LAS LENGUAS INGLESA Y ESPAÑOLA de Delfín Carbonell

People have equal ideas, feelings, emotions, and desires, that we express through language. Each language conveys those meanings in different ways that are proper for them, but, often enough native speakers seem to forget the resources their language has and reach out to import strange modes of expression. Such is the case with "en cuanto yo sé", which I have just heard on TV, a direct translation of "as far as I know." I have also heard "por lo que yo sé" as another choice for the English cliché mentioned above, instead of the genuine "que yo sepa", using the subjunctive: "David, que yo sepa, ya no está en Madrid." English uses the subjunctive sparingly and thus it is forced to employ other ways to convey ideas of doubt and uncertainty. Will "en cuanto yo sé" debunk "que yo sepa"? Eventually, I am sure, mainly because the average native speaker´s knowledge of their language is scant and they have a dearth of interes...

"To tell the truth / a decir verdad" When we say or write “to tell the truth, I did not feel like coming” we imply that we are forced to tell the truth although we would rather lie.  "I must say / tengo que decir" Why must you say it? “I must say she is a very talented woman.” Better: “She is a talented woman.” "Thanks in advance / gracias de antemano" Never write this, please, in either language. Thank people once they have done what you asked them to do. It is offensive and presumptious. "In my (humble) opinion / en mi (humilde) opinión" Unless you have copied an opinion, we must suppose that what you are saying is what you believe. No need to say: “In my humble opinion, this project is not acceptable.” Just say or write: “This project is not acceptable.” Avoid this stupid cliché. "It goes without saying / ni que decir tiene" “It goes without saying that Paul is a good boy.” Then, why say it? “Paul is a go...

Clichés son frases hechas, estereotipadas, que a fuerza de repetirse han perdido todo su encanto. Existen en todos los idiomas, pero representan pobreza y pereza en el hablar y escribir. Veamos algunos en los dos idiomas: All things considered Considerándolo todo That is to say Esto es, es decir Broad daylight A pleno día Diamond in the rough Diamante en bruto Her own worst enemy Ella es su peor enemiga It goes without saying Ni que decir tiene Moment of truth Hora de la verdad Tip of the iceberg La punta del iceberg Up in the air En el aire Every Tom , Dick and Harry Cualquier hijo de vecino The order of the day A la orden del día