LAS LENGUAS INGLESA Y ESPAÑOLA de Delfín Carbonell

   Many websites offer language help under the heading “Word of the Day.” They mean well, but they peddle arcane vocabulary that has little to do with our contemporary needs. I say this despite being a pedant and a lover of precise words. Years ago, in college, I bought a little booklet entitled Ten Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary , which was filled with obscure, archaic terms nobody would ever understand in daily discourse. I see that this practice continues, to my regret, because I endorse building vocabulary in context, not in lists. I always try to expand my vocabulary when reading, especially literature produced by good writers.      Expand your vocabulary by reading and looking up words you encounter, and not by relying on lists like this: Fortuitous Vilipend Nefarious Rancor Mellifluous Verdigris Slopulation                   

  The Web is full of well-meaning advisers who hand out quick tips on "writing well."  Trouble is, most of them stick to scolding people about the same tired mistakes: mixing up  there and they're  , it's and its , and so on, under the rubric of "common mistakes." The Spanish language also has language gurus who also correct "common mistakes" like don´t write "a ver" for "haber", "ayer bailemos" for "ayer bailamos", and the like. They are scratching the surface because getting into the brass tacks requires knowledge and experience. Seldom do they dwell on the use of the subjunctive in both languages, or the right position of adverbs, or the proper use of the progressive form, or the "perífrasis durativa." They want to replace hard work and study with the quick-fix band-aid of their directives. “If you’re serious about writing well, skip the shortcuts—dig into the hard parts, sweat through them, an...

My grandfather Vicente was prone to use verbal crutches or fillers in his speech. He was keenly aware of this and was always on the alert to spot new ones and destroy them. But, alas, as he got rid of one, another fresh crutch word would take over. This phenomenon exists in all languages, and in speakers whose knowledge of language is defective and who must use fillers to cover the gaps in their discourse. This communication effect clouds our meaning and makes it difficult for others to understand what we are saying or trying to say, rather. Get rid of "crutches", "fillers" and always keep an eye peeled to detect them. Spanish speakers use them profusely, especially "la verdad es" or " es verdad que" used like this: "¿Te gusta la casa? La verdad es que sí. "La verdad es que me encanta mi trabajo." "La verdad es que mi marido es muy guapo." "Es verdad que el inglés me resulta dificultoso."  Try to avoid this if y...

  The Internet is chockfull of well-meaning people -I would like to think-, mostly natives, who insist on telling readers what in English or Spanish is "informal" or "formal". They disregard the complexities of language, society, and culture. But these self-appointed, latter-day language gurus love to pontificate about what they consider appropriate. "If you want to sound more like a native, don´t say how are you , say hija ." To pass off as a native speaker, don´t say, mister Smith  , say, Mac, or you ." They insist that using "madam" when addressing a woman is old fashioned and stilted. According to them, the word "sir" came into disuse decades ago, and nowadays "I´m good" has definitely replaced "I am well." Again, it is all a question of age, education mores, context, and social standing. This a thin line that foreign students cannot tread without perhaps falling into the abyss of bad manners and thus reject...

Not that long ago, in villages and small towns, the Mayor of the place made announcements to the inhabitants through the town crier or pregonero , who, after sounding a horn,or a bell,  would begin with the words Hear ye, hear ye ... and in Spanish se hace saber ... In this day and age ( sic ) we are more sophisticated in delivering announcements, pregones. My pregón today is that we are all judged by our language and the manner we speak, and do not be deceived if you are told otherwise. We are all judged, as unfair as you may deem it to be,  by our grammar, accent, vocabulary, and even by the fact that we are rhotic (or not). So please, put on your best language at all times. You will have little to lose and a lot to gain. Thank you.   

  El hablante extranjero y el purismo Si está mal y suena mal que un nativo diga “pos” por pues, “na” por nada, “ayer bailemos” por ayer bailamos, “detrás mío” por detrás de mí… en boca de un extranjero es chocante y causa mala impresión. Un inglés puede escribir “alright” por all right. Puede decir “I wana go early” por I want to go early; “he doesn’t know nothing” por he knows nothing; “he ain’t here no more” por he isn’t here anymore… pero un hispanohablante no debe repetir eso. El extranjero tiene que ser siempre, en materia de lenguaje, más papista que el Papa. El extranjero debe ser como los conversos a cualquier religión, más religiosos que los practicantes de toda la vida. Los nativos pueden ser heterodoxos, los extranjeros no y deben ser ortodoxos a rabiar. No nos va a gustar que alguien nos llame “cabrón” pero si esa palabra sale de boca de un extranjero, con acento y mal pronunciada, seguro que nos enfadará mucho más. Cada uno en su lugar y Dios...