Language differences and communication woes

[Stinkerpotsam 6]

I have a funny anecdote about British English. I used to have a university classmate who was from England (I don't remember what area, but not from London). Anyway, her accent was lovely and she was very nice, too. One day we went to a local restaurant for lunch and I placed my order with the cashier first, my friend placed her order second. Well, the cashier got my order but she could not understand ANYTHING my friend was saying. I had to "translate" the order (repeat it) to the cashier so she could understand it. The funny thing is that I, too, have a very marked accent since English is not my first language. However, the cashier could understand me and not my friend.

I also remember that my friend told time in the British way and not the American way, thereby confusing most people. I, however, understood her right away and she was surprised at this. Well, having had to learn American English I am used to "reading" the nuances of language so it is easy for me to see and understand different uses. I have also become more fluent in Spanish of different countries and regions since I have been living in the US.

Yes we do a lot of translating for one another as well!

My fave examples of my personal confusions/fauxpas (sp?):

Telling the story of giant grasshoppers juming up my pants while camping as a child to my soon to be husbands Mum and Uncle in Irleland. This of course to them meant they jumped into my underwear and I meant my jeans.....

Looking for wild zebras which I assumed were walking about upon my first visit to my now husband in England when I saw the "zebra crossings" everywhere. I was excited to see one until he informed me it meant the crosswalks for pedestrians (also known as pelican crossing so don't look for those either...)

Watching a documentary on tele in Ireland about one gang raping another gangs birds in their neighborhood and thinking that those must be huge birds and that is very odd behaviour..(didn't know females are referred to as "birds"...)

It's always interesting isn't it?

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Furthermore, gringos speak English casually and sloppily (both grammatically and in elocution), and American English is so full of idioms that it must be hard to keep track of them all.

Sloppy talking is not exclusive to gringos: Latins do too (I am one of them): my wife (Polish) has a really hard time following some of the conversations (in Castillian Spanish) among my siblings and I, and she maintains that we actually speak different languages! Very likely, since each of us mixes it with their spouse language and with English at same time, as in Spanglish, but with a mix of Francoñol and what I can only call PolkEnÑol (Polish-English-Spanish)

And as I found the hard way, almost any other group: like French (which I speak quite well too, and been complimented at times for speaking it well!!)

[TBoneTX 46,276]

having had to learn American English I am used to "reading" the nuances of language so it is easy for me to see and understand different uses.

Not sure if this is the same, no man, but I used to work in a university. I once asked a professor (Greek) whether a Chinese student and an Indian student would be able to understand each other well when they spoke to each other in English. He replied, "Probably an easier time than you would have in understanding either one of them."

I have also become more fluent in Spanish of different countries and regions since I have been living in the US.

Si, man; same with Mrs. T-B. She informed me that two apparently exclusive Mexican words for "young child" or "infant" are "chipayate" and (forgive my butchering of the spelling) "escuinkle." She learned these from watching novelas (soap operas).

I mentioned these two to my former next-door neighbor (Salvadoreno, brought here legally at age 5); he had heard the first but not the second. He said that in El Salvador, perhaps more prevalently among lower-class people, young children are referred to as "bichos" (literally, "insects"), si man.

[TBoneTX 46,276]

Here are two new questions:

1. Mrs. T-B. informs me that, at least in Ecuador, galleta means either "cracker" or "cookie." I asked how one indicates that one wants a cookie versus a cracker. She went vague on me, but I gather that it's rendered by phrase, si man. So, question, si man: In other Spanish lingos, does "galleta" mean both, or is there a separate word?

B. In the Mexican supermarkets here, a lime (the fruit) is a lima, and a lemon is a limon. Conversely, in Ecuador, a lime is called a "limon verde" (green lemon) and the term "lima" isn't used, except perhaps to refer to the capital city of Peru. So, question, si man: Which is the more common way to refer to a lime... or, how do they do it in other countries?

Also, still waiting for Indian people to join this thread, per A-Bone's post of earlier.

[yachachiq12 43]

Here are two new questions:

1. Mrs. T-B. informs me that, at least in Ecuador, galleta means either "cracker" or "cookie." I asked how one indicates that one wants a cookie versus a cracker. She went vague on me, but I gather that it's rendered by phrase, si man. So, question, si man: In other Spanish lingos, does "galleta" mean both, or is there a separate word?

B. In the Mexican supermarkets here, a lime (the fruit) is a lima, and a lemon is a limon. Conversely, in Ecuador, a lime is called a "limon verde" (green lemon) and the term "lima" isn't used, except perhaps to refer to the capital city of Peru. So, question, si man: Which is the more common way to refer to a lime... or, how do they do it in other countries?

Also, still waiting for Indian people to join this thread, per A-Bone's post of earlier.

In Peru, you typically say "galletita" for cookie and "galleta" for cracker, though there is confusion especially in Cuzco where the polite way to say anything is with the diminutive. So, I would offer someone a "galletita" if I had saltines in my hand. Often, I hear people distinguish it when necessary, like "galletitas soda" or "galletitas de chocolate." Speaking of which, this one kind of combines the two -- do y'all have Chocosodas in other parts of Latin America? It's a chocolate-covered saltine. Think choc-covered pretzel but better!

In Peru, limon is lime and lima is lemon. Peruvian lemons are slightly sweet and eaten like an orange, but are still much more bitter.

[Lexy 2]

I do not speak Spanish but I do understand some words and I really enjoyed reading your stories a lot. It is funny and interesting to learn about others' cultural ways and their differences.

Cool thread...

[TBoneTX 46,276]

In Peru, you typically say "galletita" for cookie and "galleta" for cracker, though there is confusion especially in Cuzco where the polite way to say anything is with the diminutive. So, I would offer someone a "galletita" if I had saltines in my hand. Often, I hear people distinguish it when necessary, like "galletitas soda" or "galletitas de chocolate."

Interesting, si man. Mrs. T-B. implied that your last point (distinguishing) is what they do in Ecu. I'll have to ask her about the diminutive usage.

do y'all have Chocosodas in other parts of Latin America? It's a chocolate-covered saltine.

Never seen 'em in the four largest cities in Ecu, no man.

In Peru, limon is lime and lima is lemon. Peruvian lemons are slightly sweet and eaten like an orange, but are still much more bitter.

So the terms are switched? Wow, man.

I do not speak Spanish but I do understand some words and I really enjoyed reading your stories a lot. It is funny and interesting to learn about others' cultural ways and their differences.

Cool thread...

Thanks, si man. Don't squeal on me, but I'm learning a lot, too!

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Here are two new questions:

1. Mrs. T-B. informs me that, at least in Ecuador, galleta means either "cracker" or "cookie." I asked how one indicates that one wants a cookie versus a cracker. She went vague on me, but I gather that it's rendered by phrase, si man. So, question, si man: In other Spanish lingos, does "galleta" mean both, or is there a separate word?

B. In the Mexican supermarkets here, a lime (the fruit) is a lima, and a lemon is a limon. Conversely, in Ecuador, a lime is called a "limon verde" (green lemon) and the term "lima" isn't used, except perhaps to refer to the capital city of Peru. So, question, si man: Which is the more common way to refer to a lime... or, how do they do it in other countries?

Also, still waiting for Indian people to join this thread, per A-Bone's post of earlier.

Galleta salada would specify cracker (literally translated as "salty cookie").

Galleta by itself would refer to cookie.

In a related culture-specific note on meaning, in the Dominican Republic to give somebody una galleta may mean to give someone a slap on the face! i.e. Esa mujer le dio una galleta a su hombre frente a los muchachos del barrio.

Yes, the issue of limas y limones caused me confusion as I learned English. You would think that limon would be lemon since it is the closest in spelling, but no! In Mexico what we mostly use are limones. We, Mexicans, use lime juice for almost everything: as a dressing for salad, squeezed into soups and caldos, as a marinade and "spice" for meat, etc. However, limas are not widely sold or consumed. I do not recall seeing lemons in the mercados in Mexico. Yet, there are a common product in Americans supermarkets.

[TBoneTX 46,276]

Galleta salada would specify cracker (literally translated as "salty cookie").

Galleta by itself would refer to cookie.

Once I was blind, but now I can si, man!

In a related culture-specific note on meaning, in the Dominican Republic to give somebody una galleta may mean to give someone a slap on the face! i.e. Esa mujer le dio una galleta a su hombre frente a los muchachos del barrio.

In Ecuador (and it appears to be understood by the Mexicans, at least at our local Mex. supermarket) that "chicharron" is either the meat product or a severe physical punishment, uff man.

