Linguistic Camouflage: Learning to Blend In

Over the past several years, I've worked hard to perfect my Argentine Spanish. I've learned a fair bit of the lingo and tried my best to adopt the cadence and accent of an Argentine from the province of Buenos Aires (after all, there are many accents in Argentina!). I'm far from perfect, but I usually manage to fool native speakers for at least a minute or two. Even once they've realized I'm foreign (usually because of those pesky American r's), they have a hard time believing that I learned to speak Spanish as well as I do without having been born in Argentina or having Argentine parents.

This hilarious video (it's subtitled, by the way, so even you non-Spanish speakers can enjoy it) by an American reenacts a typical first-time exchange with an Argentine. It cracked me up because I swear I've had the exact same conversation with people here.

[Click here if you can't view the embedded video.]

Can you fool a native speaker with your accent?

Read More......

Foul Language in the Argentine Workplace

[Note: The following post contains foul language written in Spanish. If such things offend you, please visit this post with pretty pictures instead.]

Memo from an American Company to its Argentine Staff

It has been brought to our attention by several officials visiting our office in Buenos Aires that offensive language is commonly used by our Spanish-speaking staff. Such behavior, in addition to violating our policy, is highly unprofessional and offensive to both visitors and staff.

All personnel will immediately adhere to the following rules:

1. Words like "carajo," "la puta madre," "me da en el quinto forro" and other such expressions will not be tolerated or used for emphasis or dramatic effect, no matter how heated a discussion may become.

2. You will not say "la cagó" when someone makes a mistake, or "lo están cagando a pedos" if you see someone being reprimanded, or "qué cagada" when a major mistake has been made. All forms and derivations of the verb "cagar" are utterly inappropriate and unacceptable in our environment.

3. No project manager, section head or administrator under any circumstances will be referred to as "hijo de mil putas," "mal parido," "es una mierda" or "es una bosta."

4. Lack of determination will not be referred to as "falta de huevos" nor will persons who lack initiative be referred to as "cagón de mierda," "pelotudo" or "boludo."

5. Unusual or creative ideas offered by management are not to be referred to as "pajas mentales" or "pendejadas."

6. Do not say "cómo hincha las pelotas" nor "qué ladilla de mierda" if a person is persistent; do not add "cagó fuego," if a colleague is going through a difficult situation. Furthermore, you must not say "cagamos" (refer to item #2) nor "nos rompieron el orto" when a matter becomes excessively complicated.

7. When asking someone to leave you alone, you must not say "andate a la concha de tu hermana" nor should you ever substitute "May I help you?" with "¿Qué mierda querés?"

8. Under no circumstances should you ever call your elderly industrial partners "viejos chotos."

9. Do not say "me chupa un huevo" when a relevant project is presented to you, nor should you ever answer "sobame el nabo" when your assistance is required.

10.You should never call a partner "puto de mierda" or "vieja tortillera"; the sexual behavior of our staff is not to be discussed in terms such as "viejo trolo," "la mira con cariño" or "mariquita."

11. Last but not least, after reading this note, please don't say "me la paso por las pelotas." Just keep it clean and dispose of it properly.

Thank you.

[Source: Text extracted from the BANewcomers' mailing list. Author unknown. // Photo credit: miss mass]

Read More......

Argentine Cold Remedies

This winter, Daniel and I have managed to evade the innumerable cold and flu bugs circulating at this time of year. However, the second time I ever visited Argentina, I arrived in August, toward the end of winter in the southern hemisphere, and luck just wasn't with me.

I came down with a doozy of a sinus infection. I felt as though I was drowning in a sea of my own goopy bodily fluids, with an accompanying feverish warmth and aching pressure in my cheeks heretofore unknown [at least to this individual]. I could barely manage to breathe, and for a few days, I was decidedly miserable. Rather than enjoying the sights and sounds of Argentina, I was huddled under three blankets with a woefully inadequate supply of scratchy one-ply tissues, feeling rather sorry for myself. Before I worked up the courage to face the inevitable, a visit to the doctor for the first time in a foreign country [a story for a different blog post], I decided to see if Daniel's family could recommend some over-the-counter miracle cure for what ailed me.

First, they ticked off a list of common Argentine home remedies for colds including: oregano tea for a cough; gargling with vinegar or baking soda mixed with water for a cough/sore throat; inhaling eucalyptus-infused steam for nasal congestion; and tea with lemon and honey for a sore throat.

