|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
MikeySaid
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 509
Location: Torreon, Mexico
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Phil_K wrote: |
| It is advisable not to show off your French by saying "C'est la vie". It sounds like "S�, la vi" and has double meaning in Spanish. Work it out!! |
My girlfriend (and other Mexicans) have been really confused when French has come out of my mouth while speaking English with them. For some reason it's a huge surprise when a gringo (not a canuck, though) uses a French term/expression.
I don't make many language bloopers anymore in Spanish... but I find that if someone doesn't like what I've said, it's often a lot easier to explain that it was a simple misunderstanding. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| it's often a lot easier to explain that it was a simple misunderstanding. |
wink wink, nod nod...this is how one begins to master the art of albur |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MikeySaid
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 509
Location: Torreon, Mexico
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
| the art of albur |
I've found albur to be HIGHLY Mexican. In joking with people from Spain or Costa Rica they quickly are able to identify my accent, my word choice, and my word play as Mexican.
I enjoy albur... to an extent... but it's tiresome at other times. I love its playful nature, but sometimes I feel genuinely lost because of it... or catch myself listening for non-existent puns. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gregor
Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 842
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
When I was in Mexico, I became accustomed to ordering "una lager" to get a XX lager (green bottle, as opposed to the more common brown bottle). So when I went to Indonesia and met some friends one day, I noticed they ordered a beer for me by saying "satu lagi." Satu, I knew. That means "one." "Lagi," I just assumed, was "lager." So when I went to the same place on a different day, but alone, I ordered "satu lagi" expecting to get a beer. The waiter didn't get it, and I started to get angry. Finally the manager appeared. He spoke a bit of English and I told him that I wanted a flippin' beer already, and he promptly brought it.
Later my friends showed up and I told them what had happened. They laughed like all hell.
"Lagi" means "again" or "another." I'd asked for "another one" without having had anything in the first place!
Dumb. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
