Hablo Espanol? Help me Out

[Capmaster]

You "hispanic", Johnny?

Doubt it. He looks northern european extraction to me. And "Johnny Lind"?

[CoasterCreator]

speaking of Euro...check out the king of Spain

El Rey

[JohnnyCNote]

You "hispanic", Johnny?

Doubt it. He looks northern european extraction to me. And "Johnny Lind"?

"Lind" is usually Swedish, but I speak Spanish pretty fluently (along with Russian). I had some years ago in school, then spoke it a lot in California and got pretty good. I've used it on the job, etc., so it's good enough to earn me some extra dolares. As far as the translation goes, there are probably several different ways to put it.

The key is finding the one that most closely matches the way the speak it, since Spanish can vary widely depending on what country the speakers are from. I'd say it varies a lot more than English, by comparison....

[Conquest10]

Yup, different Spanish-speaking countries have different words for different things. Plus, a lot have words that don't exist in other Spanish-speaking countries. Your translation is pretty good. That's what got me a little confuzed.

[JohnnyCNote]

My Spanish is more Mexican than anything, even though now that I'm back in Florida I run into Caribbean Spanish more often. At times it's almost like a different language....

[CoasterCreator]

its fast huh?

[yoda313]

My Spanish is more Mexican than anything, even though now that I'm back in Florida I run into Caribbean Spanish more often. At times it's almost like a different language....

Hello,

Really??? I took some spanish in highschool and college. I knew that Spain Spanish is pretty different from Mexican spanish. I had assumed that our side of the Atlantic all had the same dialect of Spanish. Well I guess now I know there are many varities.

Kevin

[lordsmurf]

Except Nataly Who's made of cocaine and coffee and everything stimulating

What about:

"Hacen las mujeres del azúcar y especia y todo agradable, excepto Nataly, quién es hecha de cocaína y cafe y todo que es estimulante."

See, now I thought about that. But is "hecha de" proper?

"agradable" is not a noun, it's an adjective, and it really cannot be used as a noun

[JohnnyCNote]

See, now I thought about that. But is "hecha de" proper?

"agradable" is not a noun, it's an adjective, and it really cannot be used as a noun

In this case "agradable" would modify "todo", and should be grammatically correct since "todo" means "everything". "Hecha de" may or may not be, in many instances being grammatically correct isn't always important. I pondered using "contiene" (contains) or "consiste" (consists), but I think it comes across a bit too formal.

In this situation I'd think the people involved would be more impressed that he made the effort to use Spanish than to expect them to know English. That can go a long way, at least in my experience.

The only way to be 100% certain is to ask a native speaker, or at least someone like a teacher, etc. In a professional situation where something needed to be in writing I'd definitely have it looked over, but in an informal situation this should be fine....

[Tearren]

Lord Smurf wrote:

Hacen las mujeres del azúcar y especia y todas cosas agradables ... excepto ****** porque le hagan de la cocaína y café y todo que estimulaban

I sent this to one of my hispanic friends. She said she didn't understand it, and I asked her 'don't you speak Spanish or did it just not make sense'. She is mexican, this is what she said...

Ok I DO speak spanish but when you have someone that writes it in spanish that has NO clue what they are saying its kinda hard to get it, you know what I mean.

Just thought I would share.

Tearren

[CoasterCreator]

I have an idea ...work backwards with your friend and tell her the english version and ask her to translate it for you ...and I am willing to bet a whole nicle that its not as easy as it sounds..sometimes its hard to translate verses or common sayings with out losing some meaning in the translation


well that just my 2 cent

[Conquest10]

sometimes its hard to translate verses or common sayings with out losing some meaning in the translation

That's the problem with translations. Jokes almost never translate accurately. So far, I would say Forum Troll's is the closest to accurate translation.

[JohnnyCNote]

That's why I suggested checking with a native speaker. Maybe she could suggest a better way to write it. I suspect part of the problem lies in the bit about "suger and spice". It would be better to find an equivalent phrase in Spanish.

Here's a good example, "tener riñon bien cubierto" is a humorous expression meaning "to be filthy rich". However, in English it translates literally as "to have a well covered kidney". How that suggests the be filthy rich is beyond me, and most of the Hispanics I've asked, but it's still a vaild expression.

So if you tried to translate the bit about boys being made of "puppy dog tails, etc.", you'd probably sound crazy. However, in the right circumstances, it can be good for a joke with the right audience....

[freestyler]

Todas las mujeres son putas - menos Nataly. Ella ha dicho que quisiera esperar hasta el dia de su casimiento a montar el palo grande.

Por esa razon solamente da jaladas de mano a los hombres del barrio.

[Tommyknocker]

Reminds me of an old CS joke when I was in college.

A team of computer scientists created a language translation program that could translate from any language to any other language. One day they decided to show it off to the board of directors. Although it been been worked on for 2 years, it had never been fully tested. They asked for a volunteer from the crowd to pick a phrase to translate. The board member decided on the phrase 'The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.' They asked for another volunteer to choose what language to translate into. They chose Russian. The computer took a minute and popped the Russian phrase up on the screen. It worked!!! The only problem is that no one there knew a bit of Russian. One of the scientists suggested that since the computer could translate any language they could just plug the phrase back in again and choose to translate it back to English. They copied and pasted the last response in the box and voila! it had the answer! The screen displayed in big bold letters...

THE VODKA IS GOOD, BUT THE MEAT IS ROTTEN.

