Confused by phrase about directions in a tutorial

[tessgold]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, so if this isn't the place to post this question just let me know and I'll be better next time:

I am just beginning to learn Spanish and ran across a phrase in one of my lessons that has me confused. It doesn't make sense to me and I'm not sure if it's because the translation I've been given is wrong or not, and I'm hoping somebody can straighten me out.

The sentence in Spanish is:

Esa intersección está en esa esquina.

And the translation I've been given is - That intersection is on that corner.

The Spanish makes sense to me, but my problem is that the sentence itself doesn't make any sense. There are other sentences in this lesson that talk about corners as being something separate from intersections, like "the intersection is on the left, past the corner on the right."

Do corner and intersection have different meanings in Spanish-speaking countries? I always think of them as going together - an intersection has corners.

I'd be very grateful for any help here at all. Thanks.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by tessgold

Hi, I'm new to this forum, so if this isn't the place to post this question just let me know and I'll be better next time:

I am just beginning to learn Spanish and ran across a phrase in one of my lessons that has me confused. It doesn't make sense to me and I'm not sure if it's because the translation I've been given is wrong or not, and I'm hoping somebody can straighten me out.

The sentence in Spanish is:

Esa intersección está en esa esquina.

And the translation I've been given is - That intersection is on that corner.

The Spanish makes sense to me, but my problem is that the sentence itself doesn't make any sense. There are other sentences in this lesson that talk about corners as being something separate from intersections, like "the intersection is on the left, past the corner on the right."

Do corner and intersection have different meanings in Spanish-speaking countries? I always think of them as going together - an intersection has corners.

I'd be very grateful for any help here at all. Thanks.

Hello:

You do good asking here. You'll be helped in no time. :-)

That type of errors is very frequent in Spanish, and I guess in every language... redundancy. Although it might not be as redundant.

In order to intersect there must be a corner at least involved in the equation, right?

Here it happens that that particular intersections in in that particular corner.

That's my understanding. I might as well be wrong and I have been proven in the past to be wrong. There will be other who will set me and you straight anyway.

But you are correct in your assumption and translated it well.

[Rusty]

Welcome to the forums!

I'm not a native speaker, so you may want to wait for other opinions, but I agree that the sentence can be a bit confusing.

First off, la intersección is listed in my dictionaries as a mathematical (geometrical) term. A traffic intersection is given as el cruce. A synonym of cruce is esquina, just like corner is a synonym of intersection in English. Also, a crossroads or crossing can be used as synonyms of intersection, and these sound more like cruce.

The translation given by the book is literally correct, but I believe you need to substitute 'crossing' or 'crossroads' for intersección and then 'corner' (la esquina) might serve as the specific spot for the 'crossing' of two streets.

Does that make sense?

[CrOtALiTo]

Hello I bid you welcome.

Take care.

Best regards.

[tessgold]

Thank you all for your replies. I feel better knowing that it is not a stupid question, and that there is plenty of room for confusion. I'm still a little confused, because the sentence implies that there are corners (esquinas) that are not part of intersections (intersecciónes), which is not very common. But it is possible, for example at an alleyway, so I'll just let it go and move on with my studies.

[JPablo]

Hola, Tessgold,
I take this issue got resolved for you. But no matter how stupid (or intelligent) may seem a question, if you have it, it is better to pose it, than to hold it, so as to "not look stupid". I'd rather ask the most stupid question and get a satisfactory answer, than live with a "stupid question" in my mind with no answer... (If you get what I mean.) (You'll get assistance in the forums on any question you have, and per what I have seen since I am around here, the members are more helpful than anything else...) (We like to help others, and at the same time we get helped, inspired... have fun and learn as we go...)

[tessgold]

Yeah, in this case I've just decided not to think about it too much, and to see how esquina and intersección come up in conversations or readings. I'm learning that sometimes there can be a concept that is very difficult to explain in words that will eventually become clear through use. Gracias.

[JPablo]

¡De nada!

[chileno]

Originally Posted by tessgold

Yeah, in this case I've just decided not to think about it too much, and to see how esquina and intersección come up in conversations or readings. I'm learning that sometimes there can be a concept that is very difficult to explain in words that will eventually become clear through use. Gracias.

There you go.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by tessgold

Yeah, in this case I've just decided not to think about it too much, and to see how esquina and intersección come up in conversations or readings. I'm learning that sometimes there can be a concept that is very difficult to explain in words that will eventually become clear through use. Gracias.

Yes exactly I'm agree with you, you mean you don't thing much about, then you can greaten your skills.

Take care.

Sincerely yours.