I speak Spanish. Yo hablo Español Hello, my dear Read.cashers ! I hope life smiles on you today! This is my entry for this week's Prompt, Language. Many of you have approached the subject by talking about the different types of language. Several have spoken of the language of love from different perspectives. And I think this particular kind of language has been covered quite a bit and in a very creative way around here. Another way of approaching the subject that caught my attention was that of @Cineholic. In his article, he questions that the national education system of his country has adopted English as an official language to replace his mother tongue. And about the feeling of frustration that this causes him. This is the article **Education In National Language!** https://read.cash/@Cineholic/education-in-national-language-386733cc And that left me pondering. Pride in our native language is something we shouldn't negotiate. I love learning other languages. I greatly appreciate having been able to study English as a second language since I was little. And I think that being able to learn a second language is a competitive advantage today. But I'm completely and absolutely proud of my mother tongue, Spanish. Our language is part of our identity, of who we are, of our culture. So I will focus my article on why I proudly say. **Yo hablo Español.**
Some facts about Spanish that can be read on the internet. Source 1 and Source 2 are https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-38021392 https://www.epdata.es/datos/lengua-espanola-mundo-datos-graficos/513 It's the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese, English, and Hindi. It's the second language as mother tongue, after Mandarin Chinese. It's the native language in more than twenty countries. The country with more Spanish speakers is Mexico, followed by the United States, and it's expected that by 2060, the United States will be the country with the most people who speak Spanish. It's the third most used language on the internet, after English and Chinese. But the things that make me fall in love with Spanish are different. In addition to the pride that is the language I grew up with, the one I speak every day. I like, Its different shades and expressions according to the Spanish-speaking country. What differentiates us in the way we speak and in the expressions we say. I find it fascinating how many words in Spanish can mean the same thing. Some examples are. It's not the same to order a beer (**cerveza**), in Spain **una caña** than in Mexico **una chela**, or in Argentina and Venezuela **una birra**. Refer to a friend or colleague in Spain **tío**, **pibe** in Argentina, **cuáte** in Mexico, and **pana** in Venezuela. Each country has its own idiom for everything. Some can even get us into somewhat embarrassing situations. For example, here in Venezuela, speaking colloquially, people say **Estoy arrecho** to say that they are angry or upset. But that same expression, in other countries as Colombia, means being sexually aroused, which Spaniards would say as being **Cachondos** (horny). Literature in Spanish is extensive, and we have many Nobel Prize winners for literature in our language. I couldn't imagine reading Cien Años de Soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) or any other book by García Márquez in a language other than Spanish. Or a poem by Rubén Dario in another language. `La princesa está triste... ¿qué tendrá la princesa?` `Los suspiros se escapan de su boca de fresa,` `que ha perdido la risa, que ha perdido el color.` `La princesa está pálida en su silla de oro,` `está mudo el teclado de su clave de oro;` `y en un vaso olvidado se desmaya una flor.` ***Extract of Sonatina by Ruben Darío***
Also as in other languages, we have at least one word that doesn't have an exact translation in other languages, and it's **Sobremesa**. And I don't know about you, but I love a Sobremesa, that of stay sitting at the table after a copious meal, drinking coffee or maybe some liquor, or just chatting. That in Spanish is a Sobremesa. Of course, I cannot fail to mention a few of all the idioms only we Venezuelans use. Some use a bit of rude language. To say we don't have money or we are broke. **Estoy pelando** or **Estoy pelando bola**. When a boy is flirting with a girl. **Le echa los perros**. To strive to achieve something. **Echarle pichón** or **Echarle bolas**. Having a few drinks. **Echarse los palos**. Asking someone to give you a ride. Or hitchhike. **Pedir la cola**. When something is annoying. Or it's a pain in the ass. **¡Qué ladilla!** To finish, and as many approached the subject of the language of love. One of the things I like about Spanish is that to say I love you. We can make distinctions because we have two expressions to say the same. **Te quiero**, I used it with my extended family and my friends. **Te amo**, I only use it with my closest ones. I know that among my readers, there are some Venezuelans. But most are from non-Spanish-speaking countries. Do any of you speak Spanish? To participate in the Writing Prompt. You can read Jonica's article on Writing prompt #13 : Language. And rules are simple: https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-13-language-32504945 *Write about Language* *Write 100% original content* *Write at least 600 words* *Submit your article to the community* ***PromptlyJonica*** https://read.cash/c/promptlyjonica-b4a0 *Have fun!* **My previous articles on the prompts:** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/five-days-in-the-darkness-186c7b09#my-previous-articles-on-the-prompts P1- Freedom - **What does Freedom mean to me?** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/what-does-freedom-mean-to-me-34294cee P2 - Motivation - **Why I'm using cryptos? - my motivations** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/why-im-using-cryptos-my-motivations-0e9fb0c2 P4 - Darkness - **Five days in the darkness** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/five-days-in-the-darkness-186c7b09 P5- Questions - **Too many questions** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/too-many-questions-7fb6236b P8- Nature - **A glimpse of nature in my tropical land** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/a-glimpse-of-nature-in-my-tropical-land-30956825 P9- Success - **Success is not Final** https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/success-is-not-final-4d37f392 P11- Labels - Labels and distortions https://read.cash/@CoquiCoin/labels-and-distortions-02c42f39 To you, my dear readers, thank you so much! These are all my wonderful sponsors! I encourage you to visit their amazing articles if you haven't done so. **Images credits in the caption. All writings are my own unless anything different is stated. Copyright CoquiCoin 2021.** Until next time! ;) August 18, 2021
72 comments
Very nice! I am familiar with some of the words that you’ve mentioned even though I am not so fluent with you language maybe because some of the words in our native language (Tagalog/Filipino) comes from Spanish origins (because of the Spanish occupation for centuries) so we also use them here
That's nice that you know some Spanish. I know that the Philippines was also a Spanish colony. And I think I have also read somewhere that you use the letter ñ as well.
This makes me wanna learn Spanish, although our local language has a mix of it. I think Spanish is a sexy language :D It is also interesting that words can mean different, like what you said can get you in a quite embarrassing situation. I remember my first embarrassing experience in speaking Mandarin Chinese, where the same words can mean 2 different things when wrongly pronounced :D
Hehe. Well, I think French is a sexy language. LOL. But you can learn some Spanish since you already use some words. Many words and phrases can put you in an embarrassing situation, depending on which Latin American country you say them. Also, the accents are very different in each country. But I think that happens in all languages.
Ah yes, French is the sexiest language for me lol! But Spanish has it's own charm too☺
I love the way you expressed your love for Spanish language freely. So many people wish to he a le to speak Spanish and I often get jealous ehwm I bear people speak it with ease. I think I like a sobremasa too. I hope I have the meaning correctly understood on my mind.
If you liked the Sobremesa, I'm sure you understand the meaning well, hehe! Thank you for stopping by! :)
te quiero sis! learned spanish during high school that's why i have a soft spot for this language. i think it is only right to love your country's own language first before anything else.
También te quiero, querida Eylz! Agree with you. Our country's language should be the first in our hearts. :)
I learned Spanish because of Thalia, sang her songs when I was 12. Although I don't know some of the meanings of the lyrics, I still sing the songs up to these days :) I also learned some words and phrases through Duolingo.
Hehe, of course, I know Thalia. And the truth is, I haven't heard her in a long time. But it's nice to know you like one Spanish-speaking singer. :)
I was and still am a die-hard fan :) I like her old songs better :)
The Thalia song that I liked the most is Amor a la Mexicana ;)
Yes, that's a great song :D One of my favorites is Entre el mar y una estrella
I'm from Pakistan and our national language is Urdu,.. But I also learn english... I didn't knowledge about Spanish before read this article. Great info .... :)
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
Nice. So your native language is Spanish. I like it. We also have spanish words associated in our language since before, our country was once visited by the Spaniards.
Yes! I'm from Venezuela, and we speak Spanish :)
Wow so I got a friend from Venezuela! 😍
Yes you do have it! hehe ;)
It is good to learn other languages, but better to know yours.
Agree with you. First, we must learn ours and then others!
I only know few words. Thanks to this, I will add more in my vocabulary. ☺
You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by!
Oh I love sobremesa too,🧡
We are in the same boat with that because I love to do Sobremesa. :)
Esto es muy entretenido. Me encantan los diferentes idiomas y el español es uno de ellos. Como estas hoy, Coqui? :)
Ah! Hablas español! Me encanta :) Yo estoy bien, aquí recién está comenzando el día. Y tú cómo estás, qué tal tu día? Te quiero, sis! ♡
Vengo de un linaje hispano-filipino, Coqui jeje. Eso es bueno escuchar. Soy bueno también. Solo tuve algunos dolores de cabeza antes, pero ahora me siento mejor. Buenos dias! :)
Me alegro que te sientas mejor! xoxo
Un artículo hermoso mi estimada amiga, no hay nada mejor que conversar en ese idioma que nos regaló ese país o ese continente dónde nacimos, el español es un idioma complejo pero a la vez hermoso, que nos puede hacer volar y concuerdo totalmente contigo no hay nada mejor que ver cómo cada país le da un significado distinto a las palabras, cada país tiene su acento y modismos. Eso hace que este lenguaje, que este idioma sea tan bonito, tan sentido y variado, te agradezco por crear esta publicación donde le muestras un poco de nuestra lengua materna a todas estas personas hermosas, saludos y cuidate mucho.
