Found in translation

I took Spanish in junior high, high school and college, pero, mi español es muy mal. I try to speak with some of the employees at my building, in hopes of improving my language skills, however, I typically only manage a few short sentences.

 

Me: “Hola. Como estas?”

Her: “Muy bien. Y tu?”

Me: “Bien, bien. Gracias.”

Her: “Cómo está su hija?”

Me: “Bien.” Cómo se dice, ‘She is doing well. This is her last year in college and then she’ll be a teacher.’?”

 

At this point my coworker usually breaks into English and our conversation turns into a Gibraltar newspaper article (where Spanglish is very common), or she teaches me one word out of the twenty, “Ah, maestro.” “Sí, maestro,” I reply. The conversation usually ends with a “Hasta luego,” her walking away giggling, and me saying to myself, “Ah, chingao. I’ve got to practice my Spanish more often.”

 

The fact that I struggle with learning, retaining and effectively speaking a second language gives me a huge level of respect for people who are bilingual. Especially those who learn a second (or third or fourth) language later in life. What I’ve found in many of those cases is that lost in translation are the adjectives or verbs we often use to talk around that which we are really thinking. What is found in translation, is honest, sincere communication sans malicious intent. I see this most often when texting with Maverik Midget King, His first language is French and he just recently learned English.

 

He sent me a picture of a body builder and I asked if he wanted to look like him. “I want lost my fat belly,” he replied. “I’m still trying to lose my baby fat from 41 years ago,” I told him. “For girls I love. I hate skinny. Your a perfect body!! I love!” was his response. “You are lovely to me – thank you,” I replied. “I love chobby,” was his next text to me. “Agreed. I’ll eat more cookies,” I text back. Perfect = chubby. If anyone else had said this to me, especially someone who spoke English as their primary language, I would think they were a douche (French word – I’m trying to learn that language too). Since he said it, as someone who is trying to learn a second language, I find the translation to be sweet, honest, and endearing – mon lapin doux, je suis heureux de vous trouver.

 

 

 

2,144 thoughts on “Found in translation”

  2. пин ап казино [url=http://pinuprus.pro/#]пинап казино[/url] пинап казино

  13. vavada [url=https://vavadavhod.tech/#]вавада[/url] вавада

  18. What i do not understood is if truth be told how you’re
    not really much more neatly-appreciated than you might
    be now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly in terms
    of this subject, made me in my opinion believe it from so many various angles.

    Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to do with Woman gaga!
    Your individual stuffs excellent. All the time take care of it up!

  19. You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve truly read something like that before. So great to find another person with genuine thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This site is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality.

  23. Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to produce a superb article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never seem to get anything done.

  26. вавада официальный сайт [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]вавада официальный сайт[/url] вавада зеркало

  27. I’m not sure why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me.
    Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my
    end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  30. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked
    submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say
    great blog!

  32. I really love your website.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to create my very own blog and want to know where you got this from or what the theme is called. Kudos!

  33. I just like the helpful information you provide for your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
    I’m somewhat sure I will learn a lot of new stuff proper here!

    Best of luck for the next!

  34. pin up вход [url=https://pinuprus.pro/#]пин ап казино[/url] пинап казино

  40. вавада казино [url=http://vavadavhod.tech/#]vavada вход[/url] вавада зеркало

  50. I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else
    know such detailed about my trouble. You’re amazing! Thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *