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pelone
Junior Nomad
Posts: 53
Registered: 12-27-2007
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Elated
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 It is always surprising to find that folks who love Baja, who embrace the
culture, who befriend the people, find it difficult to even try to speak with locals. Spanglish is a nice compromise and serves to indicate that we
are at least trying to have a conversation.
It has been said that learning Spanish in Baja is like going to the Ozarks to learn to speak English.
However, I have been corrected by locals when I have used a vocabulary that is too pretentious and may be correct in Spain but does not fly in Baja.
I know that Spanish is often spoken in Mexico City. I don't live in Mexico City. I live on a peninsula that is more like an island and as language
is constantly morphing and adapting to the needs of its speakers I need to use a manner that will be accepted by the majority of folks. A friend has
chided me when she felt that I was to "Spanish" and told me to speak Mexican!!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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Iflyfish-----------
you said above, "----This of course is also true in the USofA where the upper classes and professionals have a jargon of their own that separates them
from the “masses------”.
To me that is an interesting and curious statement--------I have never encountered that, tho I have had ample opportunity, I believe.
Barry
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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Barry
I once met one of George Bushes first cousins. Her first comment to me was about my shoes. I was at one point a real clothes horse. Ever notice the
trend setting clothing of the rich? The clothes must be from just the right botique. The pin stripes a certain width, the tie of the right color (red
for the Legislative Branch). The same is true with the choice of language. Daalinn I am sure that Aspen was deviiine this winter...so...you fill in
the blanks. It is there is you listen with a somewhat detached ear. One would never be so rude or crude as to make a personal comment in proper
company that was not charming unless it was a snide comment about someones gosh appearance and lack of taste. One appreciates ones station doesn't
one? I was at polo with the duke, rather a fine fellow, such a gentleman. Were are you wintering? On it goes. Social Class is the dirty little secret
in the USofA and we are mostly oblivious to it. We all to some extent represent our culture or subculture by our choice of clothing and language eh
amigo?
Iflyfish
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8965
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MietteOne really sad day, the teacher informed the class to not to bother learning the familiar verb forms as we would
never be using them.
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My High School Profesora was a native of Barcelona (Spanish 1, 3, & AP4). I was told the exact same thing about the use of 'Vosotros'. Hearing
the Spanish tourists in Helsinki speaking rapidly in an elevator, it was nearly impossible to follow them.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Learning the Language
When I was a kid, I was told the most important words to remember were "Donde esta las putas ?, Cuantos Cuesta ? and Mas Cerveza Por Favor", but I
found that you need more than that to get along.
Better than a co-worker friend of mine, though, who said that the only Spanish phrase she knew was "Come Caca". I asked if she found many
opportunities to use that one. She said "All the Time". Knowing her well, it was probably true. She was someone who was "almost" as acerbic as I
was and am. She got away with it, though, because she had MAGNIFICENT Natural Assets. There wasn't a guy who looked her in the eye.
In response to many comments I'd encountered over my sometimes aggressive driving habits, I created some bumper stickers for my vehicles which said
"Aprendi Manejar en Mexico". Everybody got a kick out of those, including the Army guys at the checkpoints.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
Barry
I once met one of George Bushes first cousins. Her first comment to me was about my shoes. I was at one point a real clothes horse. Ever notice the
trend setting clothing of the rich? The clothes must be from just the right botique. The pin stripes a certain width, the tie of the right color (red
for the Legislative Branch). The same is true with the choice of language. Daalinn I am sure that Aspen was deviiine this winter...so...you fill in
the blanks. It is there is you listen with a somewhat detached ear. One would never be so rude or crude as to make a personal comment in proper
company that was not charming unless it was a snide comment about someones gosh appearance and lack of taste. One appreciates ones station doesn't
one? I was at polo with the duke, rather a fine fellow, such a gentleman. Were are you wintering? On it goes. Social Class is the dirty little secret
in the USofA and we are mostly oblivious to it. We all to some extent represent our culture or subculture by our choice of clothing and language eh
amigo?
Iflyfish |
that's pretty funny----------I guess I see what you mean, but always just
thought it was idle prattle of bored rich folks (mostly those satelite to the real money-makers in the family) with nothing better to talk about.
They seldom talked that way in front of me (probably because they thought I was "beneath them" (??) )  .
For many years we spent a couple of weeks in Aspen over Christmas, then Vale and Glenwood Springs, and finally Breckenridge, and Hob-knobed with the
money crowd, but always found them fun and entertaining, not snobbish at all, at least most of them.
My neuvo-rich brother-in-law always has kidded me about wearing socks with my sandals----maybe that is what you are talking about?????
We are all products of our unique experiences, and perceptions, and attitudes, I suppose.
If you want a lauguage challenge, go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and try to understand the native "islanders"
old-style-European-English-----now that is, shall we say, different, but still "English"-------you gotta love it, I say.
