vocabulary (vocabulario)

[Norma Rosa]

esposas (wives, handcuff)

I couldn't help laughing as I read the following paragraph, thinking how students of Spanish would interpret it.

Llegarán mañana 108 repatriados http://www.elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=47254
Se informó que algunos de los repatriados considerados por las autoridades estadounidenses como personas peligrosas, vendrán con esposas que les serán quitadas en el aeropuerto Las Américas luego de su entrega a las autoridades.

Del lat. sponsus).

1. m. y f. Persona casada.

2. m. y f. Persona que ha celebrado esponsales.

3. f. Am. Anillo episcopal.

4. f. pl. Pareja de manillas unidas entre sí con las que se aprisionan las muñecas de alguien.

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Here to help and learn,
Norma

[Lesley D]

Norma,

This is a good example of why having an extensive vocabulary in language gives a person leverage. IMO, Spanish is a language that has an extensive range of vocabulary and some words have an abundance of synonyms and antonyms. Regarding the synonyms, I am always amazed how there are several words that can possibly have the same meaning and there are many in the list but only one or two can be used as a substitute depending on the context. However, one has to have a good command of the language to know that not just any word in the list is appropriate.

I once read in a post on DR1 'that Spanish does not have as many words as English'. That statement was not worth a drop of time to challenge but it showed the lack of knowledge and limited exposure the poster has and for sure no formal instruction in the language. Even just reading minimally in Spanish on a regular basis, a person will realize the extensive vocabulary that Spanish has and this is partially due to the fact that it's a widely spoken language, it has deep linguistic history and each country has a wealth of indigenous vocabulary. Without including all the unofficial 'new' words that are entering the language daily and English borrowing, Spanish is a language with a rich vocabulary.

Your example is just a simple case of the reader needing to understand that esposas has more than one meaning. The context clearly indicates the meaning however, a beginner may think it means 'wives' if s/he is not aware that it could mean otherwise. What I always find interesting about Spanish is how you can have several words that all mean the same in theory but can only be used in a certain context. An example is the word la pared (wall). If you look for synonyms you will find: tabique, muro, muralla, valla etc. but not all can be a substitute for la pared. That's how precise the synonyms are. I remember these words are favorites on vocabulary exams and depending on the phrase you would have to choose the right substitute for la pared. Another example but with a broader range of choice and for substitution flexibility is: la rodaja (slice). Synonyms include: loncha, rebanada, tajada, pedazo, porción. These synonyms for la rodaja offer more flexibility in comparison to la pared but still I find Spanish-speakers use loncha in certain contexts, rebanada in certain contexts and so on. Just an observation on my part.

One way to increase one's vocabulary is to read the dictionary. As crazy as it sounds one would be amazed at how one can increase his/her vocabulary and learn proper usage and fixed expressions with the particular word(s) in question, regionalisms and colloquialisms etc. I read the dictionary on a regular basis and always come away with something new to consider, new expressions, idioms, colloquialisms etc. A dictionary is one of the most valuable resources of language. It's a shame most people don't respect it for its value.



-LDG.

[Norma Rosa]

prolegómeno (an unnecessary introduction of something)

This is not a word one expects to hear often. I found it in the article
"Fuera de juego" by columnist Jose Miguel Soto Jiménez (Listín Diario, 5/29/08).

La globalización de la política dominicana, por ejemplo, fue obra de un PRD internacionalista que abandonó esa política en esta ocasión, dejándola languidecer, tan sólo para que Fernández la asumiera como política de Estado, teniendo justo en los prolegómenos del proceso, un éxito como la Cumbre en Santo Domingo del Grupo de Río.

http://www.listin.com.do/app/article

Stop the prolegómenos and get to the point!

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Norma Rosa

esposas (wives, handcuff)

I couldn't help laughing

The similarities between being handcuffed and/or being married are numerous, in fact, the results are identical.
They are clearly synonyms.

[Chip]

I wonder which definition came first????

[Norma Rosa]

Originally Posted by Chip

I wonder which definition came first????

esposa (wife)

The word comes to us from the Greek spendo (to spill a drink). When a Greek business person would make a commitment, he would spill a drink, thus sealing the contract. With time, this habit acquired the meaning of making an agreement or signing a contract.

From the Greek word spendo, Latin formed sponsus -person who makes a commitment. Therefore, a man who undertakes the responsibility of marrying a woman, is a sponsus and the woman is the sponsa. The English word sponsor (person who assumes certain responsibilities) comes from the same root.

From the Latin sponsus and sponsa, Spanish formed esposo, esposa.

The term esposas (hancuff) has been used as a metaphor since the Middle Ages to imply the idea of marriage or lack of freedom.

This information was taken from the article "Etimología: el origen de las palabras" Etimología - Castellano - La Palabra del Día de el-castellano.org - La lengua española

Norma

[Norma Rosa]

Originally Posted by Rocky

The similarities between being handcuffed and/or being married are numerous, in fact, the results are identical.
They are clearly synonyms.

esposas (wives)
esposas (handcuff)

Both words have the same etymology (origin) but they are not synonyms.
Synonyms: Words with similar or identical meaning. They are interchangeable.

In the following sentence, each word means something different:
La esposa le puso las esposas al esposo. (She is a policewoman.)

They are homonyms: Same spelling (homograph) same pronunciation (homophones) but different meanings.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Norma Rosa

esposas (wives)
esposas (handcuff)

Both words have the same etymology (origin) but they are not synonyms.
Synonyms: Words with similar or identical meaning. They are interchangeable.

In the following sentence, each word means something different:
La esposa le puso las esposas al esposo. (She is a policewoman.)

They are homonyms: Same spelling (homograph) same pronunciation (homophones) but different meanings.

Perhaps you didn't detect my sarcasm and three little winking smileys.

[Norma Rosa]

Originally Posted by Rocky

Perhaps you didn't detect my sarcasm and three little winking smileys.

Sorry, Rocky. You are right; they are synonyms in a metaphorical way. (I am reinventing grammar.)

[Norma Rosa]

Cumbre (Summit)
It seems to me redundant to say "Cumbre de Alto Nivel" (High-Level Summit).

SANTO DOMINGO.- El presidente Leonel Fernández hablará hoy ante la plenaria de la cumbre de alto nivel sobre seguridad alimentaria,
La República - Leonel habla hoy en cumbre alimentaria

Most Spanish newspapers say:
1. Conferencia de alto nivel sobre (la) seguridad alimentaria
2. Cumbre de seguridad alimentaria

Norma