Some Pitfalls of Spanish

Apparently there is a lot that can be accomplished when one is bored...

Hey, Johnny.  Thanks!  That was fun!  I printed it out to give to a newbie friend.

Lots of fun to learn...thank  you!     

Un tema interesante, pero mucha información en poco tiempo.

So what about local habits ? There are words that are used locally that do not show up in a spanish translation. Like "monda" (like monday) instead of que, to basically say what. Then of course there is the maya mixes.
The topic could turn into a book.

travellight wrote:

Un tema interesante, pero mucha información en poco tiempo.

So what about local habits ? There are words that are used locally that do not show up in a spanish translation. Like "monda" (like monday) instead of que, to basically say what. Then of course there is the maya mixes.
The topic could turn into a book.

It is not "monda" but "mande" - to send. Or in this context say it again [I did not hear you]

Mande?  Command me (humility), I beg your pardon, come again .. from mandar? 
And usted means, your grace.  Formality rules here.  Although it means less than you might think.  The main trick is to form sentences in the third person, avoid directness.   Use passive voice: No se debe, One shouldn't.  No debes, You shouldn't.   

You can learn a lot about their mentality and even culture from their word choices. 
They just might have dozens of options.  There's a rule in linguistics, the more words the culture has for a single object the more importance that object has.  What are our alternatives for the word, children?  Drape apes, rugrats, kids?  They have about 40.   Do they care a lot about kids?  You bet your ass they do.   Do they care if it's a horsefly or a fruit fly or a housefly?  No.   Many cultures are even more unattached.  Two types of insects, those that fly, those that don't, those that bite, those that don't.  Lumpers. 

Another clue is their concept of time.  To us it's linial, to them it's circular.   When you say goodbye they are sure you'll be back.  Are they sentimental?  You bet your ass.

The language is gender-based.  Is there a wide divide in gender identity here?  You bet your ass.  But it's shrinking over time. 

Back to pitfalls (Hell, I got nothin better to do tonight).    Apart from poetry they say that mastery of the subjunctive mood is the last stage in correct grammar usage. and in turn your fluidity   It's complicated. 

In English the rules are much simpler and usage is less common.  It's when you say, If I were you ...  If I were a woman ...  Had I been there I would have ...  It's an impossibility or a wish, something yet to be completed.   It isn't if I was you.  To a grammar Nazi that is barfable.  To a Spanish speaker it'll give the word Gringo a giant harsh G.

Que le (te) vaya bien. .. (I hope) That you go well .. a wish.   How many times have we heard that?  It this case you have to change the verb tense.   Si yo fuera tu.  If I were you .. an impossibility.  Cuando el llegue a casa, bla bla.  When he arrives home.  Yet to be completed.   Me da dos tacos cuando tenga chanza (not tiene) , por favor.  The waiter's chance has yet to arrive.   

Another way to be polite and PC is to use the conditional verb form, just add ia to the end of the un conjugated verb (Lots of exceptions here tho).  It is saying would for us.  I would like a Coke please .. me gustaría una coca PF.  Can you see why it's courteous?   I'd like a Coke given you have them.  This makes the waiter more comfortable in saying, Sorry, we only serve Pepsi.  I want a Coke!  How awkward it'd be responding to that if Pepsi is all you had to offer?

One of the most important features of communicating in Spanish is to remember the average Mexican has completed grade 5 1/2.  Keep it simple.  If you're a beginner say what they'd expect to hear, especially with your answers.  Don't be cheeky or cute.

Good response and helpful insight. As for the word that sounds like Monday (to me) . I had no idea of what the spelling was because I could never find it.

That is why it was in parenthesis. I just noted where I would put que, they were saying the other word. In english I would say what, not say again.

I have also heard people saying 'Podrías repetir eso por favor' very rarely.

I knew what the mystery word  meant because my bilingual friend explained it. It is he said an old word common to some areas but not all. Instead of que ,or what he said some use this word. Some say the spelling is mande  Which does come from mandar. But by itself send would have no meaning. They only use the one word. They do not say mande usted. So the average non native speaker would have a problem with that meaning in my opinion.

This is all interesting!
Where I live (rancho, Central Mexico), people don't say "Qué?" as much as "Mánde?" or "Cómo?" if they want you to repeat. (Or "Cómocómocómo?")

If you enjoy reading about slang, and I do, check out this popular blog post: https://nohaybronca.wordpress.com/2011/ … can-slang/
Very entertaining!

gubabbaboy wrote:

This is all interesting!
Where I live (rancho, Central Mexico), people don't say "Qué?" as much as "Mánde?" or "Cómo?" if they want you to repeat. (Or "Cómocómocómo?")

If you enjoy reading about slang, and I do, check out this popular blog post: https://nohaybronca.wordpress.com/2011/ … can-slang/
Very entertaining!

That's what they do where I live also. My Mexican friend says que would be rude to parents and elders. and that makes sense, but that is not what traditional spanish classes teach. Just one of the things you learn living the language.

Oh Lordy... I just realized I know just enough Spanish to get me in a lot of trouble in Mexico...
It might be better I stay a tourist.

Texasaaa, you can learn, little by little. People will be patient with you, and they will be relieved (at least the ones who don't speak English), and happy when you do your best to communicate.

gubabbaboy wrote:

Texasaaa, you can learn, little by little. People will be patient with you, and they will be relieved (at least the ones who don't speak English), and happy when you do your best to communicate.

True, they will help especially if you ask them to. Its not like chinese where the word expressed in a different way has multiple meanings. You try, you observe, and you learn what is common practice where you are at.

gubabbaboy and Travellight. 
I appreciate you responding to my post.
I really meant it as a joke of sorts BUT It is true that if you do not know what your saying it can get you into lots of trouble. 
All of the geographic language differences makes it even harder.  As a kid and young man I was raised on a large ranch and we had lots of workers from all over Mexico and other countries.  Some of them could not even understand each other there was so much difference in their cultural language (at least that is how I remember it 50 years ago).
I missed my chance at being fluent then (not sure why it did not stick) but today I still try to occasionally talk my limited spanish here in Texas when I get a chance.  It usually brings lots of grins and laughter but along with hand signs I get the point across! lol
I love the Mexican "OLD" culture and always have. I hope to spend some time there before I no longer can.
My wife and I may rent an apartment later this year or next year (money willing) and spend some serious time there to see if we would be able to fit in to the obvious culture shock.
Thanks again for the responses.   I love expat.com - keep the great posts coming!

You are right Texasaaa,

There is no one Spanish. It varies just like English in the U.S. only more so. 

Spain feels they speak the true Spanish. But many countries speak a form of Spanish.
I had someone working for me who spoke the Spain form of Spanish clear and crisp with the emphasis. He was Peruvian.

At some point we needed more help, and a Mexican man who spoke his form was hired. It took months for the two Spanish speakers to develop a smooth form of communication.
I have also been exposed to the Cuban shortened form of Spanish and of course Tagalog, and  português which also share those latin roots.. They all figure out how to communicate and we can also.

What a delightful post!  Thank you for sharing your knowledge.  Very nice read.