using spanish a guide to contemporary usage

This page intentionally left blank Using Spanish This is a guide to Spanish usage for those who have already acquired the basics of the language and wish to extend their knowledge. Unlike conventional grammars, it focuses on those areas of vocabulary and grammar which cause most difficulty to English speakers. It fully illustrates the differences between the Spanish of Spain and Latin America, and looks in detail at register variation. Complete with a full word index, this clear and easy-to-consult text guides students through the richness and diversity of this major world language. This new edition has been extensively revised and updated to take a fuller account of Latin-American usage. The vocabulary sections have been significantly expanded, and now include examples which contextualize each word or expression. The presentation of many sections has been improved to make reference even easier than before, and some completely new material has been added on semi-technical vocabulary and Anglicisms. ronald e. batchelor has now retired from the University of Nottingham, where he taught French and Spanish for forty years. He has also held teaching posts at the universities of Besanc¸on, France, and Valencia, Spain. He has published ten books, including in this series Using Spanish Synonyms, Using Spanish Vocabulary, Using French and Using French Synonyms. He is currently working on A Student Grammar of Spanish, also to be published by Cambridge University Press (forthcoming 2005). christopher j. pountain is Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Queen Mary, University of London. He has held previous appointments at the University of Nottingham and the University of Cambridge, where he is a Life Fellow of Queens’ College. He has a long experience of teaching Spanish at various levels, and his previous books include Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide, Practising Spanish Grammar, A Comprehensive Spanish Grammar, A History of the Spanish Language through Texts and Exploring the Spanish Language. Companion titles to Using Spanish Using French (third edition) A guide to contemporary usage r. e. b at c h e lor an d m. h. o f f o r d ISBN 0 521 64177 2 hardback ISBN 0 521 64593 X paperback Using Spanish (second edition) A guide to contemporary usage r. e. b at c h e lor an d c. j. p o u n ta i n ISBN 0 521 00481 0 paperback Using German (second edition) A guide to contemporary usage martin durrell ISBN 0 521 53000 8 paperback Using Russian (second edition) A guide to contemporary usage derek offord and natalia goglitsyna ISBN 0 521 54761 X paperback Using Italian A guide to contemporary usage j. j. k i n de r a nd v. m. s av i n i ISBN 0 521 48556 8 paperback Using Japanese A guide to contemporary usage william mclure ISBN 0 521 64155 1 hardback ISBN 0 521 64614 6 paperback Using Portuguese A guide to contemporary usage ana sofia ganho and timothy mcgovern ISBN 0 521 79663 6 paperback Using Arabic A guide to contemporary usage mahdi alosh ISBN 0 521 64832 7 paperback Using Spanish Synonyms r. e. b at c h e lo r ISBN 0 521 44160 9 hardback ISBN 0 521 44694 5 paperback Using German Synonyms martin durrell ISBN 0 521 46552 4 hardback ISBN 0 521 46954 6 paperback Using Italian Synonyms howard moss and vanna motta ISBN 0 521 47506 6 hardback ISBN 0 521 47573 2 paperback Using French Synonyms r. e. b at c h e lo r a n d m. h. o f f or d ISBN 0 521 37277 1 hardback ISBN 0 521 37878 8 paperback Using Russian Synonyms terence wade and nijole white ISBN 0 521 79405 6 paperback Using French Vocabulary jean h. duffy ISBN 0 521 57040 9 hardback ISBN 0 521 57851 5 paperback Using German Vocabulary sarah fagan ISBN 0 521 79700 4 paperback Using Italian Vocabulary marcel danesi ISBN 0 521 52425 3 paperback Using Spanish Vocabulary r. e. b at c h e lo r and miguel a. san jos ´ e ISBN 0 521 00862 X paperback Further titles in preparation Using Spanish A guide to contemporary usage Second edition RONBATCHELOR Formerly of the University of Nottingham CHRISTOPHER POUNTAIN Queen Mary, University of London    Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge  ,UK