Barry
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
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Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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I agree that the Spanish language we learned in high school and college is not what we use on the border or in Mexico to a certain degree. However,
what you learn in school does set the basics down so you have a small window in which to speak or at least try to speak in getting across what you
want. Ken, I have a hard enough time just speaking Mexican Spanish and would really have a mountain to climb to speak what you are trying to learn
for use in South America. Mr. Bill in junior high we used the phrases you wrote and yes we practiced these phrases in San Luis, Mexico which was just
a hope skip and a jump from Yuma. Time passes fast to where I am today and none of those phrases are used today. We learn to adapt and we learn what
risky behavior and risky talking gets us don't we  ?????
Later, bajafun777
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8965
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajafun777
Ken, I have a hard enough time just speaking Mexican Spanish and would really have a mountain to climb to speak what you are trying to learn for use
in South America. |
No worries, I get free daily Spanish lessons!
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
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Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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OK, I see your "Teacher's Pet,"huh??? She definately looks to be a keeper for you !! I am sure you have all the encouragement in the world to learn it first, second, and whatever in getting on the same wave length
to make the day and nights go sooooooooooooo great!!!! Later Amigo, bajafun777
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
Iflyfish-----------
you said above, "----This of course is also true in the USofA where the upper classes and professionals have a jargon of their own that separates them
from the “masses------”.
To me that is an interesting and curious statement--------I have never encountered that, tho I have had ample opportunity, I believe.
Barry |
With the dumbing-down of America over the past few decades- the art of language has reverted to lowest-common-denominator slang-fest. It is very rare
these days I have to check a thesaurus.
I remember being in Memphis when they adopted Ebonics in the 99% black public school system out of last reesort. There were so many illiterate young
people graduating from high school that they figured Ebonics was better than nothing. Don't axe me why. How sad for the english language and our
future. They are going to need to Obama-up if they are going to compete and contribute in the world- not suck from it.
The internet and text messaging hasn't helped language either. It's ok to use abbreviations and type sloppy in e-mails and not go back to correct
errors- the point is communication, not perfection. Sadly many young people think the text version is the corrrect version now.
I have a Danish property manager stateside who always mispells in business e-mails to clients. It drives me nuts. Not because she hasn't learned
proper english- but because I am afraid clients will think she is stupid, not foreign.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
Barry
I once met one of George Bushes first cousins. Her first comment to me was about my shoes. I was at one point a real clothes horse. Ever notice the
trend setting clothing of the rich? The clothes must be from just the right botique. The pin stripes a certain width, the tie of the right color (red
for the Legislative Branch). The same is true with the choice of language. Daalinn I am sure that Aspen was deviiine this winter...so...you fill in
the blanks. It is there is you listen with a somewhat detached ear. One would never be so rude or crude as to make a personal comment in proper
company that was not charming unless it was a snide comment about someones gosh appearance and lack of taste. One appreciates ones station doesn't
one? I was at polo with the duke, rather a fine fellow, such a gentleman. Were are you wintering? On it goes. Social Class is the dirty little secret
in the USofA and we are mostly oblivious to it. We all to some extent represent our culture or subculture by our choice of clothing and language eh
amigo?
Iflyfish |
Would your wintering in Baja qualify you as an elite- or would it have to be West Palm (before the Madoff thing of course)?
[Edited on 12-29-2008 by Woooosh]
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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Ifly dahling, it's "gauche" (Frog for left,i.e., left-handed, clumsy) not "gosh".
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Oso-------------tip---------------
plug in "hot for words" in your brouser-------I think you will enjoy the "sight" if you are not familiar with it already.
You gotta love MARINA!!! Yes-------
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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Barry
That site is quintessential to those of us who appreciate the assets of good language. Now I believe it is rubish to believe that the flowering of our
language was in Elizabethan England.
Iflyfishwhennotactinggauche
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
Barry
That site is quintessential to those of us who appreciate the assets of good language. Now I believe it is rubish to believe that the flowering of our
language was in Elizabethan England.
Iflyfishwhennotactinggauche |
"rubish"????? No comment!!!  
Barry
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Well, just maybe ?
Instead of a "typo", perhaps he was trying to say it was something a RUBE believes. Rubish ? COULD BE ?
Well, maybe not.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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Rubish
That which can be rubbed.
Iflyfishwhennotmakingtrypos
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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Life is already too flocking complicated for me.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
Rubish
That which can be rubbed.
Iflyfishwhennotmakingtrypos |
Makes sense----you were probably thinking about MARINA.
Barry
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8965
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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In the right company, my Ebonics is pretty good! I speak it with some of my friends for laughs, and we learn new words from the Rap songs coming out.
Thats the beauty of language, it is constantly evolving - and that's not always a bad thing.
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