Regionalisms and expressions

[Marianopolita]

No, it's 'français français' but keep in mind obsolete. I just checked in another Thesaurus. The same details were given. Who knows maybe it did not even spread beyond France. I can't recall if I have heard it used (ever) but in old French literature possibly because it does not seem that strange to me just not used in modern day French.

BTW, I don't know anything about Creole to even make a remote comparison. I don't understand it at all although as you know in Montreal, one can easily hear it everyday.

If our dear poster 'montreal' reads this her opinion/ knowledge will be welcome. In the meantime, let's get back to Spanish regionalisms.



-LDG.

[Norma Rosa]

Originally Posted by rubio_higuey

In the DR that would be chévere

Yes. "Está de madre" is also used in the DR.

[Chirimoya]

Or "no tiene madre" to mean something extremely good or bad.

[andrea9k]

Hey Lesley!

Originally Posted by Lesley D

To add to the Peruvianisms:

Huachafo- is a word I hear a lot from my friends and I am actually reading another Peruvian novel (just a coincidence and not Jaime Bayly surprise, surprise) and it's used quite a bit. From what I gather one meaning is 'pretentious' as in 'cursi' and the dictionary also says that it means a person who dresses badly (mal vestido). Anything you can add here please feel free.

-LDG.

Huachafo, in general is used to denote tacky-ism (just created this word hehe). My husband loves that word (especially after learning the correct pronunciation) and uses it left and right when he sees things he considers tacky. Funny!

There are some variants to this word, all with the same meaning: Huachafiento, huachafería, huachafoso, huachafístico. I doubt those words are even in the "mataburros".

Stay well.

Jess

[macocael]

I have a question about regional usage that maybe someone can answer. I just watched the Colombian film Sicario for the second time and again was puzzled by the way the characters address each other, slipping from the more formal usted to the informal tu, back and forth, without any seeming reason. For example, the protagonist talks to his girlfriend using both forms, and others talk to the protagonist in the same manner, although they know him very well and would be expected to stick to the Tú form. Now maybe it is a matter of euphony in some cases, but in others I just couldnt figure out the reason.


Any explanation?

[andrea9k]

Hi maco

In Colombian colloquialism "Usted" is the informal way to address someone. Formality for them is based more on the context. I can't recall any of my Colombian friends addressing each other as tú... maybe when closeness is needed... You might want to wait for a Colombian fellow to explain more.

Now, the main actor in Sicario is Venezuelan. That might be the reason why he got his "Usted" and "tú" mixed up

Cheers,

Jess

[Marianopolita]

One aspect to remember about regionalisms, words specifically is that although they are used and heard in a specific region or in an entire country does not mean that they are (grammatically) correct or even exist in Spanish. In this forum, a few posters first defense is 'that's what Dominicans say' but it shows the lack of knowledge depth of those individuals in Spanish not being able to decipher what's correct from what's incorrect.

Over the past few days I have been in the company of diverse speakers since it's the holiday season, people come and go that you know and don't know. In conversation I made some observations about speech that I always find interesting. As I have said before, it's not just what you may read about in language, linguistics, sociolinguistics studies etc. The speech of a group of people is the ultimate proof and example of the diversity that exists in Spanish which includes Dominican speech and Spanish spoken in other countries.

Some examples that stood out were the use of casimente by one Dominican among the group of speakers. Depending on your social circle, IMO one will not hear this. Casimente does not exist in Spanish. "Mente" which is added to an adjective to form an adverb in Spanish should not be added to casi because it's already an adverb. One person in the conversation from Moca kept using the word all the time. Here is a simple comment/ explanation. tuBabel.com - definición de "casimente" en Rep. Dominicana es "casi". As well, a lot of 'ello no hay, no' which is typical of the Dominican vernacular. The usage of 'ello' with the impersonal verb haber is not correct in Spanish.

I was introduced to a gentleman and the first thing he said was '¿De dónde sos vos?' which was his vernacular for the question I returned to him ¿De dónde eres? The fact that he used a voseo form meant that he could be from a few countries. Turned out he was from Honduras, which is one of the Central American countries where it is used.

Regionalisms and expressions are fun, diverse, interesting etc. and definitely reveal a wealth of linguistic information about a community or speech population. Observation is a must but also knowing what is incorrect and correct in order not to repeat incorrect speech.


Here is a Dominican expression used on a TV talk show recently. I have not heard it used by other Spanish speakers:

'El mejor de la matica'

I think the meaning is quite easy to decipher.


-LDG.

[wildnfree]

Spain
Currar - to work (trabajar)
Ligar - to pick someone up, flirt
Amamonao/a - dumbfounded
un Conazo - a pain in the ass
vete a la mierda - get stuffed
Chaval/chavala - boy/girl
vale -ok, fine
ahora - soon
Ostia - damn

[Marianopolita]

I was reading this interesting article about the improvement in the transportation system in Cuba which is in desperate need of new equipment (buses) and repairs. I found it interesting the usage of the colloquialism hacer botella which means 'to hitchhike'. The more formal term is hacer autostop but interestingly enough I don't think I have ever heard it used in Spanish.

The usage of 'hacer botella' was like a breath of fresh air because the passenger was just speaking in everyday Cuban vernacular which is normal when people are conversing informally. What I find interesting as well now that it has been brought to my attention is the word 'autostop'. I have never heard it used in English and it is a synonym. In another Latin based language it's used. I know that for sure. Maybe the term originated in Europe and the usage depends on the region.

BBC Mundo - América Latina - Mejora el transporte en Cuba

Sin embargo, muchas chicas siguen haciendo "botella" (autostop), me dice una de ellas que se mueven más rápido, viajan más cómodas y a veces hasta con aire acondicionado. Así que aunque mejoren las "guaguas" algunas tradiciones parece que se mantendrán.

-Marianopolita

[Norma Rosa]

Autostop (autoestop): Concocted in France (faire de l'autostop) the term is used throughout Europe.

Not in use in the DR. and neither is hacer botella. We prefer: Pedir un aventón. Pedir una bola.
Norma