From: utzoo!laura Newsgroups: net.jokes.q Title: language funnies Article-I.D.: utzoo.2128 Posted: Mon Jun 7 15:59:54 1982 Received: Mon Jun 7 15:59:54 1982 References: sdcatta.443 This is a short list of funny things which I heard while working in Honduras and Ecuador from three American friends who had studied Spanish for aproximately three months before arriving. I already spoke Spanish, and so was able to point out these funny flaws as the conversations developed. When I next get to California, I will look these friends up and I am sure we will remember more -- we are not insulted but rather amused at our mistakes. To introduce her husband to a Honduran resident, Mary meant "y este caballero es mi marido" (and this gentleman is my husband) but managed "y este caballo es mi marido" (and this horse is my husband) Robert, attempting to tell a 60 year old indian woman that her father was in good health meant "y que fuerte papa' tiene" (and what a strong daddy you have) but came up with "y que fuerte pa'pa tiene" (and what a strong potato you have). When the woman looked confused, he attempted clarification "su padre...es el pa'pa ?" (your father... it is your daddy) but which came out as "su padre es el papa'" which sacriligously enough means (your father is the Pope!) This one produced a barrage of anxious denials which eventually we were able to sort out. Peggy wanted a beer. Unfortunately "un vaso de cevesa" is a beer, but "un vaso de cevecho" is a glass of tomato and raw fish soup. Somebody swallowed that (which actually was rather good) to salvage her pride! Jamon is ham. Japon is japan. Jabon is soap. for a while we were eating japanese-people and soap sandwiches. I worked in the recovery room of a village hospital. There were several children who were out from under the anaethetic but still had to be watched before they could go back to where we had set up beds. They wanted to hear stories which people in the United States told their children. They got to hear about Goldilocks (Pelorubia -- who knows what it is in an official translation!) and the big bad fire breathing dragon she met on the way to grandmother's house (I couldnt remember the work for wolf -- the big bad german shepard dog didnt sound that good!). Having totally mixed up my fairy tales, I put Pelorubia back where she belonged with the three bears -- but they were eating refried beans with corn grits for breakfast (I still dont know the word for porridge!) We all had a lot of fun -- and if you go back to small towns in South America, or better yet, villages, you will definitely meet people who dont know what a "hot dog" is. Perro caliente, you had better *not* tell them, though for dog-meat is consumed there often. (it's good) laura creighton decvax!utzoo!laura