Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
La Fea Más Bella on the Spanish channel.

I have no idea what they are saying, but it's kind of funny.


Oh c'mon, there are lots & lots of words that are almost the
same in Spanish as in English; plus if you are an educated
man you should have at least a smattering of Latin which
makes it easier.

I wonder if the SAP button works in reverse?

No, but nex year's model probably will.

Butch Davis wrote:

Tom,

??? The ugly (female) more pretty???

That's a new phrase to me.???


Chuck Gould wrote:
Probably doesn't come across quite that brutally in Espanol.

Sounds like one of those makeover shows. You know, "Skanky Old Tramp
gets a New Hairdo and Wardrobe and Wow's Everybody."

Spanish language and culture is very frank. If that's what
they wanted to to say, that's what it would be.

Actually that sounds like it would be a crossover hit show
in both languages!

wrote:
You sure it doesn't mean:

"The gal's pretty ugly"?


Yes.

To the best of my mediocre ability in Spanish, it means "The
Ugly Girl/Woman Who Is (Slightly) More Beautiful." It could
imply that she is the better-looking of two women, or that
she becomes prettier.

Regards
Doug King

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
Actually, at the risk of appearing to be some kind of cultural boor, I
could honestly care less about speaking any language other than
English. I can speak rudimentary Laotian, for obvious reasons, and I
have a functional knowledge of German because in my early years I grew
up in a heavily German neighborhood where my Grandparents lived, but
I've forgotten more than I should have and would have a hard time
communicating complex concepts - like, where is the bathroom?


But you should keep in mind that we have an extraordinary
luxury that most people in the world... and most people in
history... never had: a large, prosperous, & stable land.
This affects Americans & American culture in many ways,
monolinguism is merely one of the obvious ones.

I look at it this way - if I were interested in living in, say France,
I would try and learn to speak French. If I moved to Mexico, I would
try and learn Central American Spanish. I am not going to do either,
so I ain't gonna.


I feel the same way, but OTOH we travel and it's nice to be
able to ask basic questions and at least appear able to
follow some of the answer. If nothing else, it makes the
native much less inclined to be revolting.


Can't make me. :)


True

By the same token, if you move to America, those immigrants should
learn English.

Agreed. I think we (the gov't of the USA) are being retarded
to "value diversity" or whatever by allowing people who
can't speak a word of English, and arent' willing to try, to
GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE... of all stupid-ass things!

When in the military, I learned to cuss out people in most
of the languages of the places we visited.. came in very
handy, and I can still make Philippinas blush by whispering
to them in Togalog.

DSK

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

I've forgotten more than I should have and would have a hard time
communicating complex concepts - like, where is the bathroom?


Sign language works.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

I've forgotten more than I should have and would have a hard time
communicating complex concepts - like, where is the bathroom?


Sign language works.

Eisboch

Look over there.
Jim

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 09:01:07 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

I've forgotten more than I should have and would have a hard time
communicating complex concepts - like, where is the bathroom?

Sign language works.

Yeah, but jumping up and down holding your hand over your crotch just
seems to - well, French...


People may assume you're a rock star.

You need to learn to be a bit more subtle. Bend down slightly with your
knees touching each other and put a pained, yet quizzical look on your face.
Usually works.

Eisboch

... we have an extraordinary
luxury that most people in the world... and most people in
history... never had: a large, prosperous, & stable land.
This affects Americans & American culture in many ways,
monolinguism is merely one of the obvious ones.

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
Good point.


I have a lot of friends & colleagues from other countries,
and they sometimes make fun of me (nad Americans in general)
for lacking language skills. For example, one guy I've
worked with a little who is also a sailor is from
Switzerland and so he speaks French & German; also Italian &
Spanish & Swedish (he works for a Scandinavian company) &
Portuguese (his wife is Brazilian), probably a few others as
well. And by this I mean he can hold a professional
discussion in these languages, not just get by in a restaurant.

OTOH I occasionally make fun right back at them by saying,
"I can drive for 3 days and still be in a country where they
speak my language. You can't drive for 3 hours without being
in a country where they speak a totally different language."

So, guess why I don't speak many languages... I DON'T HAVE TO!




Well, I hate traveling - absolutely hate it.

That's a shame. Lots of very cool places out in the wide world.

Many of them can be reached by boat

DSK