Leaky Faucets

Few non-Filipinos can correctly pronounce the name of the Philippine national language.  Most don’t know the name at lall, but those who do refer to it as Tag-a-Log.  (It sounds like those Girl Scout cookies, Tagalongs, which incidentally were always one of my favorites in addition to the Thin Mints.)  To my surprise, the managers of the International  Center at the library, who are supposed to be experts in all things international (duh), pronounce it this way as well.  Just so you know, Filipinos pronounce it Ta-ga-log. 

I must admit that before I met Aya I didn’t even know the name of the language.  I’m sure, if I had, I would have mispronounced it as well.  In fact, I knew very little about her country other than the Spanish-American War and Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection.