Valga

[poli]

I have seen the word valga used to mean pardon my or excuse my
in English. Is this a common usage?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

I have seen the word valga used to mean pardon my or excuse my
in English. Is this a common usage?

It doesn't mean pardon or excuse my. It means OK.

It is common for some people I am not sure who though. Not Chileans.

[aleCcowaN]

@poli

Are you talking about "valga la expresión", "valga la redundancia" and the like?

[poli]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

@poli

Are you talking about "valga la expresión", "valga la redundancia" and the like?

yes

[aleCcowaN]

That is used everywhere -maybe a little less in Perú, Ecuador, Colombia and Central America-. It's not like "pardon my ..." because there's little that is apologetic in it; it calls for overlooking imprecise language, rude terms or something similar. You can give it a polite tone by adding "si" or rewording the phrase to withdraw the imperative use of subjunctive. Examples:

El editor editó la edición, valga la redundancia (accept that wording ... I know I should have done better but that's it)

¡Ese mueble es un mojón, valga el término, que otro no puedo aplicarle!

With "si (se) vale la expresión" you can tone it down when needed.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

@poli

Are you talking about "valga la expresión", "valga la redundancia" and the like?

I don't think so...

Usually, around here, if you say "Perdón" if you are trying to go through, people say "Valga"


Sometimes it is used sarcastically, and people say, before you ask, "Valga"

I think that's what Poli is asking, if not I apologize to Poli.

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by chileno

I don't think so...

Usually, around here, if you say "Perdón" if you are trying to go through, people say "Valga"


Sometimes it is used sarcastically, and people say, before you ask, "Valga"

I think that's what Poli is asking, if not I apologize to Poli.

Chileno, when you say "around here" is it Las Vegas???? Just wondering.

I've never heard "valga" used as "perdon" or "ok". Only in the expressions Alec mentioned.

[poli]

I am fairly sure that valga when used in the way I have seen it is kind of like: pardon my English, excuse my French (which I hate) or the Yiddish sounding you should excuse my English...
That table, pardon my English, looks like a piece of s...

In this phrase excuse and pardon are not really an apology, but an acknowlegement of a vulgarity or at least something very unpleasant.

[aleCcowaN]

I don't know. Why do we aspire to a perfect match for every single word and phrase? "Pardon my..." just matches a fraction of instances using "valga". "Valga X" imitates the way some text, document or signature is amended; we say "vale X" as something we consider stated and "valga X" is the oral way to say we are stating it that way. So, it works like we are reaffirming something in multiple ways that exceeds any use I can imagine for "pardon my..." as in "valga el castigo" which is much closer to "poetic justice" than to "pardon my French".

[poli]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

I don't know. Why do we aspire to a perfect match for every single word and phrase? "Pardon my..." just matches a fraction of instances using "valga". "Valga X" imitates the way some text, document or signature is amended; we say "vale X" as something we consider stated and "valga X" is the oral way to say we are stating it that way. So, it works like we are reaffirming something in multiple ways that exceeds any use I can imagine for "pardon my..." as in "valga el castigo" which is much closer to "poetic justice" than to "pardon my French".

I accept that, but doesn't the valga in valga la redundencia work differently than valga el castigo? I believe the meaning in of valga
changes in these two phrases. It is true that not everything tranlates. Nor should it.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by poli

I accept that, but doesn't the valga in valga la redundencia work differently than valga el castigo? I believe the meaning in of valga
changes in these two phrases. It is true that not everything tranlates. Nor should it.

The context is completely different, but not the expression, as the animus is exactly the same. Don't forget that "si vale, es que vale" as Spanish indicative is not so multivalent as English indicative; Spanish imperative is pretty belligerent, so using subjunctive softens it a bit. It's like somebody saying "eres muy simpático" or "eres un tonto de capirote" (in the last I avoided using French): two very different assertions but that fact doesn't change the meaning of "eres".

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Luna Azul

Chileno, when you say "around here" is it Las Vegas???? Just wondering.

I've never heard "valga" used as "perdon" or "ok". Only in the expressions Alec mentioned.

Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I could not tell you who, though...

- Me deja pasar?

- Valga...

[poli]

Originally Posted by chileno

Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I could not tell you who, though...

- Me deja pasar?

- Valga...

It's like you may in this case, or so it seem to me.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

It's like you may in this case, or so it seems to me.

Of course!

[Elaina]

I had never heard it used like that before.... but as they say: Live and Learn!

¡Válgame Dios!

[aleCcowaN]

What is pretty strange as nobody in a Spanish speaking country seem to be claiming that as an existing use.

Me pa' que es el "¡Válgase!" (posiblemente usado en algún estado del norte de México o en Nuevo México y pidginizado) In Spanish "valga" is calling for authorization, "green light" or endorse; it's not giving it.

[Elaina]

Well, I have been to the Northern States of Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Tamaulipas) and to the Southern States of U.S. (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona) and I have never, ever heard it used. Sorry!

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by chileno

Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I could not tell you who, though...

- Me deja pasar?

- Valga...

I've never heard that in my life. Interesting..