Well, there’s a lot to unpack here. I really enjoyed this article and I find that reading what you had to say made me think about the nuance of language. All languages contain nuance. Spanish is a very emotional language as are the people who speak it , differently so than Americans. You know how much Americans use slang, contractions and local idioms when we speak. I’ve had direct experience with those differences in a foreign country, running into someone in the middle of a foreign speaking room who I knew spoke English by the way, he was speaking his second language.
That aside, I think what you have touched on here is the emotional nuance-based quality of the language and you’re really starting to feel the language. When we do that, it opens new doors to our ability to speak and be understood and not constantly trying to translate from English to Spanish in our brains, but all of a sudden we feel what we’re trying to say. I think that’s what you’re touching on here and it’s a really great feeling.Thanks for the great article Rocco.
It's all pretty fascinating. I do think it goes both ways. There's lots of American slang that definitely doesn't translate literally or not at all. But then some stuff does - and is it even American (or English). Like this morning I read that a politician was playing al gato y al raton (cat and mouse). As I said to the yoga instructor the other after I told her I stubbed my toe (there's no direct Spanish for that! me golpeé dos dedos del pie), I learn something new everyday, every hour (Aprendo algo nuevo cada dia, cada hora!).
And you're right - I have (mostly) stopped trying to make translations. It's always going to be necessary to some extent and helpful, but it's not the foundation of learning. Hearing the other language and taking its words and structures at face value is the real deal. Music helps a ton. Thus, this article!
I loved this article!! You have me downloading Berrio and a host of other Spanish music to my Spotify playlist. It is different. What I really like discovering are songs like Hola y adios, that type of energy and beat. So if you have any other suggestions I'm open ears.
Love this. Some of our favourite music is in local Swiss dialect (Patent Ochsner) or French (Stephan Eicher)
Now a favourite to share here in terms of the power of storytelling is Dignity from a Scottish band called Deacon Blue. An immortal line: I’m telling this story in far way sea, sipping down Raki and reading Maynard Keynes
Well, there’s a lot to unpack here. I really enjoyed this article and I find that reading what you had to say made me think about the nuance of language. All languages contain nuance. Spanish is a very emotional language as are the people who speak it , differently so than Americans. You know how much Americans use slang, contractions and local idioms when we speak. I’ve had direct experience with those differences in a foreign country, running into someone in the middle of a foreign speaking room who I knew spoke English by the way, he was speaking his second language.
That aside, I think what you have touched on here is the emotional nuance-based quality of the language and you’re really starting to feel the language. When we do that, it opens new doors to our ability to speak and be understood and not constantly trying to translate from English to Spanish in our brains, but all of a sudden we feel what we’re trying to say. I think that’s what you’re touching on here and it’s a really great feeling.Thanks for the great article Rocco.
It's all pretty fascinating. I do think it goes both ways. There's lots of American slang that definitely doesn't translate literally or not at all. But then some stuff does - and is it even American (or English). Like this morning I read that a politician was playing al gato y al raton (cat and mouse). As I said to the yoga instructor the other after I told her I stubbed my toe (there's no direct Spanish for that! me golpeé dos dedos del pie), I learn something new everyday, every hour (Aprendo algo nuevo cada dia, cada hora!).
And you're right - I have (mostly) stopped trying to make translations. It's always going to be necessary to some extent and helpful, but it's not the foundation of learning. Hearing the other language and taking its words and structures at face value is the real deal. Music helps a ton. Thus, this article!
I loved this article!! You have me downloading Berrio and a host of other Spanish music to my Spotify playlist. It is different. What I really like discovering are songs like Hola y adios, that type of energy and beat. So if you have any other suggestions I'm open ears.
Love this. Some of our favourite music is in local Swiss dialect (Patent Ochsner) or French (Stephan Eicher)
Now a favourite to share here in terms of the power of storytelling is Dignity from a Scottish band called Deacon Blue. An immortal line: I’m telling this story in far way sea, sipping down Raki and reading Maynard Keynes
https://open.spotify.com/track/26safG8frsQ9khgx4NgTON?si=17QdQ0gkQsClq0fPUb4OxQ