However, the vote was clearly unanimous in favor of the liberal use of some mysterious substance referred to as "bee-bah-poh-roo" to alleviate my suffering. What? Viva Perú? I thought. I briefly pondered how swearing allegiance to this Andean nation could possibly cure my sinus infection, before moving on to more pressing matters. Somewhat wary of this Argentine wonder drug that I'd never heard of, I pressed Daniel's stepfather Tomás for more details.

"So this bee-bah-poh-roo...do I buy it at the pharmacy?" I asked.

"Sure, at the pharmacy, the supermarket….everyone uses it."

"Is it a lozenge, a pill that you take or what?"

"No, it's not a pill. Bee-bah-poh-roo...it's really helpful for colds. Just try it," Tomás said in an assuring manner. Clearly someone had either been brainwashed or was on the take from the makers of bee-bah-poh-roo.

"Right, but what is it, exactly?" I continued.

"It's an ointment that comes in a jar. You rub it on your chest or put a dab under your nose. It'll make you feel much better, I promise." There was a momentary silence as I attempted to piece together the description of this amazing and beloved cure-all.

And then, the realization hit me.

I began laughing hysterically, a throaty, phlegm-filled cackle of sorts. Surely Tomás thought I'd been caught up in some kind of feverish delirium, but no. It had finally dawned on me that the mysterious bee-bah-poh-roo was actually Vicks VapoRub, that mentholated cream favored by many to relieve the symptoms of a cold.

Sadly, this would not be the first or the last time I would be completely confounded by the inventive Spanish pronunciation of a random word or proper name in my own language.

It turns out that, in a way, the bee-bah-poh-roo did make me feel better, even if only for a few minutes. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

What's your favorite old-fashioned folk remedy for a cold?

[Photo credit: boo_licious]

---

P.S. As I found out a few months back from friend Dan Perlman at SaltShaker, some people actually stick Vicks VapoRub up their noses or eat small spoonfuls of  it to treat nasal congestion or soothe a sore throat [the guilty parties shall remain nameless—but just to clarify, it's not Dan!]. Apparently, in certain Latino families, mothers make their kids eat a bit of Vicks when they're sick. I'll stick with a topical application, thanks!

Read More......

More Argentine Hand Gestures

As I mentioned in a previous post on Argentine hand gestures, the people here are masters of the art of nonverbal communication. Nearly all Argentine speakers punctuate their conversations with animated facial expressions and/or gesticulations, in contrast with other cultures such as the Japanese, who tend to keep bold hand gestures to a minimum.

I thought it would be fun to highlight a few other commonly used gestures, one of which was discussed at length in the comments section of the other post.

I don't know./I have no clue.
[The chin flick: tilt your head back a bit and sweep the back of your fingers forward from under your chin.]

Unlike its meaning in places such as Italy, where the gesture can be considered quite rude, the chin flick – when used in Argentina – simply signals that the speaker doesn't know the answer to your question.

Behave or else!/Be good or you're gonna get it!
[Place your hand at a 45º angle, and moving your hand from the wrist, make a short, back-and-forth chopping motion in the air.]

A useful gesture to let spouses/children/friends know they're skating on thin ice.

What the hell are you talking about?!/Just who do you think you are?
[Bring all of your fingers and your thumb together with your hand pointing upward. Move your hand up and down at the wrist.]

This hand gesture can actually mean a number of things. Here are some of the comments that readers made regarding its most common meaning and usage:

According to Gabriel from Live from Waterloo: "If you…move your hand up and down, then it means 'What do you mean?' or 'What the f*** is wrong with you?'"

According to Chris from In Patagonia: "…for when the hubs [husband] is way out in left field or just being crazy."

Other meanings for this gesture include:

To indicate that a venue was packed with people [Same gesture but shake your hand vigorously]

To show that you're scared [Same gesture but open and close your fingers]

---

A special thank you to my friend and English student, Laura, for demonstrating these hand gestures. We had a good laugh together during the photo shoot!

For more on this topic, check out my posts "Argentine Hand Gestures" and "Argentine Hand Gestures: World Cup Edition."

Read More......

Argentine Hand Gestures: World Cup Edition

With the World Cup in full swing, not only are there plenty of chances to watch some heart-stopping soccer, but opportunities also exist to pick up on some bits of Argentine culture. During Argentina's World Cup match against Greece on Tuesday, I learned a new Argentine hand gesture. With the game tied 0-0, the camera cut to Diego Maradona, the head coach of Argentina's national team, right after Greece's goalkeeper managed a fortuitous save. Diego knitted his brow and flashed the gesture you see below.

¡Qué ojete/culo/orto! – What luck!
[Form the letter "L" with both hands, with your index fingers pointing down at an angle in front of the body.]

Here's a photo of Maradona making this gesture during Argentina's recent match against South Korea, although his hands are partially out of view.

