stick with the original "balae" so that other nationalities would be awed by its richness of meaning though only 5 letters. How they would pronounce it? Just like any Tagalog-speaking person would utter it. Let us propagate "balae" to make it to the international foreign word.
ReplyDelete