I would translate it as "tan solo que..." but I suppose it would depend on the meaning of the sentence. Understanding that the expression "as long as" doesn�t refer to time, but rather condition, I would say based upon what you gave us...
As long as you do it .. Tan solo que lo hagas t� (I don�t care when you do it, as long as you do it)
As long as you�re there.. Tan solo que est�s t�. (I�ll go to the party as long as you�re there)
"I'll go as long as you show up"="yo ir� siempre y cuando tu aparezcas"
Only in certain cases, as Chica says more related to time than condition (like in the song: "as long as you love meee" by the boy-band whose name I can't remember now), you could say "mientras tu me quieras" OR "siempre y cuando tu me quieras"
Chica, you normally don't say "Tan solo que...", at the beginning of a phrase, but "Tan solo SI", "Tan solo CON que",... But you can use it for instance in: "hace falta tan solo que...(whatever)". OK, the exception is; if you are answering the questions: "qu� necesitas/puedo hacer/esperamos bla, bla, bla....?", then you can REPLY: "Tan solo que vengas, tan solo que lo traigan, tan solo....(lo que sea)", but in those cases, the translation wouldn't be: "As long as...." anymore, but rather: "Only that you come, only that they bring it, etc...."
Remember, one thing is what people actually use in the street, and another thing is the proper/correct way of using the language, unfortunately. I'll give you an easy example, to my dismay, I see about 95%! of the people these days using the verb "descambiar" when they're going to return something to the shop where it was bought....since when does that word exist?! It makes no sense, it's absurd; if it existed it would mean "change again what has already been changed"....
People please don't use it, be original! It's simply DEVOLVER! :cheers:
Posts: 627 | Location: Brussels | Registered: 16 December 2001
Aaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhh! Just learned it's been admitted by the Real Academia Espa�ola now, people use it so much! But it just sounds so baaaaad!....
It's OK, 'paso un poco' on what the Academia admits since it also accepted "incautarse", even though it's totally ridiculous and contradictory to use that verb as a reflexive one, since bad journalists started to use it all over the place, specially on tv....
"incautar"=to seize or confiscate "incautarse"=to confiscate stuff from oneself ��??
Posts: 627 | Location: Brussels | Registered: 16 December 2001
Hey PIM, thanks for the explanation and correction. I was going to suggest "siempre y cuando", but it seemed more limiting. But on second thought, looking at it from a condition and not time perspective, I see that it works.
I understand the use of "mientras", but was interpreting the sentence that Pr0x1mo wanted translated as condition rather than time. For me, the use of the word "mientras" suggests a time relation (while/meanwhile) rather than a condition relationship.
I suppose that the correct expression siempre y cuando or mientras can only be determined by the complete text. As anyone who has translated knows, it�s hard, if not impossible, to do a correct translation without the complete context of the phrase to be translated.
My guess is that what Pr0x1mo put, based upon his previous posts, are lyrics to a song. So my instinct, based on this supposition, was to translate using a conditional meaning rather than time. Do you follow what I mean?
Actually this time it wasn't for lyrics, it was because i speak on phones for customer serivce in spanish and english, and i wanted to tell a customer "as long as you have funds in your account, your account will remain ok".
Posts: 41 | Location: miami FL USA | Registered: 22 July 2004
Okay, so since my spanish isn�t that great due to preference of other languages...
As long as you have funds in your account. Wouldn�t that be "con tal que" or is it the same as "siempre y cuando"? I see con tal que as being more obligatory (or I could be wrong and it could mean something else totally)
Also, I thought that"as long as you�re there" would be "ya que est�s ah�" as in "since you�re there"
_________________________________________________
Zidane is Ronaldinho�s bald biooooooooooooootch!!!!!!
Oderant dum Metuant
Posts: 109 | Location: Barcelona, Catalunya | Registered: 16 November 2002
you see, after 3 years of having my own business(es) and working with clients from many parts of the world, i have found that talking to them like the "average joe" gets better results, it puts the both of you on the same level and they can relate which is why i said that "su cuenta estar� bien, siempre que tenga (or "haya) fondos" would be best.
Well, it's my experience as an Spaniard answering THE PHONE in a call center 8hrs. a day, working for UPS for almost 5 years!,....
(Working in costumer service means you work for EVERY type of people, from average joes to....you name it!, author Antonio Gala called one day, and he's just one of many examples...I've always simply aimed to provide the best that I possibly could in every way, period. AND, the thing is "siempre y cuando" is not THAT formal at all, it's 100% understandable by Spanish speakers; it's not 'cursi', it's not pretencious, it's not pedantic....get it?!)
(Jer, luego no os quejeis de mala atenci�n al cliente en Espa�a si prefer�s que se os hable peor!)
Posts: 627 | Location: Brussels | Registered: 16 December 2001
I think in Pr0x1mo�s situation, it�s probably better to use the "siempre y cuando" from a customer service point of view.
I could be rushing to conclusions (again :b: ) but am supposing that the majority of his Spanish speaking clients are probably from Latin America. In my experience both traveling in Latin America as well as interacting with my Latin American friends, the tendency is towards a more formal conversation until a personal relationship has developed. Seeing that his job is to answer the phones in customer service, there is perhaps little opportunity for a personal relationship to develop.
The customer relations that I have experienced here in Spain are of two different kinds -- a more informal relationship such as with my banker, local panader�a and mercado as they know me and see me frequently.
Then, the more formal relationships that I have with Telefonica, Gas Natural, etc. Folks that I don�t see frequently and certainly not face to face so have a more formal relationship with.
Also, with my business negotiations here in Spain, particularly with companies and business executives, I have heard, and used "siempre y cuando" much more frequently than an informal language use.
Jer, I think your approach to customer service works based upon your kind of business: a lot of face to face work (like my relationships with banker, panader�a, etc). Additionally, I think a large majority of your business is done with foreigners, particularly Americans... who may be more accustomed to an informal business relationship.
and "mientras" is the correct translation.
- 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 
