¿Culture?

[JosephThomas]

I was curious,
as this might become a problem for me in the future.

Does Spanish, El Español, really draw from the culture?

I mean is there things I just wont get because I'm not from around "here"?

as in;
specific slang
figures of speech
grammatical nonsense
¿?

please help me out with examples if it does.
I'll refine the question after some response.

[Rusty]

All natural languages come with a built-in culture. The idiomatic expressions, for instance, usually draw heavily from the culture and the people.
The history of the people has a marked influence on the language.

You already have a heritage of culture and history weaved into English. You must expect the same from any other language you study. Don't let this worry you. As you delve into the language, the innate culture and history are presented and you'll learn them alongside the new vocabulary and grammar.

There would be too many examples to cite, but you can check out some of the idiomatic expressions on this website. You may be interested to know that cats have 7 lives in Spanish, where we graciously allow them two more in the English language.

[JPablo]

That's right...
You can also check why it is common in Spanish to talk about "los 5 continentes" (the 5 continents) while others may talk about "the 6 continents"...

As you get to learn more of the basic Spanish you'll find out a lot more about cultural differences, and will learn more even about your own language...

For example, did you know that "to rain cats and dogs" comes from the actual fact that cats and dogs used to live in the thatched roofs of the old London? (At least that's what a British friend of mine told me...)

There is also this,
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_...dogs_come_from

But interestingly enough you would say in Spanish "Llover a cántaros" "raining by the bucket-load" (cántaro = pitcher, jug; llover a cántaros to pour with rain, to rain cats and dogs

You'd never say in Spanish "llover gatos y perros" (if you said something like that they'd think you were Martian, or trying to be overly facetious...)

[chileno]

Not only that. You also have to consider your age, which even in your country.city etc. it is a factor as to how you talk today and if you have "advanced" according to the times.

[JosephThomas]

interesting thanks.

What about a figure of speech like,

"What in the World!" - where I am saying - "What in all of this world could this be!" (as in it's strange)
It was brought to my attention this is not an expression in Español.


have any of those?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by JosephThomas

interesting thanks.

What about a figure of speech like,

"What in the World!" - where I am saying - "What in all of this world could this be!" (as in it's strange)
It was brought to my attention this is not an expression in Español.


have any of those?

You can read all about it in that thread.

[CrOtALiTo]

Sorry for writing in this post that isn't me.
But I have a doubt in refer to a word or phrase wrote for him in his post, and I can't find any meaning with the word.

wont get because, really I can't understand the phrase in my attempt I wrote this.

Acostumbrado a recibir or obterner porque?

Really I don't find logical form to that phrase.

Please help me.

I will grateful with your advice, and I will be cheerful with help you a little in other way.

[JosephThomas]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Sorry for writing in this post that isn't me.
But I have a doubt in refer to a word or phrase wrote for him in his post, and I can't find any meaning with the word.
wont get because, really I can't understand the phrase in my attempt I wrote this.
Acostumbrado a recibir or obterner porque?
Really I don't find logical form to that phrase.
Please help me.
I will grateful with your advice, and I will be cheerful with help you a little in other way.

What phrase?
Can you quote it?
Did I say it?

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by JosephThomas

What phrase?
Can you quote it?
Did I say it?

Yes I'm sorry because I didn't place the word in my last post, and don't forget to ask me if you need more information.

I will be cheerful in answer you.

The phrase is I just wont get because

Get at least I have understood in English means Obternetm recibir.

The I didn't find any sense in that phrase using the won't verb and well I can't find any form in the same structure of the phrase.

Thank you very much.

[Rusty]

wont = won't = will not

won't get = will not understand

[CrOtALiTo]

Hello Rusty.

How are you?

Referring your commentary, believe me, never I have hear that expression before in the time that I'm studying English, for that reason, I asked him what was the meaning of the phrase, already you have clarify my question, I can understand quite the word.

Thank you very much.

[JosephThomas]

wont , won't

surreal

How did I not notice that you can or not use that..

[ChilenoAlemanCanada]

won't is also commonly used to say that someone is refusing to do something.

John refuses to/won't tell me (it).
Juan se niega a decírmelo.

[CrOtALiTo]

MmM still I've not clear the real meaning of two words, because I have understood won't is the negative of Will and wont really I don't know what does it mean?

[Elaina]

Croatalito....

Won't is the contraction of will not.

You know what a contraction is, right? So instead of saying.....

I will not go to the store for you.

You can say...........

I won't go to the store for you.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Elaina

Croatalito....

Won't is the contraction of will not.

You know what a contraction is, right? So instead of saying.....

I will not go to the store for you.

You can say...........

I won't go to the store for you.

And wont without the contraction is the same?

[Elaina]

I don't know what you mean but when you write a contraction like "won't", you must type the apostrophe.

[Rusty]

Yes, "won't," with the apostrophe, is correct. In my post, I equated the misspelled "wont" to the correctly punctuated "won't."

[CrOtALiTo]

Thank you Rusty.

Therefore that is the same, won't and wont without the apostrophe, they are spelling of the same form.

I appreciate your help.

[JosephThomas]

And wont without the contraction is the same?

CrOtALiTo

I realized something reading the replies.
I'll give you examples.

"John said he won't"
John said he will not.

"Wont you do that for me?"
Will you not do that for me?

You use wont when the contraction is broken up.

But you can say, "Won't you do that for me?" "Will not you do that for me?
old english style*
..
I hope.. I would :P


God Bless