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