I heard that one a little differently. It seems the phrase chosen was "Out of sight, out of mind." The computer retranslated it from its Russian equivalent to "Invisible lunatic". Guess it depends on where you hear the joke.

[lordsmurf]

Lord Smurf wrote:

Hacen las mujeres del azúcar y especia y todas cosas agradables ... excepto ****** porque le hagan de la cocaína y café y todo que estimulaban

I sent this to one of my hispanic friends. She said she didn't understand it, and I asked her 'don't you speak Spanish or did it just not make sense'. She is mexican, this is what she said...

Ok I DO speak spanish but when you have someone that writes it in spanish that has NO clue what they are saying its kinda hard to get it, you know what I mean.

Just thought I would share.

Tearren

Well, with 6 years experience and education in the language, though admittedly rusty, I have a clue. I would suggest your friend is trying to not understand it. Or maybe she's just never heard the saying? (sugar 'n spice 'n everything nice).

At any rate, the only problem I can see is verb usage and arrangement. For anybody experience in proper Spanish grammar (your friend may only know Mexican slang form), they'll understand that English is not arranged the same...

Example:
ENG: Pretty girl
SPAN: The girl (that is) pretty
GERMAN: Pretty the girl is

Learning language is not hard because of the alternate words, but because of the alternate styles.

Jokes, cliches and slang are the worst things to translate.

[JohnnyCNote]

Why not check out some e-greeting cards in Spanish and see if anything fits?

[Abbadon]

Hi,

I have been trying to understand this so called joke, but it is actually a flatter, the only thing that spoils it is the use of "Cocaine", I would have preferred "Chocolate", because in this case, Nataly is stimulating like the chocolate and coffee (it seems to imply that nataly is addictive like a drug). Anyway here goes the translation:

"Las mujeres son hechas de azucar, especias y todo lo que es bueno, con excepción de Nataly quien esta hecha de cocaina, café y todo lo
que es estimulante."

Buena suerte.

[Tearren]

LordSmurf wrote:

Well, with 6 years experience and education in the language, though admittedly rusty, I have a clue.

I thought it was apparent, but I wanted to make sure you understood the way her comment came across was directed at me. She knows I only speak a little Spanish. I sent it to her as a joke and to see if she would understand it. I think I got her riled up when she wrote back and said she didn't understand it and then I asked her if she spoke Spanish. That is why her comment seemed a little harsh and tried to be insulting, b/c it was directed at me. We joke around like that. She didn't know you had written it.

But you are right, she may not just be familiar with the cliche. I will try Abbadon version.

Tearren

[lordsmurf]

"Las mujeres son hechas de azucar, especias y todo lo que es bueno, con excepción de Nataly quien esta hecha de cocaina, café y todo lo
que es estimulante."

DIRECT: (the) Women are made of sugar, spice, and all that is good, with exception of Nataly, whom is made of cocaine, coffee, and all (_) that is stimulating.

That looks pretty good.

Being from the Caribbean Sea, you've got my belief that this is a valid translation. I did not know know that "hecha de" was proper usage, but maybe it is. I still cannot find my old books yet.

[Doramius]

Hecha de does sound off on grammar. My mother was born in Peru, spoke only spanish in Puerto Rico since the age of 2, and never knew english until she was 17 (though she is not hispanic. My grandfather was a methodist minister on mission). I haven't asked my mother the translation, but my knowledge in spanish is quite extensive. I think Lordsmurf is quite close. 'Hecho de' sounds like an illiterate hispanic trying to talk to the average person. They'll most likely understand, but will think very poorly of that person.

[JohnnyCNote]

I really think you should find a native speaker and get a better translation.....

[JohnnyCNote]

Mi Cuerpo

Examples of "hecho de":

Mi cuerpo es hecho de tesón, orgasmo y danza
Mi cuerpo es hecho de sintonía y calma
Mi cuerpo es hecho de calor, voluntad y deseo
Soy nostalgia Te quiero

Tablero de Extender Profesional

Hecho de tilo
Hecho de balsa
Hecho de pino
Hecho de aluminio

That should clear it up....

[Abbadon]

Mi cuerpo es hecho de tesón, orgasmo y danza
Mi cuerpo es hecho de sintonía y calma
Mi cuerpo es hecho de calor, voluntad y deseo
Soy nostalgia Te quiero

My body is made of tenacity, orgasm and dance
My body is made of tuning (harmony) and calm
My body is made of heat, will and desire
I am nostalgia I love you

Tablero de Extender Profesional

Hecho de tilo
Hecho de balsa
Hecho de pino
Hecho de aluminio

Made of linden
Made of balsa
Made of pine
Made of aluminum

I am sorry, I couldn't resist

[Ripper2860]

Todas las mujeres son putas - menos Nataly. Ella ha dicho que quisiera esperar hasta el dia de su casimiento a montar el palo grande.

Por esa razon solamente da jaladas de mano a los hombres del barrio.

I got Natalie's "Palo Grande" right here !!!!


Donde esta la casa de Pepe?

[JohnnyCNote]

I am sorry, I couldn't resist

Al contrario, ¡muy bien!

[Capmaster]

Todas las mujeres son putas - menos Nataly. Ella ha dicho que quisiera esperar hasta el dia de su casimiento a montar el palo grande.

Por esa razon solamente da jaladas de mano a los hombres del barrio.

I got Natalie's "Palo Grande" right here !!!!


Donde esta la casa de Pepe?

El puto con bolas grande has chimed in