Hay que desencillar (desensillar) hasta que aclare

[ookami]

Phrases like this aren't that common, it's actually the first time hear it, and I have read about Peronism many times. It's just that, a figurative way to say that you have to "take it easy" till scene gets quite enough to continue with what you were doing/planning to do, to mount again.
This is a very specific phrase... I'll pay you if you hear this while you stay here.

What you are going to hear depends a lot of the places you'll visit and with who you'll talk. On a museum, at the university, with that family... I think you will adapt really fast.
Now, the "informal" and "relaxed" argentinian language has maybe some notorious differences with other places, because of the influence of "lunfardo" for example. But that would not be a problem, I can assure it.

As others told you, don't think to much about this, just practying Spanish is enough. The specific things will come alone, you can always ask the other to explain to you what you don't understand, and he will say it in a neutral Spanish without problem.

Living with a family for learning is the best! do you know how the family is formed?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by ookami

Phrases like this aren't that common, it's actually the first time hear it, and I have read about Peronism many times. It's just that, a figurative way to say that you have to "take it easy" till scene gets quite enough to continue with what you were doing/planning to do, to mount again.
This is a very specific phrase... I'll pay you if you hear this while you stay here.

What you are going to hear depends a lot of the places you'll visit and with who you'll talk. On a museum, at the university, with that family... I think you will adapt really fast.
Now, the "informal" and "relaxed" Argentinian language has maybe some notorious differences with other places, because of the influence of "lunfardo", for example. But that would not be a problem, I can assure you.

As others told you, don't think too much about this, just practicing Spanish is enough. The specific things will come alone, you can always ask the other to explain to you what you don't understand, and he will say it in a neutral Spanish without problem.

Living with a family for learning is the best! Do you know how the family is formed?

[ookami]

Thanks chileno

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by ookami

Phrases like this aren't that common, it's actually the first time hear it, and I have read about Peronism many times. It's just that, a figurative way to say that you have to "take it easy" till scene gets quite enough to continue with what you were doing/planning to do, to mount again.
This is a very specific phrase... I'll pay you if you hear this while you stay here.

What you are going to hear depends a lot of the places you'll visit and with who you'll talk. On a museum, at the university, with that family... I think you will adapt really fast.
Now, the "informal" and "relaxed" argentinian language has maybe some notorious differences with other places, because of the influence of "lunfardo" for example. But that would not be a problem, I can assure it.

As others told you, don't think to much about this, just practying Spanish is enough. The specific things will come alone, you can always ask the other to explain to you what you don't understand, and he will say it in a neutral Spanish without problem.

Living with a family for learning is the best! do you know how the family is formed?

I'm not sure what you mean by "how the family is formed". Hmmm....

Anyway - I know that this phrase isn't vital to my ability to spend a month in Argentina. It was just interesting in the context in which I was reading, and I also want to try to get a grasp of phrases/idioms when I come upon them. If I skip over every idiomatic phrase because I might not need to know it, I won't learn anything interesting in Spanish.......

By the way - I found this post in another forum, and this Argentine says that he hears it in the countryside where he lives: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1456295

[ookami]

No, I was referring that, if you have to study something(chossing), maybe it's better to study grammar or neutral things than slang or very idiomatic phrases(that keep changing), but sure that if you find yourself in front of a idiomatic phrase, to try to understand it will be the best thing.
Now, I think that from ten idiomatic phrases/slang you may here, at least eight will be rude, gross/vulgar. (at least here)

About the question, I tried to ask if you know the persons the family has... "how is the family formed?" it is bad this way? An answer will be: a couple, parents with a young child, an old lady living alone, etc.

Maybe in the countryside is common(well all phrases are more commonly used at the countryside), I don't know, but at least in the city I don't hear with frequency that kind of phrases, even common ones as "al que madruga Dios le ayuda" or "está fresco para chomba". All people will understand them and will seem common to theirs ears, but -at least in the city- today's people don't seem to use phrases with relative complexity that much. Now, despective ways of talking always remain.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by ookami

No, I was referring that, if you have to study something(chossing), maybe it's better to study grammar or neutral things than slang or very idiomatic phrases(that keep changing), but sure that if you find yourself in front of a idiomatic phrase, to try to understand it will be the best thing.
Now, I think that from ten idiomatic phrases/slang you may hear, at least eight will be rude, gross/vulgar. (at least here)

About the question, I tried to ask if you know the persons/people the family has... "how is the family formed?" it is bad this way? An answer will be: a couple, parents with a young child, an old lady living alone, etc.

