I need somebody who's very fluent in Spanish

Opty · Jan 9, 2007

I can speak Spanish but am no longer fluent. It's been yeeeaaaarrrsss since I've had to really speak/read/write it on a regular basis.

I've forgotten a lot of my verb conjugations and tense structures and my vocabulary sucks now.

So, I have a few job-related things which I may need help translating from English to Spanish. If anyone has the time to help me (I don't know if I'll need it yet or how much help I'll need) if I need it, please PM me.

If I get stumped, you'll be my helper.

Thanks.

jbal · Jan 9, 2007

get DamaNegra, she rules.

Bartholomew · Jan 9, 2007

Dama is the girl for you, yeah.

I could probably help, some, but I'm epically bad with sentence structure.

Clean Slate · Jan 9, 2007

While my spanish is very conversational and full of guatemalan colloquialism, I'd still be happy to help. I lived in Centroamerica for a good bit of time and still have most of my spanish language brain intact.

Opty · Jan 10, 2007

Do Guatemalans speak "traditional" Spanish (like Spain and Puerto Rico) or "Mexicano" Spanish (which, even still, has several regional variations due to the influences of Mayan and Aztec languages)?

The Spanish-speakers I'm writing these instructions for are from Mexico, and many Mexican words and colloquialisms mean totally different things in "traditional" Spanish.

Examples:

"Ahorita" (I've also heard ahorito) means "right now" in traditional Spanish, but I've met some people from certain parts of Latin America who use it to mean "later." That can cause a lot of problems.

Order a piece of "bizcocho" in Spain or Puerto Rico, and you'll likely get a piece of cake.

Order a piece of "bizcocho" in certain parts of Mexico, and you'll likely get a hooker or a really easy girl.

Bmwhtly · Jan 10, 2007

Spork said:
very fluent

I thought fluency was finite. Either a person is fluent or they're not. Y'know like pregnancy.

I guess I was wrong.

Opty · Jan 10, 2007

*Sticks out tongue*

You're right, though. But, I stressed "very fluent" because some people "think" they're fluent because they can "sort of" speak a language.

Just because a person can order at a restaurant and find a bathroom if they're in Spain, doesn't mean they're fluent.

Maryn · Jan 10, 2007

Hey, while you Spanish speakers are here, I need confirmation of a two-word phrase. How would I say "sweet dreams" in Spanish? (Babelfish gave me Sueno Fabulosa.) I just need it to name a high-end bed store in Tucson, so Mexicano Spanish is what I'd need.

Maryn, thread hijacker who will give it back now

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

Maryn said:
Hey, while you Spanish speakers are here, I need confirmation of a two-word phrase. How would I say "sweet dreams" in Spanish? (Babelfish gave me Sueno Fabulosa.)

Buenos Sueños. Where I've lived, people don't ever say this, though. They'd say "Que tiene Buon Sueño," or "That you have good dream."

Del · Jan 10, 2007

If it is no trouble, I need a translation also.

Padazo de pastel, amigo.

Thanks.

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

DrSpork said:
Do Guatemalans speak "traditional" Spanish (like Spain and Puerto Rico) or "Mexicano" Spanish (which, even still, has several regional variations due to the influences of Mayan and Aztec languages)?

Most Chapines (slang for Guatemaltecos) would lose their sh#t if they read that Centroamerican Spanish is "Mexicano." Antigua, Guatemala was Spain's first real capital city in this hemisphere (and is still an amazing place to spend time in), and the language is a bit different than in Mexico. Guatemalans speak with many colloquialisms that are similar to those of Argentinos. FYI ahora means 'now.' Ahorita, with the diminutive added, means literally 'a little bit now' or 'almost now' or the best translation is 'in a sec.'

You wouldn't use most of the colloquial terms in written form though.

Maryn · Jan 10, 2007

Clean Slate said:
Buenos Sueños. Where I've lived, people don't ever say this, though. They'd say "Que tiene Buon Sueño," or "That you have good dream."

Well, shoot, that's too long for a store name. Got any swell ideas for one in Spanish? It can be anything to do with beds, rest, sleep, dreams, etc.