Everyone knows that Lady Luck can be a fickle mistress. In the context of sports, you can use this hand gesture and accompanying phrase (¡Qué ojete! or ¡Qué culo!) to express that a team or player got lucky or that an opponent's success was undeserved.

Here are some additional examples of these words being used in a sporting context, which I found on an Argentine soccer forum:

"¡Qué ojete tuvo el arquero!"
"Man, the keeper got lucky!"

"Boca ganó el partido porque tuvo un culo impresionante."
"Boca (only) won the game because they lucked out big time."

"…ganaron con ese gol de orto…"
"…they won on a lucky goal…"

¡Ojo!: The words "ojete," "culo" and "orto" outside of this context are considered quite vulgar, and they all carry the meaning of "ass" or "asshole." User discretion is advised!

Do you know of any other gestures or phrases specific to Argentine sports?

[Photo credit: Image courtesy of Guido Indij/Gestiarium]

Read More......

Argentine Hand Gestures

In addition to an arsenal of colorful slang known as Lunfardo, Argentines make extensive use of non-verbal language. With so much Italian blood coursing through the veins of the Argentine people, it's no wonder they have a habit of talking with their hands. In fact, some Argentine hand gestures are similar, if not identical, to Italian ones.

When I stayed with my friend Beatrice Murch last year, I thumbed through a bilingual book from her home library called Sin Palabras: Gestiario Argentino/Speechless: A Dictionary of Argentine Gestures by photographer Guido Indij. I found the book quite entertaining, as it provides loads of insight into the vast vocabulary of gestures employed by the Argentines. It was fun to discuss the different gestures and compare them to those used in the United States. For example, American concertgoers flash the horns as they rock out to heavy metal, but the very same gesture directed at someone in Argentina insinuates that his or her spouse is a cheater.

As a complement to his book, Indij created the website Gestiarium, which seeks to "decipher humankind's gestural genome." Besides viewing hundreds of gestures from around the globe, users can collaborate by submitting their own photos and explanations of non-verbal language. You can read more about Indij and the origins of his book and website in an article by The Argentina Independent. [Update: the Gestiarium project and website have been discontinued.]

Here are some of my favorite Argentine hand gestures and their meanings:

¡Ojo! – Be careful!/Watch out!
[Pull down your lower eyelid with your index finger.]

Vení (acá) – Come here
[Extend your hand, palm down, and curl your fingers up toward your palm repeatedly.]

Tacaño – Cheapskate
[Tap your right elbow with the palm of your left hand.]

¡Ma sí, andá (a cagar)! – Get outta here!/ F*ck off!
[Throw your arm back toward your head.]

Just right/Perfect/Impeccable/The best
[With your hand forming the OK sign, make a short, quick downward motion in front of your chest.]

Speechless: A Dictionary of Argentine Gestures is available online through Amazon [Spanish edition] and Barnes & Noble [dual language edition], as well as at bookstores throughout Buenos Aires.

Do you have a favorite Argentine gesture?

[Photo credits: All images courtesy of Guido Indij/Gestiarium]

Read More......

Giveaway: Bueno, entonces… Spanish Language Learning Program

Have you considered buying a program like Rosetta Stone® to learn Spanish, but you stopped in your tracks when you saw the price? Well, here's your chance to win a Spanish language learning program for FREE!

I've teamed up with the fine folks at General Linguistics to give away a free download of their flagship product Bueno, entonces..., a fast-paced, irreverent and engaging way to learn Spanish. Described as "Rosetta Stone® meets South Park," the program is "edgy, funny, and completely inappropriate." Thirty classes containing over 18 hours of instruction will help you learn Spanish quickly. It's also worthwhile to note that the program is geared toward expats and travelers in South America, with pronunciation by native speakers from three different countries plus slang words, phrases, and customs from multiple Latin American countries.

Although Bueno, entonces... was just released last year, the program has already been  featured in the Apple iTunes App Store and on the website Daily Candy. You can also read what people are saying about the product on Amazon.

So, here's your big chance to win a free instant download of Bueno, entonces... (a $147 value). Each visitor to my blog who comments on this post before 11:59pm (ART) on February 28th will be entered into the giveaway. I'll select the winner using a random number generator, and I'll post the result on March 1st. I'll then pass along the winner's name and email address to General Linguistics so they can set up the free download. Yippee!

As if free software weren't enough, for those of you on Facebook, Bueno, entonces… is also running a contest for a trip to Argentina!

