Spanglish
This was touched on in another thread, and since I would imagine most here are bilinguals that this would be interesting to elaborate on. What are your feelings about Spanglish? To use or not to use that is the question. Any opinions.
I know that personally my brain thinks in and out of both. So I come up with crazy words like "canting" instead of singing or insert a preposition from Spanish when I am speaking in English. Bizarre! Does this happen to anybody else? Seems to only happen when I'm speaking English. It's like my Spanish has worked itself into the parts of my brain where English is also stored and that leads to strange mix-ups.
As far as speaking Spanglish, it is normal for some words to make it into other languages. Where did buffet of lasso come from? We have borrowed tons of words in English. Many words from English are now being used in Spanish, especially in technology and business. I am okay with using Spanish words in English sentences or English words in Spanish sentences if I'm sure that those I'm talking to will understand me. I'm also okay with going back and forth between the two. All of these things are completely normal in bilinguals and in bilingual communities according to linguists.
What I do find a little weird is when people start inventing words like “baika” for bike or “él me tochó” for he touched me. Sounds horrible! I tell my students that it is okay to speak Spanglish when they are with others that understand as long as they are not just switching languages because they don't know the word. It's important to know the vocabulary and academic language, but if you want to use another variety in other contexts that is fine.
So if you have any opinions or stories about Spanglish, this is the place! It you have any funny things you have heard people say, I'd love to hear them.
By corazon en colombia on Jun 10, 2006, 18:49 in Friendly Talkzone.
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Miguel_Clavo says on Jun 10, 2006, 21:14: This one by bostonmickey gets my vote!!! Any good Spanglicismos? "I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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ana lucia says on Jun 11, 2006, 06:00: I can help YOU in MEDELLIN My Name is Ana Lucia, I just return from New York, I am from Medellin, so if any of you guys are comming or planning to come to Medellin, please e-mail me, I can help with anything. Ana Lucia 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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utopiacowboy says on Jun 11, 2006, 11:29: Any pics, Ana Lucia? Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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utopiacowboy says on Jun 11, 2006, 11:59: Hey, I was just wanting a pic to see if she could help me with anything. She did say "I can help with anything." Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 11, 2006, 12:01: Desafortunadamente, no creo que la majoria de gente aqui son bilingues.
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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 11, 2006, 12:03: sure UC open the window para que la mosca fly ;)
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utopiacowboy says on Jun 11, 2006, 15:39: Puedes abrir tu ventana para mi mosca, mi querida? Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Colombiche says on Jun 11, 2006, 18:30: Toddler Spanglish My friend's 3 year old daughter is a little brat. Everytime somebody tries to touch one of her many toys, she wrips it away from your hand and tells you "ETO ES MINE!" No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy) 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Meli-Monita says on Jun 12, 2006, 00:29: all the bloody time My husband and I say stupid things all the time, whether he says CORRESING when we are dashing across a busy street or when I respond without thinking at all. One of our faves was when someone asked me what I'd been up to and I answered NADA MUCHO (?)
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larumberainglesa says on Jun 15, 2006, 03:27: my sons spanglish My 5 year old (me British, dad Colombian)- 'Mummy its in the sala'. And wanting to say 'me pica el culo' he says 'Mi culo is pica' ! 'I love you mucho mama' 'Dad, are you going to the calle?'(Dad's euphemism for pub)
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lpdiver says on Jun 15, 2006, 09:02: Conoya When my wife was explaining to me about slang for vagina in Colombia...Chocha. I was having trouble understanding what she was saying. So she explaine Chocha-con o y a. I invented the new word conoya....heeheehee. Now nobody knopw what we are talking about. "cook some rice!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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corazon en colombia says on Jun 21, 2006, 14:18: Abuelita... My nephew said to his grandma the other day, "Abuelita, I don't need to tomar agua." Colombia = paradiso 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
More posts by the same author:
Anti-Spanish sentiments in Bogota 21
Desi's list 69
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