If you are learning Spanish, get used to this. What the Anglo-Saxon says in two syllables, the Spanish say in five. At least five. Like:
- Lawnmower = la máquina para cortar zacate eléctrica
la MA-kee-na PAR-ah core-TAR sza-KAH-tay a-LAKE-tree-kah = the machine for to cut grass electrically
- My sister’s house = la casa de mi hermana
la KA-sa day me air-MAHN-ah = the house of my sister
- My friend’s sister’s house = la casa de la hermana de mi amiga
la KA-sa day la air-MAHN-ah day me ah-ME-gah = the house of the sister of my friend
-
Probably = probablemente
pro-bah-blay-MEN-te
- Unfortunately = desafortunadamente
day-sah-four-two-nah-dah-MEN-tay
I underlined the secondary accented syllable to help you find the rhythm.
Wait till Hal gets to teaching the word "rhythm" to his native speakers of Spanish. Sheesh.
When you compare the languages, cultural differences are laid bare. Where Anglo-Saxon is punchy, hard-edged, confrontational, Spanish is poetic, formal, kinder. Even "iJodete!" [HO-day-tay] lacks the punch of "Fuck you!" "iCállate!" [KAH-jah-tay] is no "Shut up!"
To be most polite is to be most indirect. When I want the maid to wash the dishes, I say, "Hay platos para lavar." [aye PLAH-toce PAR-ah la-VAR] "There are plates to wash," instead of "Will you wash the plates?" Who is to do the plate-washing is assumed; no need to point a finger.
And you don’t assign blame here, which is actually lovely in the spoken word. When you come home and the maid has broken all your plates instead of washing them, she says, "Los platos se rompiéron." [los PLAH-toce say rome-pee-AIR-own] "The plates broke," instead of "I broke the plates." How can you be mad when the plates apparently broke themselves?
Norteamericanos, in particular and as opposed to other gringos like Canadians or the terribly formal Brits, are "git ‘er done" types, whereas ticos are "let’s mosey around the topic of what needs to be done and when." Actually, at least in Costa Rica, forget discussing when. That will be addressed another day in another conversation.
Obviously, this can be very frustrating for norteamericanos. But, once you accept the tico timeframe – or lack thereof – it is one of the nicest things about living here. Unless you are at a stoplight, NO ONE is in a hurry. And NO ONE is on time. If you are a multi-Costa-Rican-blog reader, you will read this over and over again. Birthday parties that start hours after the stated start time. Guests invited for dinner at 6 on Monday show up at 9 on Wednesday. Tico time in a nutshell.
And so it is with the language. Formal, multi-syllabic, time-consuming in the most poetic way. When I can understand it and reply correctly, it is so satisfying. Tranquilo! [tran-KEE-lo, relax] I’m getting there.
I learned Spanish many many years ago after taking as many courses as were available at Ohio State and later marrying a Cuban lady (replaced 26 years ago by a Puerto Rican lady). You are making the very same observations I made after I mastered the language. Very astute of you.
Some one once remarked that English is the language of business and Spanish is the language of the bible. Makes you wonder how any business ever gets done in Tico land, huh?
Gracias, James. And actually, not much business gets done here… mañana-land as it gets. The gringo developers get more done than anyone, but it’s an uphill battle. Money and stuff does not seem to rule the ticos. Praise the Lord.
There was a saying around that goes like this
English is the language to speak about business, Spanish is the language to talk to your friend, French is the language to talk to your lover……..and German is the language to talk to your enemy ROFL
Hola Sali,
Me alegré de leer sus comentos arriba pero lo que más me dió risa era la frase ‘la máquina para cortar zacate eléctrica’. Me parece que sea el zacate que es eléctrica aunque seguramente es la máquina…
Gracias por darme gran sonrisa hoy. Casi se me rompió la cara.
Pablito de Tampa
==
Why, yes, Pablo, we have electric grass here in Costa Rica. Tampa is so far behind the times…
I got that right from the EPA flyer, smarty pants! But maybe it was the tico-translation of lawnmower? I have some pretty good translations coming up y mañana le sonreiré!
Ok, I confess. I had to ask my Spanish teacher how to say that.
Here’s another example of how long Spanish can be in comparison to English. The suffix “ly” we use to make a word an adverb is oftentimes expressed as “de forma”. Unfortunately can be either “desafortunadamente” or “de forma desafortunada.” I’m not positive, but my impression is that not all words can be made into an adverb by adding “mente” to the end, but I believe (might could be wrong though) that you can use the “de forma” construction for any adjective.
I have often wondered whether the sheer length of the words to express thought has not had a direct impact on how short the vowel sounds are and how quickly the language is spoken. I mean for your mouth to keep up with your brain, you gotta spit it out right fast. Totally a personal observation, absolutely not scientific or based on anything other than my wandering/wondering mind.
Your readers look forward to the rainy season because you post more. Selfish, aren’t we?
There are ways to get rude in spanish. For example instead of saying cállate say callate while raising your voice at the second syllable. Watch some argentine shows and listen to how they talk. It’s alot more direct and less formal than how ticos talk.
Oddly, this reminds me of learning to write in English. In high school English, we earned grades by the word – so we added extra wherever possible (duh). Later, in technical writing, brevity was the ideal. So instead of “in order to” (high school), we wrote “to” (professional). With high-tech increasing in Costa Rica, I wonder what affect (if any) this will have on the language and culture.
I also look forward to the rainy season – let’s just call it the “blog season” 😀
Julie
Si, Estiven, my mind, too… never heard of the de forma option, very interesting! When the campo guys get to talking mas rapido, omgoodness, I can’t even begin to understand!
Intersting observation – thank you, Carlos… I wonder how they drive.
Apparently rainy season does = blog season… it’s clouding up now and I just want to chat online. A million posts itching to get out!!!
I’m loving this blog of yours, Sally. I get to experience travel, adventure, foreign language, etc. vicariously through your writings. Thanks for putting “pen to paper” in an oh-so-modern way…
Hola, Linda Sue. I love you lovin it! Linda Sue and I went to collge together… THAT was a long time ago. Can hardly remember it… Actually, Linda Sue, you and Susan are pretty much all I remember.