If you speak multiple languages you’ve probably already noticed the effect that language plays in your brain’s connections. Some of the funniest/ puniest people I know are the ones that speak multiple languages because their brains can make connections between words and meanings so effortlessly. Too bad this did not rub off on me.
Learning a new language also helps you understand a culture. I remember the first word I wrote in my personal Italian dictionary was marca (clothing brand). Honduran Spanish: empanizado (breaded food). Dominican Spanish: grosero (rude). I didn’t learn the word fracasar (to fail) until a few weeks ago. There’s this famous language experiment that was conducted by an extremely credible institution somewhere at a specific time. They asked Mexican-American women about what they would do in their free time. When asked in English, the women responded with things like “I would read a book” or “I would go get my hair done”. When asked in Spanish, their answers were things like “I would cook a nice meal for my family” or “I would spend time with my kids”. Speaking in a language makes you think in that culture. They say that sometimes people take on a different personality when they speak different languages. The culture of the language is reflected in the personality that one takes on when they speak it.
When I speak…
Italian I feel confident, opinionated (low-key) aggressive.
· Spanish I feel smiley and relaxed.
· English I feel intellectual (probably because it’s the only language I have enough mastery over to speak on advanced subjects), like a #millennial.
Words of Note:
- Policía acostado (A sleeping police man) = Traffic bump
- Mascota (pet) = notebook
- Apretado = describes the headache/ scalp discomfort that is associated with combing out hair or getting many tiny braids put in your hair
- Un coctel bautizado (a baptized cocktail) = a cocktail with a little alcohol
- Esperar = to hope and to wait. Think about that one
- Lavasaco (ball-washer) = brownnoser
- Dar una galleta (to give someone a cracker) = to slap someone
- Móntame (mount me) = What´s up?
- Es malaria (it’s malaria) = I’m broke
- Se me fue la guagua (the bus left!) = I’m drawing a blank
- Aguafiesta (water party) = wet blanket/ party pooper
- Singar (to row) = vulgar way of saying “have sex”
- Dar muela (give your molar) = when a man knows how to talk to women
- Dar luz (to give light) = to give birth **How freaking beautiful is that?!**
- Casar (to get married) = what really gets me is it’s relation to “casa” (house). It’s like when you get married to someone you have found your home. I think that’s BEAUTIFUL.
- Soltero/a = single, without significant other. But it also has connotations of “being alone”. This is very much reflected in the extraordinarily extroverted Dominican personality. If you try to spend time alone, they think you’re sad and they always want to accompany you if you’re alone. ***So reflective of culture
- Trujillo-related things (Dictator from 1930’s-1960)
- Hijo de Trujillo (Son of Trujillo) = son of a bitch
- “El jefe era Trujillo y lo mataron” (Trujillo was the boss and they killed him) = when someone says they’re the boss, but they’re really not/ they’re a bad boss
- “Trujillo, ven a ver” (Trujillo, come see) = You don’t have any respect
Animal significances:
- Pajaro (bird) = gay
- Paloma (dove/ pigeon) = street smart
- Tiguere (tiger) = shitty man who is bad to women, slutty/ trashy, can have good connotations and could describe someone’s street smarts or ability to be resourceful or crafty
- Gato (cat) = someone who steals from others
- Cocodrilo (crocodile) = a man who gets with many women at the same time
- Grillo (cricket) = an easy love (like slut)
- Cuerro (crow) = an easy love (like slut)
- Leon (lion) = an aggressive man who fights for every little thing
- Burro (donkey) = stupid
- Alacrán (scorpion) = a ´poisonous woman’
- Goat- related things:
- Chivatear (to goat…más o menos) = to tattle, to tell other peoples’ secrets
- Estar chivo (to be goat) = to be careful
- Boca de chivo (goat’s mouth) = when someone wishes or predicts something for you and then it happens