First published in print format - ---- - ---- © Ron Batchelor and Christopher Pountain 2005 2005 Information on this title: www.cambrid g e.or g /9780521004817 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. - --- - --- Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of s for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org p a p erback eBook (EBL) eBook (EBL) p a p erback Contents Authors’ acknowledgements page xviii Preface to the second edition xix List of abbreviations and symbols xx Glossary xxii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 The Spanish language today 1 1.2 Local variety and standard 1 1.3 Peninsular and American Spanish 2 1.4 Register 2 1.4.1 R1 2 1.4.2 R2 3 1.4.3 R3 3 1.5 ‘Correctness’ 3 2 Passages illustrating register and local variety 4 2.1 Example of R1 ∗ (Peninsular Spanish): Un encuentro en la calle 4 2.2 Example of R1 (Mexican Spanish): ¡P ´ elate! Que vamos al cine 6 2.3 Example of R1 (Peninsular Spanish): Cosas de cr ´ ıos 7 2.4 Example of R1 (Argentine Spanish): from Don Segundo Sombra,by R. G ¨ uiraldes 8 2.5 Example of R2 (Peninsular Spanish): Una agencia de viajes 10 2.6 Example of R2 (Latin-American Spanish): from Resumen, Caracas, 12 August 1984 12 2.7 Example of R2–3 (Peninsular Spanish): Intercambio de casas 13 2.8 Example of R2–3 (Peninsular Spanish): from San Manuel Bueno, m ´ artir,byM.deUnamuno 15 2.9 Example of R2–3 (Latin-American Spanish): Viajando a trav ´ es de la ciudad de M ´ exico by Jorge Larracilla 16 2.10 Example of R3 (Latin-American Spanish): from El Comercio, Quito, 2 October 1985 17 v Contents Part I Vocabulary 3 Misleading similarities between Spanish and English 23 3.1 Similar form – different meaning 23 3.2 Similar form – partly similar meaning 33 3.3 Differences in register between Spanish words and their English cognates 48 3.4 Adjectives and nouns in Spanish 52 3.4.1 Adjectives used as nouns 52 3.4.2 Spanish past participles used as nouns 52 4 Similarities between Spanish words 55 4.1 Similar form – similar meaning 55 4.2 Similar form – different meaning 80 4.3 Similar verb stem 89 4.4 Words distinguished by gender 94 4.4.1 Different gender – similar meaning 94 4.4.2 Different gender – different meaning 102 5 Fields of meaning – vocabulary extension 108 abrigo 108 accidente 109 acordar 110 agujero 110 lo alto 111 amable 111 anillo 112 aparecer 113 apariencia 113 apoderarse de 113 apresurarse 114 arma (de fuego) 114 avisar 115 ayudar 115 barco 116 barrio 116 basto 117 borde 117 botella 118 brillar 118 cara 119 charco 120 chirriar 121 coger 121 colina 122 competici ´on 122 vi Contents contento 123 convertirse 124 cortar 125 crecer 125 cuarto 126 cuerda 127 culo 128 dar 128 decir 129 dejar 129 delgado 130 delito 131 derrotar 131 destruir 132 dibujo 133 diente 133 dinero 134 disparar 134 disputa 135 divertirse 136 empezar 136 encontrar 137 enfadarse 138 enfrentarse (a) 138 enga ˜ nar 139 enga ˜ no 139 ense ˜ nar 140 enviar 141 espalda(s) 141 estropear 141 estupendo 142 fila 142 fuego 143 fuerte 143 gafas 144 golpear 144 gordo 145 gracioso 146 grupo 146 hermoso 147 intentar 147 investigar 148 jefe 149 lado 150 lengua 150 letrero 151 levantar 151 listo 151 vii Contents lleno 152 llevar 153 malgastar 154 malhechor 154 mejora 155 modelo 155 molestar 156 muchacho/a 157 nativo 157 nombre 158 ocurrir 158 orgulloso 159 palo 160 pared 160 pedir 161 pelo 161 pelota 162 pensar 162 perezoso 163 piedra 164 pobre 164 poner 165 profesor 165 rebelarse 166 regalo 166 rico 167 rinc ´on 167 robar 168 rodaja 168 romper 169 saber 169 salvaje 170 sonidos emitidos por los animales 170 subir 171 sucio 172 sueldo 173 suerte 174 tal ´on 174 terco 175 tienda 175 tirar 176 tirarse 176 tonto 177 tormenta 177 trabajo 178 triste 178 vacaciones 179 viii [...]... frequent and apparent Vocabulary and idioms curitas rastrillo ¿se te ofrece algo? al cuarto para las seis ¡p´ lale!