Why might someone fluent in English frequently respond to conversations with completely unrelated topics?
Problem/Goal: I'm curious about something and would appreciate perspectives from Filipinos who regularly communicate in both Tagalog and English. 🙂
Context: Someone I know grew up in the Philippines and has lived in North America for over 15 years (mid to late 30s now). English is their second language, although they've spoken it for many years. They primarily use Tagalog with friends and family.
I've noticed a recurring pattern in our conversations, both in person and through text.
Sometimes I'll ask a straightforward question, and the response will be about something completely unrelated.
For example, I might ask, "Would you prefer Thai or sushi for dinner?" and the response might be, "I can do this strumming pattern on a guitar."
Another time, I was sharing something about a meeting I'd had with a pastor. In the middle of that conversation, the person suddenly started talking about rats on their deck and not being able to find a beach tent. There was no obvious connection between the topics. 🫤
What's particularly confusing is that when I gently ask, "Did you hear my question?", the person will sometimes smile and say, "Yes," (that's it) but still won't answer the original question. Other times, there's no response at all.
This isn't an occasional misunderstanding. It's a pattern I've noticed repeatedly every week or more often.
I'm wondering whether bilingual Tagalog-English speakers have experienced anything similar, either personally or when communicating with someone whose first language is English.
Could it be related to processing a second language, differences in conversational habits, attention issues, or something else?
I'm not suggesting this is a Filipino cultural trait or trying to diagnose anyone. I'm genuinely interested in understanding what might be happening and how to communicate more effectively.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience. Thanks!