If Bueno, entonces… reaches 10,000 fans on Facebook by March, one lucky fan and a friend will win a trip to Buenos Aires for a 10-day intensive Spanish course plus sightseeing. From now through March 12th, Bueno, entonces… will be offering a series of contests on its Facebook fan page; 100 participants will be chosen as finalists and entered to win the Grand Prize Trip. [For additional contest details, click here.]

So, without further delay, leave me a comment and then head over to Facebook and make friends with the Bueno, entonces… crew. And maybe, just maybe, I'll see you here in Argentina (speaking perfect Spanish, of course). ¡Suerte!

Read More......

Intermission

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to bring you…well, another blog. You see, I am now writing a guest post every week for Transpanish, a translation blog focusing on the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.

Since this week has been insanely busy with translation projects and preparations for a visit from my dad and his wife (yippee!), I haven't quite had a chance to put the finishing touches on the posts I have waiting in the wings.

So, dear readers, I submit for your approval these two fine articles crafted exclusively for the lovely people at Transpanish: The Use of Neutral Spanish for the U.S. Hispanic Market and English Words with a Spanish Pedigree.

Of course, both posts are riveting, but I particularly recommend the second one where I explain a bit about the origins of everyday words like chocolate, hurricane and rodeo.

By the way, if you’re a word nerd like me, I recommend the book Spanish Word Histories and Mysteries: English Words That Come From Spanish. This book provides a detailed explanation of the etymology of 150 Spanish loan words found in the English language, and it manages to blend geekiness and entertainment in just the right proportions (and trust me, that's no small feat).

I promise to post something hot off the presses pronto!

[Photo credit: 7-how-7]

Read More......

Lunfardo: Slang from the Streets of Buenos Aires

Argentine Spanish is peppered with words and phrases from Lunfardo, a vast slang vocabulary developed on the streets of Buenos Aires around the turn of the 20^th century. Criminals and other shady characters looking to keep their activities under wraps developed Lunfardo by borrowing and twisting words from the melting pot of languages that surrounded them, allowing them to communicate with each other even in the presence of the police or prison guards. While initially used by the more unsavory element of Argentine society, Lunfardo was later popularized through the tango, literary art forms, and upwardly mobile immigrants and has become a part of everyday, informal speech regardless of social class. Today, the use of Lunfardo is most prevalent in Argentina (particularly in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, though some elements have been adopted by neighboring countries such as Chile and Paraguay.

Lunfardo was largely a product of the great wave of European immigration to Argentina that took place from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. The huge influx of immigrants hailing from Spain, Italy and France, many of whom spoke non-standard regional dialects or languages, greatly influenced the development of Lunfardo. Certain words also arrived via the gauchos of Argentina’s interior as well as native groups like the Guaraní, Quechua and Mapuche.

One of the features of Lunfardo is the use of vesre, a form of wordplay that involves reversing the order of syllables in a word. The term "vesre" is derived from the Spanish word "revés" (in reverse/backwards). Examples of vesre include café → feca (coffee), pantalones → lompa (a truncated form of the word for pants) and hotel → telo (a pay-by-the-hour love motel).

In addition to vesre, Lunfardo also employs words based on metaphors such as tumbero, a slang term for "convict" that originates from the Spanish word "tumba" meaning grave. Another example is the word "campana" (Spanish for "bell"), which describes the lookout man ready to sound the alarm should the police suddenly arrive on the scene.

For those of you looking to add a splash of color to your Spanish, the following websites have compiled an extensive list of Lunfardo words and phrases: Argentine Spanish Slang Dictionary, Wally's Dictionary of Argentine Colloquialism and Culture and Diccionario de Lunfardo.

This post was originally written for Transpanish, a translation blog focusing on the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.

Read More......

Happy International Translation Day!

September 30th is recognized as International Translation Day. The celebration coincides with the feast day of St. Jerome, one of the most influential translators of all time (you may have heard of his tiny project known as The Bible). In addition to translators, St. Jerome is acknowledged as the patron saint of other studious types such as librarians, archaeologists and archivists.

Translators play an important role in society. As the International Federation of Translators points out, "Translators today are cross-cultural communication specialists and essential business partners; without their expertise, it is difficult to work successfully across borders." Anyone who has tried to work off the instructions included in ready-to-assemble furniture from China can attest to the impact a bad translation can have on your day. Just imagine if the stakes are higher than a faux mahogany bookcase.

So, back to the party… Since all celebrations should include a bit of liveliness and humor, I submit for your viewing enjoyment the following video.

[If you can't view the embedded video, please click here.]

Happy International Translation Day to all!

By the way, if you're looking for a good Spanish-English translator, I know where you can find one. ;)

Read More......

