Comments on: What the Media is Saying About Bilingualism

By: Jose-Luis Orozco

Jose-Luis Orozco — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:15:28 +0000

Me gusto como Ana Flores lo puso “Poder acceder a cualquier idioma en un instante exige mucha flexibilidad mental”….estoy de acuerdo con ella!

By: Silvia

Silvia — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:11:33 +0000

I was born and raise in Mexico and I live down there until 9 years ago. I remember how offended and furious I felt every time somebody would use Spanglish in Mexico.

Now I live in USA, now I get it, I switch languages all the time LOL now I’m the one seeing my family’s faces when I cannot say a word in Spanish and I say it in English, funny!!

By: Lisa Renata

Lisa Renata — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:24:04 +0000

Interesting. Growing up I found my self being very strict about what I said or was said to me. If spoken to me in English, I would only respond in English and if spoken to in Spanish I would only respond in Spanish. It would irritate me so much if I heard words said incorrectly, like: brekear (for frenar), pushar (for empujar), parquear and so on… I’ve noticed though, that as I’ve gotten older I am not as irritated by it, but have learned to understand that a new language is being born. And yes, even I fall into the Spanglish trap, like saying “snack” for merienda.

By: Dariela

Dariela — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:52:09 +0000

I agree about Spanglish being a language that comes out from knowing both languages and being bilingual. I also cringe at Rufo, carpeta , yarda, etc. Here in LA we have so many of those!! And in my work as an interpreter is “desesperante” sometimes because if I translate the correct word like alfombra o patio and people actually wont understand me!! I hope my kids learn them both and learn to speak a good Spanglish!

By: Ana Lilian

Ana Lilian — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:11:32 +0000

Ufff…I’m relieved you don’t say “Rufo!”

I believe the main concern the Spanish-language purists have is that these “borrowed” words are being integrated into everyday vocabulary and the new generation is absorbing them as normal. I have to admit I fringe as that as well, but also understand it’s part of the evolution of language and you can’t be stringent about that.

By: Ana Lilian

Ana Lilian — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:07:45 +0000

Yes, it’s called “borrowing.”

Roxana explains it really well in this post:
http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2010/06/what-is-code-switching-and-why-do-bilinguals-do-it/

By: Ana Lilian

Ana Lilian — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:06:02 +0000

You were so lucky it happened to you at the age of 6. You were still within that “critical window” to grasp the language and speak it with no accent.

By: Ana Lilian

Ana Lilian — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:04:43 +0000

Actually, in El Salvador the word is ‘Parquear’ That’s the only word I knew growing up and it had nothing to do with Spanglish.

Anytime I used it in México I would get teased for being a “Pocha.” Ay, makes you love Spanish and it’s idiosyncrasies even more.

By: AnaGloria Rodriguez

AnaGloria Rodriguez — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:53:26 +0000

I use OPOL too. How old is your son? When I don’t know a word in Spanish I tell my kids just that: No se cual es la palabra en Ingles. When I find the word, then I try to introduce it and use it a lot. It took me forever to learn “dragonfly”! Now I need to figure out how to say “firefly” in Spanish. Anyone??
Also, do you have a Spanish playgroup? That is a great way to encourge you to keep speaking Spanish and for you to expand your vocabulary–especially if your playgroup consists of a myriad of Latinos!

By: AnaGloria Rodriguez

AnaGloria Rodriguez — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:46:28 +0000

Well, one learns something new everyday! I’m from Mexico, so it’s “estacionamiento” etc. And today as I was looking at one of my children’s Spanish books, “Mis Primeras Palabras con Pegatinas” (an Usborne book) I saw “aparcamiento”!!
So how do you say, “I’m going to park my car.”? If I said, “Voy a parquear mi carro.” I’d get ridiculed for not knowing how to speak Spanish.