Use of "salir" and "irse"

[laepelba]

Just a quick question about the use of "salir" vs. "irse" in a couple of exercises I just did....

I know that "salir" means to leave in the sense of "going out" from somewhere, and that "irse" means to leave in the sense of "going away".

Two sentences in the current exercise are as follows:

7) English sentence: I'm leaving for Africa tomorrow.
The book's translation: Salgo para África mañana.
My question: Could it also be "Me voy para África mañana."?

14) English sentence: What time do you leave for work?
The book's translation: ¿Qué hora sales para el trabajo?
My question: Could it also be "¿Qué hora te vas para el trabajo?"?

Side note: Could the first sentence say "Salgo para la África mañana" with the "la" included?

Thank you for any help you can give me!!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Some comments below...

Originally Posted by laepelba

J
7) English sentence: I'm leaving for Africa tomorrow.
The book's translation: Salgo para África mañana.
My question: Could it also be "Me voy para África mañana."? (Yes, although "me voy" when talking about such long trip, might mean you're staying there for a long period of time or that you're moving there definitely. Context will tell.)

14) English sentence: What time do you leave for work?
The book's translation: ¿A qué hora sales para el trabajo?
My question: Could it also be "¿A qué hora te vas para el trabajo?"? (Yes, it's a short trip, so nobody would assume you're staying at work for good.)

Side note: Could the first sentence say "Salgo para la África mañana" with the "la" included? Hmmm, no. In any case "el África". Check the rules for masculine article before a word starting with stressed "a".
The use of the article before a geographical name is mostly idyosincratic, so it will sound fine for some and odd for others. Take a look at the discussion about it here.

[laepelba]

Thanks, Malila - I'm still trying to wrap my head around the subtleties of using salir vs. irse. And the bit about el África (yes, I knew about using the masculine article with a word starting with a stressed A....). Thank you!!