Maryn, who didn't really return the thread after all, eh?

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

Anything to do with sex, hookers, or drugs has a huge variation from place to place. I have spent a lot of time in a lot of countries, and no language has anything near the sheer volume of distinct slang words about these subjects as Spanish, and they vary wildly from nation to nation and even from region to region within the same small country.

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

Delarege said:
If it is no trouble, I need a translation also.

Padazo de pastel, amigo.

Thanks.

Are you asking for a translation of pedazo de pastel, amigo?

robeiae · Jan 10, 2007

DrSpork said:
"Ahorita" (I've also heard ahorito) means "right now" in traditional Spanish, but I've met some people from certain parts of Latin America who use it to mean "later." That can cause a lot of problems.

I think that's actually a term for a part of the human heart.

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

robeiae said:
I think that's actually a term for a part of the human heart.

Aorita = tiny aorta? :tongue

Del · Jan 10, 2007

Clean Slate said:
Are you asking for a translation of pedazo de pastel, amigo?

Yes. Sorry for the confusion.

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

Delarege said:
Yes. Sorry for the confusion.

Literally, 'piece of pie, friend' I've never heard it used like 'piece of cake' or 'easy as pie,' but maybe that's the correct slang translation, unless someone is actually offering a piece of pie to someone else. I love pie.

Del · Jan 10, 2007

Clean Slate said:
Literally, 'piece of pie, friend' I've never heard it used like 'piece of cake' or 'easy as pie,' but maybe that's the correct slang translation, unless someone is actually offering a piece of pie to someone else. I love pie.

So how would an English speaking Hispanic quote "piece of cake" in his native tongue, were he just trying to be amusing in front of a non Spanish speaking individual?

Sorry to hijack...opportunity arose.

Clean Slate · Jan 10, 2007

Delarege said:
So how would an English speaking Hispanic quote "piece of cake" in his native tongue, were he just trying to be amusing in front of a non Spanish speaking individual?

Sorry to hijack...opportunity arose.

Come to think of it, pastel works for cake too. I'd guess that it can be literally translated as 'piece of cake.' Sorry for the confusion, it's been a while.

Soccer Mom · Jan 10, 2007

Spork, I would PM Dama Negra. She lives in Mexico City (if I recall correctly) and makes me jealous with her ability to write English better than most native speakers.

Gravity · Jan 10, 2007

I've been told I speak Espanol like a hijo de puta. That's a good thing, right?

CBeasy · Jan 10, 2007

Soccer Mom said:
Spork, I would PM Dama Negra. She lives in Mexico City (if I recall correctly) and makes me jealous with her ability to write English better than most native speakers.

Yeah, I always forget the English isn't Dama's first language. I wish I could speak Spainish half as well as she speaks English.

C.bronco · Jan 10, 2007

I always thought pasteles covered all pastries. Is it just pie and cake? The what about pan dulce, is that a specific dish, or just cake?

Opty · Jan 10, 2007

Clean Slate said:
Most Chapines (slang for Guatemaltecos) would lose their sh#t if they read that Centroamerican Spanish is "Mexicano."

Yes, my old roommate is Puerto Rican. I've heard the same rants from him.

Ahorita, with the diminutive added, means literally 'a little bit now' or 'almost now' or the best translation is 'in a sec.'

Okay, maybe I had it reversed then. I just remember him (old roommate) telling me a story of when he once worked in a Mexican restaurant and his boss told him that he needed him there "ahorita," and that it caused confusion because he got there at the wrong time.

I think maybe he said that his boss wanted him there "now," but since he used "ahorita," Daniel thought he meant "in a little while."

That would make more sense for the story, I guess.

I need somebody who's very fluent in Spanish

Opty

jbal

Bartholomew

Comic guy

Clean Slate

Opty

Bmwhtly

Yes, I'm back.

Opty

Maryn

Baaa!

Clean Slate

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Clean Slate

Maryn

Baaa!

Clean Slate

Clean Slate

robeiae

Touch and go

Clean Slate

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Clean Slate

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Clean Slate

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Gravity

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

CBeasy

I'm back baby!

C.bronco

I have plans...

Opty