As all you language teachers will confirm the spanish language is both beautiful and rich. The challenge (fun) in learning spanish (once you know the basics) is finding those interesting new words that you don't know (or don't use) in english.
What has always amazed me is the use of english in the spanish vocabulary, specially those words that don't appear to have been understood (translated correctly). I expect the use of english words in non english speaking countries is to add to their poor vocabulary. So what is the excuse in Spain.
The following I use (to appear spanish? ) and make sense: hall (vestibulo), handicap (inconveniente), feelings (sentimientos), parking (aparcamiento), web (red), email (correo electronico), meetings (reuniones), business (negocio), manager (encargado), training (formacion) ...
These are used as english but I try to avoid them: footing (correr), puenting (bungee jumping), el crack (the star?) ...
I was once told that to be cosmopolitan in spain you should know (and use) at least 100 english words (being british I don't qualify for this test). I wonder if these 100 words are already out there in typical spanish vocabulary.
Any better informed opinions on this out there.
Saludos,
Ian
p.d Strange that the most used spanish word in the english speaking world is siesta .
Posts: 46 | Location: Madrid Spain | Registered: 05 September 2002
I expect the use of english words in non english speaking countries is to add to their poor vocabulary.
I disagree, the use of the English words is fashionable and not due to any one language having a poor vocab.
Having been here for over 7 years I have experienced first hand the increased use of English words ("palabras prestadas" or "borrowed words") in Spain. The use of such words, when the equivalent exists in Spanish, seems to be more "worldly" and in business more than anywhere else we see this phenomenon. The first great example is the extensive use of the word "marketing" in the world of publicity here in Spain when one could easily use the word "publicidad" or "promoci�n".
It is important to note that English does this as well. One stellar example of a borrowed word is "coup d'etat" used in the U.S.A. (not sure if those in the UK use it as well). So, while the English language borrowed it from the French language, the Spanish continue to use their equivalent ("golpe de estado"). I guess we could say "military siezing of power" to express a "coup d'etat" but somehow the phrase "coup d'etat" just sounds better and more fashionable (not to mention being a hell of a lot easier to use over and over again)
It is interesting to look at the areas that most borrowed words are used in such as business, sports (with notsew's example of "handicap"), etc...
I agree with you notsew that it is best to use the local equivalents since Spanish is such a rich language.
Saludos, jer...
p.d. on a remotely related sidenote, "El Quijote" has just been "translated" to Spanglish...
quote:
"En un palacete de la Mancha of wich nombre no quiero remembrearme..."
p.d Strange that the most used spanish word in the english speaking world is siesta
I don't know... 'Fiesta' also gets a pretty fair shake as well. Well done on choosing this topic notsew.
It makes me think back to my first consulting contract I had in Spain several years back in Telef�nica.
I'd worked hard to get comfortable with Spanish and really thought I'd do alright, however I found myself having to carry around a tiny notebook with me and have people that worked with me write down certain words that they would say that were 'English' words used in an IT evironment, but spoken using 'Spanish' phonetics. This especially happens in IT environments in in Spain. I've come to affectionately call this sub-dialect, 'Informati-glish.'
Some of the many English words that I had to totally relearn were: Delete (Deh-leh-tay), Integrate (Ehn-teh-grah-tay), Pointer (Puh-o-een-tear), Memory (Meh-mow-dee), Mail (Meh-ayl), Bus (Boose), Flash (Flas), Java (Ha-ba), Oracle (Oh-rah-clay), etc...etc...etc...
I imagine one day we may return and I will consult again in the US, but I'll probably have to learn everything all over again... Oh well...when in Rome!
poseso.... Tony --- English Unlimited... Un ambiente para aprender ingl�s... (An English Learning Environment)
Posts: 656 | Location: Madrid (Kansas City, USA) | Registered: 06 November 2001
And let's hear it for: rodeo, patio, plaza and all of the state and city names out west from when Spain first claimed those territories for the crown! However, I still can't get over the fact that Californians insist on pronouncing San Rafael as San RaFELL. Yuck!
Pack light, sleep cheap, eat well.
Posts: 479 | Location: ROCKFORD,MI, USA | Registered: 23 May 2001
I expect practically everyone is aware of how to pronounce Don Quijote, so it made me laugh every time I heard our tour guide translate it to Mister Quicksoat!!!!
________________________________________ Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
I couldn't agree more with Paul, I am a native New Mexican. My family's first language is Spanglish. I remember my grandma saying "watchale" while my mom drove, all the time! My theory is this. At least in the case of my family. The ancestors were sheep ranchers in eastern N.M. for perhaps hundreds of years, pretty isolated in their small, now ghost town. During WWII, they migrated to "the big city" Albuquerque, most of them anyway, and started speaking more English, mixing it into the Spanish they spoke everyday. I know they learned English in school and not being properly educated in Spanish, only speaking it everywhere else but in school, they mixed it up! Some members, my bisabuela, did not speak any English, while most just mix the two, and many in my generation don't even speak Spanish. Its' funny, when we visit, Juan will speak Spanish to them, and alot of words they don't understand. My suegros (in Madrid) also say that alot of the vocabulary my mom uses when speaking Spanish is very ancient, old fashioned. Another fact of a population being "isolated" for a long period of time.
Posts: 91 | Location: san diego, ca, usa | Registered: 23 May 2001
One 'Informati-glish' that I could not understand and eventually had to ask was 'fack'. As in "�Que dice el 'fack'?". I just could not figure it out and since I knew it was english didn't want to ask. Turned out to be FAQ.
In my field of IT we constantly use version control software. This software (in english) has two basic commands used most frequently, to get and to put. These of course are then expressed in spanish as 'getear' and 'putear'. Thus it is always important to 'putear tus archivos con frequencia'. I monitor the quantity and quality of the 'puteos' of my team to see who is pulling their weight .
Saludos,
Ian
Posts: 46 | Location: Madrid Spain | Registered: 05 September 2002
Does that filter work for 'jod**' and 'foll**' as well . It is funny that VOX comes up with the above definitions when using the Espa�ol - Ingles function. Anyway, shall we now leave 'el puteo' to the pros?
In my quest to learn more spanish by using words I already know in english I have a few more: casting, show, spot, hacer zapping, hacer aerobic, hacerse un lifting, hacerse un piercing, ir de camping..
Which I guess should be: selecci�n, espect�culo, anuncio, ?, gimnasia, ?, ?, acampar..
Saludos,
Ian
Posts: 46 | Location: Madrid Spain | Registered: 05 September 2002
) and make sense:
.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at ![[Embarassed]](redface.gif)