Gracias por tu palabras, querida amiga! Sí, la riqueza del Español es inmensa. Los modismos que nos hacen parecer diferentes. Pero la verdad es que en el fondo todos somos un poco parecidos porque tenemos esa raíz común. Un abrazo y muchos saludos para ti!
Muy de acuerdo contigo, sin duda esa raíz en común nos convierte en hermanos eternos, disculpa que te corrija pero soy un amigo Jajaja, saludos, igualmente un gran abrazo.
I love the differences in Spanish between the different Spanish speaking countries. I have lived in three Spanish speaking countries and still dont speak it perfectly! haha
If you have lived in three different Spanish-speaking countries maybe you don't speak it perfectly, but for sure you should have a lot of vocabulary to name things with different words! May I ask where do you live now?
Me encanto tu artículo, no hay comparación. Las canciones o poemas si los traduces literalmente no tendrían sentido en otro idioma. Likewise, depending on the intonation of the word, the meaning changes completely. You used "Estoy Arrecho", to mean that you are annoyed, but "Sol está Arrecho", means that the temperature is very high. I liked this word. Thanks for the invitation to the writing program, I will take some time to read your articles, of course I will do it little by little,
Gracias Frank! Sí cuando dices que el Sol está arrecho! es que hace mucho calor, je je. Los Prompt son una buena forma de tener un tema para escribir. Además puedes escribir sobre cualquiera de los temas que ya se han propuesto porque no hay una fecha tope para escribir y publicarlo en la comunidad. Si te animas leeré lo que escribas y si tienes alguna duda y necesitas ayuda no dudes en preguntarme. Saludos!
All right, I'll check it out, if I have any questions I'll let you know. Thanks
You know what, I do have a funny story on this. On my previous work, I am a back up Spanish representative which in all honesty, I am not so familiar with it. But you know here in the Philippines, our Bisayan dialect is a combination of Spanish language too. Funny story is that everytime I recieved a call for a spanish customers, I just use google translate and luckily they were able to understand it. 😅
Maybe the structures of both languages are similar. I don't know anything about the Philippine languages. Just Ate, Po, and Salamat, LOL. But I know you also use the letter ñ, for example.
Even though we are wanting to learn other Languages, our mother's Language should be underrated or underestimated. I so much love my own native language too and that doesn't mean I won't learn other Language important to me.
Completely agree with you. Thanks for stopping by, princess!
Ah! English indeed has been most widely used, and for me I'm much more comfortable using it than that of our own Filipino language especially in writing. However, this month we celebrated "Buwan ng Wika" a month to commemorate our own language, thus 3 days ago I wrote one article in our language. It was a bit hard, but worth it.
Well, I can write in Spanish without a problem. But writing in English helps me to learn to be more precise. Spanish is more complicated in grammar. But I love the sound of Spanish and of all romances languages, those that come from Latin. I saw your article in your own language and had to skip it. ;)
We often use to tell the time and counting in Spanish here but with a touch of Tagalog such as alas-singko (5 am/pm) and bente (20). There's also the use of mestiso/mestisa here too!
I see that you have many words that come from Spanish but with slightly different spellings.
I know some Espanol pero poquito :D I remember trying to learn Spanish through an app before but then lost interest. From the words you mentioned, I know serbesa. That's how we say it. Bola on the other hand is ball or to flatter someone.
Bola is ball, hehe. It's not to flatter at all. But we use it a lot in many expressions. And Argentinians use the expression Boludo much. To refer to someone silly or that uses to do or speak nonsense. But they also use it as a colloquial way of treatment between friends.
I think we are all equal in our different nationalities with our respective accents and languages. That is what gives us the sense of belonging. I love my Spanish and I am just now learning a little English. But my mother tongue is Portuguese and I love it too.
I love Portuguese, and I know a little. Once I started to listen to Fado, and I tried to learn a little Portuguese. And I think my favorite word in life is Saudade.
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