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shoe

May 24, 2006, 6:30 PM

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Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Many translators translate English words into the Spanish from Spain. When you use a translator how do you know if you got the translation correct for Mexico (maybe you really don't)? I find that many Mexicans understand both but how do they learn both languages? Are they taught to them in school or is it something learned on the street so to speak?

This happens to me fairly frequently. Tonight it was "peach".. Mexican - durazno...Spain - melocotón I was making peach cobbler and tried the translator and got.... zapatero de melocotón. Now shoe knew this was wrong. lol Wonder what peach cobbler is, anyone know?

Just wondering,
shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Rolly

May 24, 2006, 6:49 PM

Post #2 of 9 (11336 views)

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Re: [shoe] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Yes, it is a real problem finding a Mexican Spanish dictionary. The best I have found is eReferenceEspaño. http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/eref/ This is a down loadable computer program that gives definitions and colloquial usage, and it pronounces the words which you can enter in English or Spanish to translate in both directions. It also inserts a clicker into Word so you can have it just a click away while you write.

Here is a quote from their website:

eReferenceEspañol, which includes The American Heritage® Spanish Dictionary: Spanish/English, Ingles/Español, is the perfect resource for everyone who uses, studies, or simply enjoys learning more about these two important languages. Featuring American English and Latin American Spanish

Rolly Pirate

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On Facebook as Rolly Brook

eportis

May 24, 2006, 7:32 PM

Post #3 of 9 (11328 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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This will not prove too helful since I foolishly left it in Texas, but the University of Veracruz published a relatively large dictionary of Mexican usage not long ago. I bought a copy at the anthropological museum in Xalapa last year.

doogie

May 25, 2006, 2:53 PM

Post #4 of 9 (11308 views)

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Re: [shoe] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Hmmm, you do come across some interesting ones, shoe. After reading your post I looked up "peach" in my Bantam paperback dictionary, and sure enuf, melocotón, without even a mention of a second option. I've called them duraznos my whole life without giving it a thought.
Doogie,
Tapatío de corazón

esperanza

May 25, 2006, 4:11 PM

Post #5 of 9 (11301 views)

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Re: [shoe] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Weird: I posted this yesterday, but it seems to have disappeared.

One of the best sources for Mexican Spanish is this online dictionary:

http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/...9495211191/index.htm

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Anonimo

May 26, 2006, 4:24 AM

Post #6 of 9 (11287 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Hola, Rolly; I downloaded the Mac version of that program yesterday. It's not bad, especially at the sale price of $13 US.
Thanks for the tip.

Saludos,
Anonimo

jerezano

May 26, 2006, 10:02 AM

Post #7 of 9 (11274 views)

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Re: [shoe] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Hello Shoe,

Durazno--Peach
Melocotón--Peach

I have found over the years that Durazno usually means a cling peach and Melocotón can sometimes mean a free-stone. Usually they are interchangeable here in Mexico with a lot of people having never heard the word melocotón and a lot of other people never having seen a free-stone peach in their whole lives either.

The other problem is that pies are not a usual part of the Mexican cuisine. And a cobbler (without bottom crust, but with a top crust, often latticed) I have never ever seen or tasted here in 18 years in Mexico. And pie is usually spelled pay. So, I would guess you have to be satisfied with zapetero de durazno but I sure wouldn't use it. I would suggest Pay de durazno sin fondo? But I don't think I would use that either. Better just say "Peach Cobbler" and be done with it. Some things shouldn't be translated.

Adios. I hope the cobbler turned out delicious. jerezano.

Oscar2

May 26, 2006, 11:06 AM

Post #8 of 9 (11268 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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Anonimo, after downloading the dictionary did it also have audible Spanish/Mexican speech pronunciation of the words and/or phrases?

Georgia

May 28, 2006, 6:57 AM

Post #9 of 9 (11226 views)

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Re: [shoe] Latin American/Spain Spanish

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For many years I have relied on the Cuyas dictionary because it indicates the country or general area in which a specific vocabulary item is used. It is published by Appleton Century Crofts. Actually, when I did translation work for an agency, this book was my workhorse. For technical vocabulary I had to rent dictionaries.