Spanish is unique in that it has two verbs which mean ‘to be’. One must memorize which one to use for each situation. The verb ser describes the essence of something. Although everything changes with time, ser is used to describe qualities that do not normally change overnight. The verb estar is mainly concerned with location and temporary states of being. It also functions as an auxiliary verb in Spanish.
Read moreSpanish and English generally do not create compound nouns in the same way. Examples of compound nouns in English include: open-heart, breakwater, basketball. English features adjective + noun (blackboard), verb + noun (breakwater) or noun + noun (football) combinations. English also frequently hyphenates words. The Spanish language has few hyphenated words as generally they are only used in cases of adjective + adjective or noun + noun combinations in which both elements are of equal importance, as in relaciones sino-estadounidenses (Chinese-US relations).
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As a Spanish and German language instructor I am sometimes asked to do translation work. However, I am not qualified as a translator or interpreter and must carefully explain that to my clients. They are sometimes confused, they don’t understand why if someone can speak two languages they cannot simply translate between them. The answer to this question is explained in the wonderfully written Found in Translation co-authored by Nataly Kelly, a Spanish-English translator and Jost Zetzsche a German-English interpreter.
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It’s always an advantage when learning a new language to know a bit about its history and relevance in the modern world. Here are some interesting facts about the Spanish language:
Read moreCertain daily expressions in Spanish and German use the verb ‘have’ in a figurative sense. Below is a list of common expressions in which both Spanish and German function in this manner. As these expressions do not always translate literally into English, they are best memorized.
Read moreThis is part two of a two-part blog on memory aids for language learning. In the first blog (written November 21) I covered subconscious memory aids such as employing colors, smells and music to expand the power of your mind to recover information. Here, in the second part, I will focus on consciously developed techniques such as: mnemonics, the memory palace, labeling and intermittent review.
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The Balearic Islands, or Las islas Baleares, are found off the eastern coast of mainland Spain. The three main islands are: Minorca, Mallorca and Ibiza. Taken together, this archipelago of islands is a province of Spain with Palma, Mallorca as its capital. Spanish and Catalan are the two official languages but German and English are widely spoken, as the islands are extremely popular with foreign tourists. With a total land mass just under 500,000 km² the islands have a year-round local population of around 1 million. However, millions of people from throughout Europe visit the islands all year round due to its warm temperate climate and beautiful beaches. Short, direct flights fly in and out of Palma to most European capitals every day and package deals make it a very affordable place to visit.
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The ability to memorize is crucial to learning a language as an adult. Unfortunately, some students give up, claiming they simply can’t learn because they have a “bad memory.” In reality, healthy people are born with similar potential but not everyone has the skills or techniques to maximize their memory capacity.
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The Day of the Dead or El día de los muertos is a Mexican national holiday celebrated every year on the first two days of November. On these dates Mexicans remember family members and friends who have passed away. Modern practices are a blend of pre-Columbian beliefs and the Catholic observance of All Souls’ Day. While the Day of the Dead is also observed in other Hispanic countries, here we will focus on Mexican traditions.
Read moreMany students struggle with the differences between muy/mucho and bueno/bien. At least part of the blame lies in English, as its speakers have come to use adjectives as adverbs in everyday speech. For example:
Question: “How are you?” Answer: “I’m good, thanks.”
When asking how someone is doing you are asking for their state of being. Therefore an adverb should be used in the answer as it is modifying the verb ‘to be.’ However, in English we generally respond using an adjective. The same exchange in Spanish is as follows:
Question: “¿Cómo estás?” Answer: “Estoy bien, gracias.”
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