The Evolution of an Accent

I recently stumbled upon a post at LexiBlog entitled "Multiple Personalities in a Foreign Language." The author poses the following questions:

When we learn a foreign language, we may have an accent bearing light traces or strong semblances of our native tongue or we may be able to pick up on our instructor’s accent or that of a native speaker.

What happens when we have studied with instructors with various national accents or have “lived” a particular language in various countries where it is spoken? What kind of multiple personality disorder can we have when we open our mouths?

While I think it would be considerably difficult to consciously alter my accent in English, strangely enough, I haven't struggled much to adjust to different Spanish dialects and their accompanying accents. I found that it was easier to absorb what was being said to me if I internalized the differences in pronunciation by changing my accent to reflect that of the speaker.

How My Spanish Accent Has Changed Over Time

» When I first began learning Spanish in high school, my teacher for the majority of those years was a Spaniard from Andalusia. Peninsular Spanish with its accompanying "lisping" accent was drummed into me by Señor Capaldo. 

» In college I dropped the European pronunciation and developed more of a Mexican accent—once again, courtesy of my professor—which persisted later on since most of the Spanish speakers I encountered in my professional life were Mexican. 

» After getting to know Daniel, my accent morphed once again as I started to absorb the special brand of Spanish spoken here in Argentina, a dialect known as Rioplatense Spanish. Argentines are well-known for their unique accent, use of voseo, and numerous slang words. It seems that at this stage, Argentine Spanish has taken over my brain!

Of course, I still haven't managed to completely rid my Spanish of my American accent (and I don't believe I ever will), but I don't think my accent is particularly heavy (Tomás says my r's often give me away). Of course, Daniel says I speak perfectly (hah!), but other more objective Argentines have commented that my accent is relatively mild or, at the very least, pleasant to listen to and well-understood.

If you're a non-native speaker of a language, what does your accent sound like?  How has it changed over time?

---

Resources // Accents

I find accents fascinating. If you do too, check out this excellent resource from the blog es-xchange with recordings of native Spanish speakers from all over the map. [Scroll halfway down the page to where it says "Audio clips."] 

» Click here to listen to the Argentine Spanish accent.

Do you wonder what Argentines sound like when they speak English? I've got a clip for that too. Access the International Dialects of English Archive (IDEA) to listen to English spoken with a variety of accents.

And lastly, if you're curious to hear how an American living in Argentina speaks Spanish, click here. (No, it's not yours truly.)

Read More......

Movie Titles in Foreign Countries

Last year when I went searching for Monty Python and the Holy Grail at the aptly-named Video Club Camelot here in Necochea, I offered up my best attempt at the title in Spanish and was met with blank stares all around. Not content to give up the quest so easily, I tried two other movie rental stores. I went home empty-handed. 

The problem? It turns out that the movie was released as Los caballeros de la mesa cuadrada ["The Knights of the Square Table"] in Argentina. Well, whodathunkit?!

Though movies are frequently given new titles when a direct translation from English would be nonsensical or culturally inappropriate for foreign audiences, inventive translations complicate the usually simple task of renting a movie. To make matters worse, a film's title often differs for Spain and Latin America. 

Take the 1980s classic comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off for example. The film's title was translated three different ways for Spanish-speaking audiences:

Todo en un día ["All in One Day"] – Spain
Un experto en diversión ["An Expert in Fun"] – Argentina/Chile/Colombia/Peru
La escapada de Ferris Bueller ["Ferris Bueller's Escapade"] – Mexico

Of course, it works both ways. The 1997 film Abre los ojos ["Open Your Eyes"] by Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar underwent a Hollywood remake in 2001 and was rechristened with the title Vanilla Sky. 

Click here to check out some truly bizarre translations of movie titles.

Tip: Need to know the foreign title of your favorite film? Search for the movie at the oh-so-handy site Internet Movie Database [IMDb] and then scroll down to the "Details" section. Click on the "See more" link next to "Also Known As" and all will be revealed.

Read More......

Put Your Hands Where I Can See 'Em

Daniel has begun work on phase II of "the palace," so the office is a complete shambles, with tools and materials strewn all about. This morning I glanced down and saw an old clamp lying on the floor that bore a strong resemblance to a handcuff. I pointed to it and said to Daniel, "That clamp looks like..." and then I paused because it occurred to me that I did not know the word for "handcuffs" in Spanish.

I held my hands out in front of me and asked, "What are those things called that the police put around your wrists when they arrest you?"

Daniel replied, "Esposas."

"Huh? Really?" He smiled and I just laughed. "Hmm, damn machismo."

You see, esposa (plural: esposas) is also the word for wife. Read More......