Hello from the UK

[DBMark]

Hi! (or should that be hola - buenas!)

I've only just found this site, and it looks very interesting indeed. Why am I interested in the Spanish language? Well, I've worked for a while in Spain as an English teacher (although I normally work in IT, when there's not a recession) and try to visit Spain as much as I can. I'm also developing my own web site that needs expressions translating into Spanish - I find that using Google translation tools often lead you into bad conversions. Does anyone else find this? I'm very interested to find out which English words cause most problems to native Spanish speakers. Of course there are the false friends such as "compromise" or "assist", but I 'm sure there are others.
Looking forward to hearing from others here.

Regards
Mark

[pjt33]

Google translation is awful.

Phrasal verbs is an area Spanish-speakers often have problems with. So, surprisingly, is gender agreement.

[irmamar]

Welcome DBMark.

I agree, phrasal verbs and false friends (and prepositions - particles).

[poli]

I hear very and too are often misused. They aren't synonomous. Example: I like her too much instead of I like her very much.

[chileno]

Hi DBMark:

Good idea.

However, why do you say that "assist" is a false friend?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assist

[CrOtALiTo]

Hello I bid you welcome, I hope that your stay in the forums will be enjoyable.


If you need help with the Spanish.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by chileno

However, why do you say that "assist" is a false friend?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assist

I've never come across the second meaning given before, and if I had heard someone using it yesterday I would have assumed they were speaking Spanglish. If you want native English speakers to understand you I would advise using "attend".

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by pjt33

I've never come across the second meaning given before

Neither have I - the Oxford dictionary flags it as French and obsolete.

[Jessica]

bienvenido

[chileno]

Originally Posted by pjt33

I've never come across the second meaning given before, and if I had heard someone using it yesterday I would have assumed they were speaking Spanglish. If you want native English speakers to understand you I would advise using "attend".

Understandable.

However, to me the fact that is isn't used it does not mean it does not exist, and that it is a false friend.

This is exactly the kind of situations that made me shy away from grammar.

I've seen big arguments carried by knowledgeable people over stuff like this.
At the end, nothing that I can say i have gained knowledge from.... well not true. I saw Perikles comment

Neither have I - the Oxford dictionary flags it as French and obsolete.

And at least now I know that, whether is true or not.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by chileno

Understandable.

However, to me the fact that is isn't used it does not mean it does not exist, and that it is a false friend.

I think it is fair to say that assist and asistir are not always false friends, but that in many contexts they are.

[DBMark]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Neither have I - the Oxford dictionary flags it as French and obsolete.

I wonder if this is how most "false friends" occur? The original meaning in one language changes, but remains the same in another language?

[DBMark]

Oh - and thanks for the warm welcome shown so far. It's good to visit a friendly place like this!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by DBMark

I wonder if this is how most "false friends" occur? The original meaning in one language changes, but remains the same in another language?

Yes, my guess is that this is what has happened in most cases. The words in two languages are from the same root, Latin or Greek, but over the centuries the meaning has altered in one or both languages, so the meanings have diverged.

There is another reason, as well, which depends on the time when the word was taken from another language. Take for example:

Tablaboard, plank, sheet (of metal), table top, or stage.
Table una mesa.

The word for a table (mesa) was taken from Latin in the 3rd century BC, when the Latin name for a table was mensa. Languages using a later version of Latin took their words from tabula, hence English table, French table, Catalan taula, Italian tavola. By the time Spanish adopted the word tabla, it meant a board or plank.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by pjt33

I think it is fair to say that assist and asistir are not always false friends, but that in many contexts they are.

I cannot think of one instance, other than in English is not used as "attending" anymore.

Originally Posted by DBMark

I wonder if this is how most "false friends" occur? The original meaning in one language changes, but remains the same in another language?

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, my guess is that this is what has happened in most cases. The words in two languages are from the same root, Latin or Greek, but over the centuries the meaning has altered in one or both languages, so the meanings have diverged.

There is another reason, as well, which depends on the time when the word was taken from another language. Take for example:

Tablaboard, plank, sheet (of metal), table top, or stage.
Table una mesa.

The word for a table (mesa) was taken from Latin in the 3rd century BC, when the Latin name for a table was mensa. Languages using a later version of Latin took their words from tabula, hence English table, French table, Catalan taula, Italian tavola. By the time Spanish adopted the word tabla, it meant a board or plank.

I concur with our in-house expert Perikles.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

wellcome