Maybe in the countryside is common(well all phrases are more commonly used at the countryside), I don't know, but at least in the city I don't hear with frequency that kind of phrases, even common ones as "al que madruga Dios le ayuda" or "está fresco para chomba". All people will understand them and will seem common to theirs ears, but -at least in the city- today's people don't seem to use phrases with relative complexity that much. Now, despective despicable/censurable ways of talking always remain.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by ookami

About the question, I tried to ask if you know the persons the family has... "how is the family formed?" it is bad this way? An answer will be: a couple, parents with a young child, an old lady living alone, etc.

No, we wouldn't ask the question that way. We would probably just say "Do you know anything about your host family?" It's admittedly inadequate and definitely not specific enough. The question-asker might need to add additional questions:
- "Do you know anything about your host family? Is it a single person? A couple? With children? Older? Younger? (Etc...)"

And, no, I don't know yet what the family is like. We are supposed to receive that information soon. I have heard that the families probably live in Belgrano, but might live a little farther and we'd have to take public transportation to the university. I'd love to get a good walk to/from class ... not TOO far, but it would be good for exercise if I had to hike a bit every day.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

No, we wouldn't ask the question that way. We would probably just say "Do you know anything about your host family?" It's admittedly inadequate and definitely not specific enough. The question-asker might need to add additional questions:
- "Do you know anything about your host family? Is it a single person? A couple? With children? Older? Younger? (Etc...)"

And, no, I don't know yet what the family is like. We are supposed to receive that information soon. I have heard that the families probably live in Belgrano, but might live a little farther and we'd have to take public transportation to the university. I'd love to get a good walk to/from class ... not TOO far, but it would be good for exercise if I had to hike a bit every day.

Castellano por favor. :-)

No es necesario que sea perfecto, ni siquiera cerca de la perfección, solo que sea en castellano.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

Castellano por favor. :-)

No es necesario que sea perfecto, ni siquiera cerca de la perfección, solo que sea en castellano.

Fui explicando a Ookami sobre su inglés. Quería escribir lo en inglés. Además, no estoy usando mi computadora - estoy en Nueva York, y uso la computadora de mi mamá, sin teclado español. Se demora una eternidad a escribir con el menú desplegable. No tienes idea como de cuanto tiempo es necesario para mí para escribir en español, incluso con mi teclado. Cuando no tengo mucho tiempo, no escribo en español.

Pues ... ¿qué es "Castellano"? No sé Castellano. Quiero aprender español....

Pasé casi 15 minutos para teclear esto...

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Fui explicando a Ookami sobre su inglés. Quería escribir lo en inglés. Además, no estoy usando mi computadora - estoy en Nueva York, y uso la computadora de mi mamá, sin teclado español. Se demora una eternidad a escribir con el menú desplegable. No tienes idea como de cuanto tiempo es necesario para mí para escribir en español, incluso con mi teclado. Cuando no tengo mucho tiempo, no escribo en español.

Pues ... ¿qué es "Castellano"? No sé Castellano. Quiero aprender español....

Pasé casi 15 minutos para teclear esto...

Muy bien! Me gusta verte escribir en español

PD castellano es un otro nombre para "español"

I believe the region in Spain is Castillo. Está ahí la RAE.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

Muy bien! Me gusta verte escribir en español

PD castellano es un otro nombre para "español"

I believe the region in Spain is Castillo. Está ahí la RAE.

Pero quiero aprender el español latinoamericano. ¿Es el mismo?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

PD El castellano es un otro nombre para el español.

Depending on which country you're from, the Spanish you learn could be called el castellano or el español. They are identical in every way. The Spanish language has two names.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Bob: La región es Castilla. "Un castillo" is a castle.

@Lou Ann: Nice paragraph!
You'll do well in BsAs.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Estuve/estaba explicando/le explicaba a Ookami sobre su inglés. Quería escribirlo en inglés. Además, no estoy usando mi computadora - estoy en Nueva York, y uso la computadora de mi mamá, sin teclado español. Se demora una eternidad para escribir con el menú desplegable. No tienes idea como de cuanto tiempo es necesario para mí para escribir en español, incluso con mi teclado. Cuando no tengo mucho tiempo, no escribo en español.

Te entiendo, pero veamos que pasa. no le puedes decir a tus profesores en Buenos Aires estas excusas, ¿No?

Originally Posted by laepelba

Pues ... ¿qué es "Castellano"? No sé Castellano. Quiero aprender español....