/¡vu´ lale! e e † lanzarse ı ı se † caer a por aqu´ cuatita (diminutive of cuata) impuntualidad (f ) con patas fonazo (see Chapter 7 ) chamba se pone de la cachetada para acabarla de amolar plasters (Pen parches, esparadrapo, tiritas) razor (Pen maquinilla de afeitar; Pen rastrillo = rake)... ¿No iba a lanzarse con nosotros? S´, dijo que se caer a por aqu´ como a eso de las cinco ı ı ı Tu cuatita es la impuntualidad con patas Dale un fonazo a su chamba para ver si ya sali´ o Bueno, pero ¡vu´ lale! Ya sabes que a esta hora el tr´ fico se pone de la e a cachetada S´, y para acabarla de amolar est´ lloviendo ¡Qu´ lata! ¡Vuelvo! ı a e It is in R1 that specifically regional forms of Spanish are... Que ´ vamos al cine Ahorita vengo ¿Ad´ nde vas? o A la farmacia Necesito unas hojas de afeitar y un rastrillo nuevo ¿Se te ofrece algo? No, gracias Ah, s´, se me pasaba: unas curitas y un paquete de algod´ n ı o ¿Es todo? Creo que s´ No te tardes, gordo ¿Ya viste la hora? La pel´cula empieza ı ı al cuarto para las seis ¿Al cuarto? Tenemos que salir en diez minutos Ya lo s´ ¡P´ lale! e e ¿Y Susana? ¿No... rato a tomar caf´ , o mejor a n veniros a e a e u cenar Venga, a ver si encuentro un rato y nos vemos tranquilamente Yo te llamo Muy bien ¡Que no se te olvide! Recuerdos a tu marido Gracias, igualmente r r Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: The R1 features covered in ‘Un encuentro en la calle’,... Spanish) : Cosas de cr´os ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı Carmen: Mar a: ı ¡Mar a! ¡Chissst! ¡Mar a! ı ı Huy, ¡hola! ¿Qu´ tal? ¿C´ mo est´ is? e o a Bien, estupendamente, ¿y vosotros? Regular, tengo a la nena pachucha S´, chica, ¿qu´ le pasa? ı e No, nada, que est´ muy costipada a ¡Vaya, mujer! Vino ayer el m´ dico y le dio un jarabe porque se ha pasado toda la e santa noche tosiendo... regional centre tends to create its own ‘standard’ An Andalusian or a Latin-American speaker would only under rather unusual circumstances adapt his or her speech and usage to that of the Castilian ‘standard’ It is important to realize that in the Spanish- speaking world there is no stigma attached to speaking a local variety of the language This can be rather difficult for 1 1 Introduction English (as... wide acceptance of a commonly agreed norm amongst the national Academias (see 1.5), seems likely to last 1.2 Local variety and standard The Spanish standard is generally taken to be the speech of Old Castile Yet it is immediately apparent that, if that is the case, more than 95 per cent of Spanish speakers do not speak ‘standard’ Spanish! In practice, the speech of any national capital or important... pertaining to countries and towns Espa˜ a n 213 10.1.1 Regions 213 10.1.2 Towns 214 10.1.3 Islands 214 Am´ rica Latina / Latinoam´ rica e e Europa 216 ´ Africa 217 Asia y Australia 218 Oriente Medio 219 Am´ rica del Norte e 219 Abbreviations Abbreviations of titles and common words 220 Abbreviations of weights and measures 222 Abbreviations of major national and international organizations 223 Other abbreviations... the answer to a question te llamo y te digo The Present tense is used instead of a Future (te voy a llamar, te llamar´ ) See 28.1 e Note the elliptical nature of many of the remarks, eg mucha pasta = eso te va a costar 5 2 Passages: register and local variety 2.2 Mario: Teresa: Mario: Teresa: Mario: Teresa: Mario: Teresa: Mario: Teresa: Mario: Teresa: Mario: Example of R1 (Mexican Spanish) : ¡Pelate!... calle’, and also found here, are not dealt with a second time 7 2 Passages: register and local variety Pronunciation r Costipada ! reflects a common R1 pronunciation of standard † constipada Vocabulary and idioms estupendamente † nena pachucha toda la santa noche cr¯os ı ¿qu´ me cuentas? e el cole est´ en la higuera a † pasa de las clases ¡ya lo † creo! me tiene frita fine little girl (= ni˜ a) n sick santa . 521 64614 6 paperback Using Portuguese A guide to contemporary usage ana sofia ganho and timothy mcgovern ISBN 0 521 79663 6 paperback Using Arabic A guide to contemporary usage mahdi alosh ISBN. paperback Using German Vocabulary sarah fagan ISBN 0 521 79700 4 paperback Using Italian Vocabulary marcel danesi ISBN 0 521 52425 3 paperback Using Spanish Vocabulary r. e. b at c h e lo r and. to US English usage and Latin-American Spanish usage, and made many additions and amendments. We would also like to thank Annie Cave, Peter Ducker, Julia Harding and Ann Mason of Cambridge University