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April 29, 2007
another track on the CD of my stay
This track begins as an Argentine compliments my Spanish (here it's commonly referred as Castellano). This is a recurring occurence and was burned indelibly into my speech centres last year. Now I only need to sing along:
"You speak good Castellano"
"Thank you, but I don't think I do. I have a lot to learn"
"But I understand you very well".
This usually after a conversation that has proven beyond doubt that they don't.
"But I can't say what I want the way I want to say it"
"It's possible to do so slowly".
I've come to understand that this is not an instruction to speak slowly. Neither is it an expression that means if I take my time everything will be fine. Instead it conveys the idea that if I take it easy I'll slowly learn good Spanish with no actual effort and through a kind of osmosis.
"Thank you. But can you correct my Spanish or it will not get better. Please."
"OK"
I don't know the technical word, but Porteños use some words as punctuation rather than for the meaning. “OK” is one of these. It can mean anything from "I've heard you and intend to do nothing at all" to "yes of course I will, starting right now". I once asked a taxi driver why no-one would correct me. He explained it very well. They'd prefer that we both just struggled along than risk that their corrections change my attitude towards them, to my visit or the country in general.
Drummer playing regional Salteno music
(c) Carole Edrich, 2006
The same ambiguity can be found in milongas. I’m barely past “principiante” (beginner level). I can’t dance tango anywhere near as well as I can speak the language and it is just as difficult to interpret what’s really meant on the dance floor! “You dance very well” can mean anything from “I am acknowledging that you’re making an effort and want to encourage you” through “I’d like you to think well of my dance and my country” or even “I’d like to sleep with you tonight”. I’m rarely sure which is intended and am bound to end up in trouble as a result!
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