Yes, the issue of limas y limones caused me confusion as I learned English. You would think that limon would be lemon since it is the closest in spelling, but no! In Mexico what we mostly use are limones. We, Mexicans, use lime juice for almost everything: as a dressing for salad, squeezed into soups and caldos, as a marinade and "spice" for meat, etc. However, limas are not widely sold or consumed. I do not recall seeing lemons in the mercados in Mexico. Yet, there are a common product in Americans supermarkets.

Just last night at the Mex. supermarket, I looked again... "limas" were for the limes, and "limones" were for the lemons. I don't know if they did that for the benefit of the gringo shoppers, or if a gringo put up the shelf-signs...

[yachachiq12 43]

I may be taking this in another direction here, but it seems like it would be of interest to this crowd anyway...

In Peru, menu items that are executed Cordon Bleu style (e.g., Chicken Cordon Bleu) are always instead called "Gordon Blue."

And a communication mishap that I love is the translation of the excellent Peruvian dish lomo saltado. It is always translated as "jump the loin" on tourists' menus. It's basically pan sauteed sirloin, tomatoes, onions, and french fries with cilantro, aji pepper, garlic, and soy sauce, served over rice.

[Nica_In_Love 98]

Galleta salada would specify cracker (literally translated as "salty cookie").

Galleta by itself would refer to cookie.

In a related culture-specific note on meaning, in the Dominican Republic to give somebody una galleta may mean to give someone a slap on the face! i.e. Esa mujer le dio una galleta a su hombre frente a los muchachos del barrio.

It's pretty much the same in Nicaragua. You can ask somebody to buy galletas for you and they will ask which kind, saladas o dulces?

For the slap or the crack we say "galletazo".

We don't really say lima in Nicaragua, we just say limón and limón dulce.

[K and L 27]

Yes, the issue of limas y limones caused me confusion as I learned English. You would think that limon would be lemon since it is the closest in spelling, but no! In Mexico what we mostly use are limones. We, Mexicans, use lime juice for almost everything: as a dressing for salad, squeezed into soups and caldos, as a marinade and "spice" for meat, etc. However, limas are not widely sold or consumed. I do not recall seeing lemons in the mercados in Mexico. Yet, there are a common product in Americans supermarkets.

If you think that's bad ....

...limões e limas are both green in Brasil. (But limão is lemon / lima is lime.)

[StephanieM 60]

In Peru, you typically say "galletita" for cookie and "galleta" for cracker, though there is confusion especially in Cuzco where the polite way to say anything is with the diminutive. So, I would offer someone a "galletita" if I had saltines in my hand. Often, I hear people distinguish it when necessary, like "galletitas soda" or "galletitas de chocolate." Speaking of which, this one kind of combines the two -- do y'all have Chocosodas in other parts of Latin America? It's a chocolate-covered saltine. Think choc-covered pretzel but better!

In Peru, limon is lime and lima is lemon. Peruvian lemons are slightly sweet and eaten like an orange, but are still much more bitter.

Dominican spanish = galleta (can mean cookie) = but also means a slap to the face!

[TBoneTX 46,276]

Galleta salada would specify cracker (literally translated as "salty cookie").

Galleta by itself would refer to cookie.

Mrs. T-B. says that, to her, "galleta" means cracker (or cookie). They don't add "salada" in Ecuador. "Galletita" means nothing to her.

[TBoneTX 46,276]

And a communication mishap that I love is the translation of the excellent Peruvian dish lomo saltado. It is always translated as "jump the loin" on tourists' menus.

Ah, si man -- this revives memories of when I lived in the Washington, DC area in a previous life. I'd sometimes drive into the District to eat at a rather seedy Chinese restaurant that had great food. They finally replaced their food-stained menus with fancier laminated ones. Chief on the menu was "Wanton Soup." I saw that and exclaimed, "I'll have three bowls, si man!"

---

I forgot to mention earlier that, during our visit to the Mexican supermarket, the carnicerio (butcher) asked Mrs. T-B. if she wanted chicharron (among the dozens of dollars in other meats that she bought). I said, "En nuestra casa" (which I think means "in our house"), and I made a motion of punching myself. The carnicerio smiled, then looked alarmed and pointed me toward the nearest bathroom, sigh man.

Edited October 11, 2011 by TBoneTX