If somebody tells you 'saglit lang', how long a while is it supposed to mean? Isn't it but a polite dismissal?

It has been measured by A.Einstein who said it last e=mc2 which is approximately half of the distance between zero and infinity... Seriously while is the Old English word for time. A while means in fact a certain time.... It is exactly what Einstein had in mind when he said e=Mc2, e being the time, m the day of the year and c the day of the creation of the world... 2 stands for 1+1 as everybody knows...

Isn't it but a polite dismissal? Not always, sometimes "saglit lang" means. they will never come back...they use this word to escape a conversation...

I take answers at face value, never suspecting a polite dismissal when told "saglit lang" or "teka muna". In these cases, I will wait as much as I could, and then when I think it has taken an inordinately long time, I will just remind the other party. And then I will not take another "saglit lang" answer and tactfully force a resolution, whether or not he/she meant to continue or that it was, indeed, a dismissal. I am not diminished by these things as long as I know exactly what to do, and how to behave.

Oh this is a difficult one...it's not easy to leave out a child while including their sister. Maybe you could phone the parents again and explain that the numbers are really limited and that Lindsey is only invited because Jessica particularly wanted her to be there. Are the guests mainly girls? Perhaps you could push that point and say that Taylor would probably be bored with everything so pink and frilly. Specially if he is older and starting to deride all things girly! You have to stick to your invitation though...Taylor was not invited and therefore is not allowed to be there - explain that Jessica would not expect to be invited to his party full of 'boy things'. If the parents continue to force his presence, then the only thing to do is withdraw the whole invitation. I know this would upset Jessica...but surely her parents would not upset Lindsey and deprive her of a party?! I hope it can be resolved amicably- though I know how unreasonable some parents can be about their children. Good Luck :)

It's supposed to last only for a few moments, but how long a "moment" is and what number you consider to be "few" is different for everyone. I don't think it's a polite dismissal. Most of the people who tell me "Sandali lang" or something similar to that do return to me shortly.

YES IT IS A POLITE DISMISSAL for typical Filipino trait or characteristic. But this is not confine with Filipino alone, there are quite instances of other nationality who uses such device to escape or leave without saying goodbye.

"Saglit lang" means "in a minute or so". Depends on the person you are talking too. You are not a good reader of personality I suppose. I myself knows if the person I'm talking with are bored with me or not. Now if he or she says "saglit lang" I already knew she or he will not return back or leave without saying goodbye. That's good for me, instead of me saying goodbye to that person. I hate saying goodbye myself.

While technically it means "for a brief moment", it can range from 5 minutes onwards. Sometimes it is used to mean "I've got something else to do, see yah later." So I guess it can also mean a polite dismissal among other things.

"saglit lang" or "teka muna" could be mean "be right back" or "excuse me for awhile"

Not always a case of dismissal but as Filipinos, we will never abruptly take ourselves out of conversations without making an excuse. If we have to go, we murmur our excuse. If we can come back, we will.

pinoys are known for being always late. when they say darating ako ng ala-una (will come at 1) you can bet they will come at 1:30. so when they say saglit lang (just a minute) you can bet they will not come back anymore. dismissed na.

If that "saglit" turns out to be a considerable length of time, then you know that you are being dismissed. They have not time for you.

Approximately 1 minute.