One of Lisa's favorite games is "Words with Friends." I might suggest she has a slight addiction, but I value my life, so I'll just suggest her hands are never idle.
Here in Guatemala, I am developing a habit of my own: I am becoming a serious student of the Spanish language. My addiction, however, is a good one, being fed by challenging myself to learn something new rather than vegetate in my past state (and recliner) of retirement.
My version of "Words with Friends" is quite interesting and entertaining. For example, I am thinking about inventing a new language. I have come to realize the value and popularity of Spanglish with North Americans and my new language will form a much higher level of communication.
Here are a few examples, with apologies to my maestros.
- "Mujer" means "woman" in Spanish. Most of you know Lisa has long, thick beautiful hair, so I sometimes now call her my "Mucho-hair."
- "Moneda" is the word for "coin." Lisa needed some non-folding dinero one day last week so I offered her "muchas coinas."
- The word for a shopping bag is "bolsa," but to me I will always recall the name "baguette."
My experimentation with my new language has led me to understand "muy" and "mucho" can't ever be used interchangeably in my new idiom. It has not come without peril, but I have learned some words can get you in "mucho" trouble and it is best to be "muy" careful.
For instance, "calor" and "caliente" can both mean "hot." If it is 100 degrees you are likely hot ("calor"). But if you see a woman wearing a red dress on a hot day, don't ask if she is "caliente." If you do, you might find out the hard way that she believes you called her "sexy hot" -- or worse.
Many other words and phrases must be carefully reviewed before becoming a part of my new language vocabulary. For instance, "camello" means "camel" but can also reference a "drug pusher."
"Chorizo," a typical seasoned sausage in the Americas, can also describe an individual who is a pick-pocket thief.
A "gato" is a favorite pet for many, but it doesn't always mean "cat." The word can also mean a jack to change a car tire.
"Palabras con amigos" (look it up) is not only fun but educational.
It isn't nice to call someone an "idiota," "loco" or "estúpido," but who would have know the name "Tonto," used by the Lone Ranger for his trustworthy sidekick, is actually an insult (in Spanish, it means stupid.) My professor and I believe it could have been a racial slur assigned by some stupid script writer (a sign of the times back in 1949 when the TV show began.)
Then in 1957, along came Zorro, another masked man. In Spanish, "Zorro" is the word used for "fox." Was it coincidence that the TV Zorro was clever like a fox?
In conclusion, learning new words and meanings has reminded me of Proverbs 17:27-28 ... "A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent."
No mas. No new language. My lips are sealed.
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