It is the policy of the site, you will be ok with your links now as you have enough posts, if you post a link in your first 3 or 4 posts they have to be checked by a mod to make sure you are not posting spam.

You can say whatever you like, most of us on here stopped listening to the rubbish you come out with a long time ago!
I don't have to "ask a friend" I have plenty of Spanish relations right here to set me straight.

Ref...3 posts in a day.
Yes there were as I've been catching up after being out all day doing interesting things, not sat in front of a computer screen reading drivel.
Not that it's any of your business what and when I post!

Me too, some words just sound better than others!

Keep digging and by all means dig up the spanish relatives. I said 3 posts in a row but whatever You failed to respond to this one from our new member too. However if you want to single me out I don't mind...carry on

Quote:




Originally Posted by JuanSolo

Hi! This is my first post. I'm a Spaniard planning to move to UK and I came to this forum just to learn more about Brits. This is an ideal place for me to do so, given that British expats like you have an invaluable view of both cultures. You point with your comments to remarkable facts that will help me a lot when I arrive to the UK.

I realize that there's room for improvement in my English, so please be patient if I use odd expressions or even grammar faults. Corrections will be more than welcome.

I don't mean to be an intruder here, but in the other hand I think I can contribute with my point of view and thus give something in return to the community.

So,

1) The word *'marida' is not in the Spanish dictionary and AFAIK that word isn't used at all by any Spaniard with the caveat of jokes. Therefore I foresee it won't be added to the thesaurus. We use to correct children when they use such word and we explain to them that the correct term is 'mujer' or 'esposa'. 'Pareja' is also used, but --and this is completely personal-- when people use this word, it seems to me that they are hiding their marital status and/or their sexual preferences. 'Media naranja' does so, but since it's more informal it sounds better to me. If you want to me very formal, 'cónyuge' is your word.

2) I wouldn't assume a waiter/waitress prefers a swelled bill instead of a good conversation. First, because he/she could be an employee with fixed wages. Second, because the average Spaniard loves conversation. And it's up to the individual to be kind regardless other considerations.

3) Beyond the language you speak to the people it is the attitude that matters. Of course it is polite to ask first in the local language whether or not they can speak English. But if you're ordering and you have no option because you only speak your language, your only tool is your hand sign and your language. The average Spanish bartender understands this and tries to give service, in English, French, Russian or Swahili. Anyway if you plan to travel to a country with other language, it is smart to learn some basic constructs. The good news is that mastering English and Spanish, you can communicate with 80% of people around the world.

And I agree that most of the times you get what you are expecting.

By the way, we Spaniards get embarrassed lots of times by our fellow's behaviour. None of us want to be labelled because other's misbehaviour. I'm glad we have that in common

So you deliberately refuse to accept it when JLFS (Spanish by birth) also says it's in use, but you accept without question the words of a new poster?

You are indeed a very blinkered woman, maybe in your little world (it's England I believe) you haven't come across it, but that doesn't mean it's not out there and used every day.

No doubt I could tell you lots of English words you have never come across and that are not in dictionaries but which are also used, many regions have their own and these can and do change from area to area.
Languages evolve and change the whole time, for someone who thinks themselves so knowledgeable and superior I would have though you would be aware of that.

And as for singling you out....not a chance, you are of not the slightest consequence!
But if you want to think yourself important then by all means carry on with your pathetic little digs at me, to use those famous words from a well known film...
My dear I don't give a dam!

Embarrassed by the Brits....yes constantly and I have not met one for over a year. My only contact with other Brits is on three forums and this is the only forum where people are so nit picking and rude to each other regardless of the subject being discussed.

Rosemary

This is the only forum I use. It has surprised me how some posters respond to each other (dislike?). I suspect this just reflects what happens in everyday life. Its just easier to state what you really think about somebody when you are not face to face or know them.
There are also some posters who are very defensive about certain topics who appear to believe that an opinion that they do not agree with is a personal attack on them. They can reply quite nastily without adding to the debate. I often wonder if they would be the same if you met them. Two faced springs to mind.

I would call this a saloon bar forum, while most of the other, similar ones are strictly public bar. Of course you still get rudeness in a saloon bar, but at least it's a more educated rudeness than the meaningless grunts from the dart players next door.

It's good to have a choice though. When we treat ourselves to a weekend night out, we can have sausage, egg and chips in a place right next door to one where you have to book a table in advance and which employs a real chef who doesn't know what a microwave is.

Further on a karaoke bar encourages falling down drunks to sing 'My Way' as loudly as possible, but a little further on you can hear decent, live music.

If you feel really decadent, there are several 24-hour bars to experience 'real' Spain. The working girls come in to relax after a hard night and some of them look real manly, even in suspenders.

Not recently, I found myself in one of those places and played chess against one of the manly pros. I lost against a former Belgian lorry driver dressed in tights, who sacrificed his queen early on.

Well put.

I think the problem is with you!!! Was it any of your business? Also, why engage with pointless exchange of words when all they wanted was beer. they got st8 to the point and got what they wanted. Whether the waiter or anyone else was offended by the use of English, is of no relevance. They were paying for the beer, so they can speak whatever language they want.

Also, what's wrong with hand signals ? It's another means of communication.

Would you decline sex with a beautiful, handsome stranger just because he/she didn't speak the "correct" language.

Now to look at the matter from the Spanish perspective.........
When working in the hotel industry many moons ago, my Spanish OH would speak whatever language his customers initiated the conversation in. this was quite acceptable and no "politeness" was required.

Now as a Funcionario, even when either party have no idea what the other is saying (Russian/Chinese as an example), communication is still effective with hand signals, drawings and online translators. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Ironically, the most likely people to bring the incorrect documentation are the Spanish speaking British, who think that they are fluent. They sit there nodding their heads to say they understand everything and then return with the wrong stuff, claiming that they were told something else.
When my OH starts speaking English with them (I know he's expert), they get all offended and continue speaking Spanish.

Get your heads out of your asses, people.

It's not about lack of language, it's about a lack of good manners.

When we bought our house we went to the town hall to find out what bills we had to pay and the gentleman drew a picture of a little hut with drains underneath in order to explain to us that there are bills for water and bills for sewage. I had understood what he was getting at but really appreciated the fact that he was making sure that we were understanding him.

Rosemary

Good manners requires that you treat other people politely and with consideration. If everyone stuck to that maxim, life would be so much easier and simpler.

Yes, if they didn't have the correct money.