Forums > Specific Focus > Learning Spanish

ken_in_dfw

May 8, 2009, 7:02 PM

Post #1 of 8 (3429 views)

Shortcut

What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post |

In another thread, I mentioned that I had learned two things today. This is the story of the first thing I learned.

I had gone to a local chicken establishment drive-thru to pick up some roasted chicken. I ordered the special, which came with a choice of two sides. I told the attendant that I wanted cole slaw for one of the sides.

"Sorry, sir, no cole slaw. We out," came the response.

So I asked the lady if the green beans had any meat in them. (My partner and I do not eat pork. Here in the US South, pork is pretty much standard in green beans.)

"So you want green beans?" the attendant asked.

I sighed. As happens often here in Dallas, we were having a comprehension issue, especially when talking through one of those infernal drive-thru boxes. I could tell that the young lady didn't speak English very well, so I switched to Spanish.

"No, primero tengo una pregunta," I said. “¿Hay puerco en el elote?” I asked.

"¿Como?" she asked back.

"Yo no quiere puerco en el elote. Lo quiero sin carne," I said, emphasizing "sin" heavily. "¿Es posible tener el elote sin carne?"

"Claro," she replied and gave me my total.

When I got home, I discovered that my memory had failed me by one critical letter, "j" instead "l". The word was "ejote."

I'm reasonably certain I won't make that mistake again. And I'm positive there's a restaurant worker who is chuckling with her co-workers about the anglo estúpido who thought that corn comes with pork.

Oh, well, at least the corn tasted good.

morgaine7

May 8, 2009, 8:23 PM

Post #2 of 8 (3422 views)

Shortcut

Re: [kenhjr] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

If we weren't in mixed company, I'd tell about the time I was having a dresser made and attempted to specify the number of cajones (drawers). There was this one pesky letter ...

It works both ways. An English-speaking Mexican businessman I know was enthusiastically describing the "condom project" of an American client of his. I ventured the correct abbreviation for "condominium", but too late. He had used his version during their entire meeting.

Kate

toddmc

May 9, 2009, 10:35 AM

Post #3 of 8 (3409 views)

Shortcut

Re: [morgaine7] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

What a funny coincidence about draws Morgaine7.
I had a similar thing happen to me just over a year ago.

I wrote about it on my blog.
http://lifeinthecorazon.blogspot.com/...ith-large

All the best,

Todd

*************************
Our new life in Patzcuaro: http://lifeinthecorazon.blogspot.com

(This post was edited by toddmc on May 9, 2009, 11:20 AM)

La Isla

May 9, 2009, 10:47 AM

Post #4 of 8 (3405 views)

Shortcut

Re: [morgaine7] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

That's a good story, morgaine! If I were still teaching Spanish (something I did many years ago in another life), I'd use it as an example of how important it when speaking Spanish to pronounce vowels very carefully. Unlike English, which usually reduces unstressed vowels to "uh", Spanish pronounces all vowels, stressed or not, very clearly. It's a bit akin to the importance of using the ñ correctly. I´ll never forget how a fellow Spanish teacher responded to the following mistake on a student´s test: in answer to the question "¿Cuántos años tienes?, he wrote "Tengo veinte anos." The teacher quipped, "¿Te duelen mucho?

DavidMcL

May 9, 2009, 1:06 PM

Post #5 of 8 (3396 views)

Shortcut

Re: [toddmc] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Perhaps, rather than just referring folks away from the MXC forums, you could actually tell the story for the viewers on this forum!

With respect and thanks

David
David McL
WebJefe

BrentB

May 13, 2009, 8:09 PM

Post #6 of 8 (3344 views)

Shortcut

Re: [kenhjr] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

As a young man, I once asked for a Jabon sandwich. Also, I shouted to my sister-in law,while I was in the bathroom shower and she was outside, "¿Has visto mi peine?", but left out the i. She asked ¿QUE!!!". I said that I couldn't find it. She yelled to my wife that I was having major anatomy problems.

One time I sent a mass email holiday greeting to customers in all of Mexico, wishing them a happy "ano", and there were more than 20 of them.
Spanish can be embarrasing ( not embarasado).

brent

wendy devlin

May 15, 2009, 2:41 PM

Post #7 of 8 (3316 views)

Shortcut

Re: [BrentB] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Gracías, brentito.

You covered quite nicely. Several of the most notorious 'Mexican Spanish 'faux-pas'.

Knowing these ones in advance though. Doesn't necessarily prevent someone, from making others!

BrentB

May 15, 2009, 5:32 PM

Post #8 of 8 (3305 views)

Shortcut

Re: [wendy devlin] What a difference one letter can make!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Years later, I came to work/live in Jalisco. I was pretty cocky about my Spanish ability including spelling and grammar. Little did I know that Jalisco was the land of albures . My friends and coworkers turned almost everything I said into doble sentidos,usually of an intimate nature.

Also as a young man in Guatemala, after ordering the soap sandwich when the waitress commented on starnge gringo eating habits,in a job interview, the plant owner said he hoped I wouldn't have trouble with the "patojas" (young ladies) there.I thought he meant machines and said, "No tenga pena, las puedo arreglar". Needless to say, I didn't get that job.

Modismos or colloquialisims can be vexing. What is a type bread in Central America is something very different in Jalisco.
Then the Chilangos of DF have their own language. Never a dull moment.

brent