En todos los países se habla y hay gente que entiende perfectamente el castellano. Si dices que hablas español también se entiende. Los dos son la misma cosa. Bueno, no exactamente.

Piensa que estamos hablando del inglés, y alguien, como ya ha habido, te pregunta si el inglés británico es lo mismo que el inglés americano. Básicamente es el mismo pero hay variaciones en sus usos, ¿correcto?

Originally Posted by laepelba

Pasé casi 15 minutos para teclear esto...

Escribe en inglés primero, para ordenar tu cabeza y para redactar lo que quieres decir y crear tu documento, y despues utiliza tu conocimiento del castellano para traducirlo lo mejor que puedas. Repito, no es necesario que lo hagas a la perfección. No se espera de ti en estos momentos.

Originally Posted by laepelba

Pero quiero aprender el español latinoamericano. ¿Es el mismo?

Sí, salvo por lo que te dije con mi analogía del inglés británico y americano.

Además que en Argentina te dicen que hablan castellano.

Ya hablaremos más sobre el castellano<>español

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

Te entiendo, pero veamos que pasa. no le puedes decir a tus profesores en Buenos Aires estas excusas, ¿No?

Frankly, when I am in BsAs, I will not have anything but "learning Spanish" on my plate. Right now, my "excuses" are valid. Taking the last week of school off is going to be a monumental challenge (I am already concerned about finishing my grades when the computer system is not going to allow me priority to get into "finish" mode...), preparing for 6 weeks abroad with virtually no time off to pack/organize/time-manage, etc., and I have a concert the week before I leave. I have a life. Once I am in BsAs, my ENTIRE life will be about learning Spanish. In fact, I don't have time to write much in English right now, but it would take me a half hour to say all of this in Spanish - yet it will take me about a minute and a half to type in English.

Originally Posted by chileno

En todos los países se habla y hay gente que entiende perfectamente el castellano. Si dices que hablas español también se entiende. Los dos son la misma cosa. Bueno, no exactamente.

Piensa que estamos hablando del inglés, y alguien, como ya ha habido, te pregunta si el inglés británico es lo mismo que el inglés americano. Básicamente es el mismo pero hay variaciones en sus usos, ¿correcto?

If you say that Castillian Spanish originated in Spain, and is mainly used in Argentina & Chile of the Latin American countries, then it is not what I want to learn. I want to learn the standard, academic Spanish with a leaning toward a generic Latin American Spanish. In fact, if I come back to the DC area with any Argentine leanings, I will have GREAT difficulty with my Spanish-speaking colleagues, students, parents, friends, etc. I know gringos who have studied Spanish in Argentina, have come back fluent, and were completely shunned by native Spanish-speakers around here because of a disdain for the Argentines. I want to come home with a balanced Spanish. It sounds like a "Castillian" Spanish will not do that for me.

Originally Posted by chileno

Escribe en inglés primero, para ordenar tu cabeza y para redactar lo que quieres decir y crear tu documento, y despues utiliza tu conocimiento del castellano para traducirlo lo mejor que puedas. Repito, no es necesario que lo hagas a la perfección. No se espera de ti en estos momentos.

Please, Hernan - do not keep telling me that this is what I should do. I have explained to you previously that this method will not work for me. And if you believe that I am foolish for saying so, then so be it. I AM a fool in very many ways. If this, then, is one more ... so be it. I know my learning style better than anyone, and learning to translate is not the best thing for me.

[Rusty]

Lou Ann,

The castellano they speak in Spain is not the same as the castellano they speak in Argentina. You'll be learning Latin American Spanish in Argentina, along with their particular differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.

You've probably already learned that there are differences in vocabulary and pronunciation as you travel from region to region in the 22 nations where Spanish is spoken. These differences can be compared to the differences between British English and American English in some instances and the differences between Boston, MA and Atlanta, GA in other instances. In the latter example, you can find more similarity in vocabulary than in the former, but there's no mistaking that the pronunciation of shared words is very different.

The Argentinians claim the name castellano for the language they speak. Most South American countries do. Mexicans claim the name español for the language they speak. Both are valid claims because there are two accepted names for the Spanish language.

Even though you'll learn Latin American Spanish in Argentina, I guarantee that you'll find regional differences in pronunciation and vocabulary as you travel from country to country where Spanish is spoken. I lived in four adjacent countries of Central America. In them, I used four different Spanish accents and had to remember four different words for 'kid' and 'banana' (just a couple of examples of differences in vocabulary).
Don't fret.