Language barrier

[WGroleau]

…I did meet one gentleman that refused to say por favor or gracias, or even a simple Hola. He was very unhappy people did not speak perfect English.

On a Spanish airline, en route to Spain, I heard someone in some row behind me loudly complaining that there was Spanish text on the back of the seat in front of him. I wondered, "Why is that dude going to Spain?" https://HappyHobo.net/2017/01/29/theres-no-place-like-home/

 

[WGroleau]

I remember once on the Vdlp, in the albergue in Oliva de Plasencia, we had a communal dinner of 10 or 12. As many have noted, the language of the table is often English. A Spanish couple was sitting across from me and spoke no English. One turned to the other and said “No hay que salir de España para ir al extranjero.” (We don’t need to leave Spain to go to a foreign country). That jolted me and made me realize how rude we were being. True, not everyone speaks Spanish, but I think we English speakers frequently forget how exclusive we are being when we fall into English-only table talk.

Also don't assume no one nearby understands. In a cafeteria in Oklahoma, the couple had the reddest faces I've ever seen when I asked in Spanish where they were from. Similar reaction when using sign language to a deaf couple in a restaurant.

 

[WalkingInGers]

Reminds me of tourists heard over here who become flustered by saying, « why can’t they (meaning the locals non-English speakers) speak English? »

 

[WGroleau]

A tip: confuse the locals so they’re not 100% sure you’re English (or whatever you are).

In Germany or Austria, I always asked first in Spanish or Italian if they could speak one of those. Helps to avoid the automatic English that most tourists get.

 

[WGroleau]

Please remember that Spanish is spoken in many countries and its usage is a bit different in all.

Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.

 

[WGroleau]

In English, a classroom of 13-year-olds might snicker and titter when someone uses certain words that are actually completely appropriate in context.

Try teaching that class the French or Spanish word for the animal we call "seal." My pre-teen sons loved to play "liar's poker" in Chinese because they could yell 不是, bùshì! (is not!) and get away with it.

 

[WGroleau]

The downside of knowing Spanish: I would have done far more kilometers daily had I not stopped to read every historical information sign along the way.

 

[Sue127]

Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.

Haha, this reminds me of when I started teaching English in French primary schools. I told a class of youngsters that in the next lesson we would talk about their pets and couldn't understand why they were all smirking. My friend and colleague pointed out that 'péter' in French was 'to fart'!

 

[WalkingInGers]

The downside of knowing Spanish: I would have done far more kilometers daily had I not stopped to read every historical information sign along the way.

Fantastic!

 

[David Tallan]

Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.

And watch out for false cognates. You could end up very embarrassed!

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Indeed. What is "peas" in one country is "knick-knacks" in another, and "boobs" in a third. You don't want to to learn that by complimenting the hostess on her nice collection of knick-knacks.

Or her nice collection of boobs...!

 

[WalkingInGers]

Try Mexican Spanish not usually understood in Spain by Spaniards: it is more a set of laughs than an embarrassment.

 

[C clearly]

Try Mexican Spanish not usually understood in Spain by Spaniards: it is more a set of laughs than an embarrassment.

This is an odd (and misleading) thing to say.

It is just like people from different English speaking countries - we are clearly speaking the same language and can communicate with each other very well, with only the occasional funny/interesting difference. If you learn any kind of standard Spanish, you will be able to transfer it to another Spanish-speaking country.

Sure I have difficulty understanding a Gallego farmer, or a rapid-fire Andaluz, but they would probably have trouble with each other too!

 

[WalkingInGers]

This is an odd (and misleading) thing to say.

It is just like people from different English speaking countries - we are clearly speaking the same language and can communicate with each other very well, with only the occasional funny/interesting difference. If you learn any kind of standard Spanish, you will be able to transfer it to another Spanish-speaking country.

Sure I have difficulty understanding a Gallego farmer, or a rapid-fire Andaluz, but they would probably have trouble with each other too!

I learned words in Mexico in Spanish-Mexican that Madrilenos did not understand. Misleading did you say?

 

[C clearly]

I learned words in Mexico in Spanish-Mexican that Madrilenos did not understand. Misleading did you say?

Of course, you and I probably know and use words in English that the other doesn't understand.

What I think is misleading is the suggestion that a person who learns standard Spanish in one place will not be able to use it fairly easily in the other place. It can be a discouragement to people who are studying Spanish in one place and are wondering if is a waste of time. It isn't! If you only have a few slang phrases, sure you might have trouble. If you have any reasonable grasp, you will be able to clarify your meaning.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I think there is probably a difference between learning a standard (Mexican, Castilian or South American) variety and picking up local colloquialisms/slang. Some things won't be recognised, but I'm sure Spain gets enough visitors from the Americas to understand the common differences.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

And watch out for false cognates. You could end up very embarrassed! [emphasis added by Rick]

 

[WGroleau]

Haha, this reminds me of when I started teaching English in French primary schools. I told a class of youngsters that in the next lesson we would talk about their pets and couldn't understand why they were all smirking. My friend and colleague pointed out that 'péter' in French was 'to fart'!

Try teaching French or Spanish to thirteen-year-olds wen you get to an animal called foca / phoque.
My sons liked to play liar's poker when they were learning Chinese. They really thought they were getting away with something when they could exclaim "Is not"—不是! （bù shì！）

 

[WGroleau]

And watch out for false cognates. You could end up very embarrassed!

One of my ninth grade classmates got kicked out of a café in México when she tried to say she was embarrassed.
éxito … suceso

 

[David Tallan]

One of my ninth grade classmates got kicked out of a café in México when she tried to say she was embarrassed.
éxito … suceso

I guess that is one way to successfully exit a class.

 

[pepi]

One of my ninth grade classmates got kicked out of a café in México when she tried to say she was embarrassed.
éxito … suceso

I learned that the Spanish word for "embarrassed" is avergonzado?

 

[trecile]

I learned that the Spanish word for "embarrassed" is avergonzado?

Yes, if you are male.

 

[David Tallan]

Yes, if you are male.

Perhaps Spanish women are never embarrassed. Just as Spanish men are never embarazada.

 

[WGroleau]

I guess that is one way to successfully exit a class.

Kicked out of the café. Class was already over, except for the summer trip to México.

I learned that the Spanish word for "embarrassed" is avergonzado?

Sure. And pregnant is embarasada. Which didn't go over very well when you were fourteen years old in 1968. But it is impossible to be embarasado at any age. Spelling is important, too—billboard in El Paso once wished all of us a prospero ano nuevo. Bet that insurance company was avergonzado!

 

[trecile]

And pregnant is embarasada

Just a slight correction - it's embarazada.

 

[WGroleau]

Just a slight correction - it's embarazada.

Ah, we Mexicans can't tell the difference.

 

[Pelegrin]

In Spanish exists " preñada" but is only for animals ( in Spain). It is a word almost out of use in cities, but still used in the rural.