Common English Expressions and Spanglish Explained
Common English Expressions and Their Origins
A German businessman is on a train in London when he sneezes. An Englishman standing next to him says, “God bless you.” The German looks at him strangely. The Englishman repeats himself and adds, “You sneezed.” The German still doesn’t understand. In England, saying “God bless you” after someone sneezes is considered normal. It is a polite way of wishing someone well. But Germans say “Gesundheit” in this situation, which means “to health.” That’s why the German businessman is confused. He probably thinks a stranger wants to talk to him about religion.
Everyday expressions in English can be confusing. Although every culture has expressions for common situations, such as meeting people or saying hello, they aren’t always the same. In addition, certain beliefs have changed, which makes the expressions difficult to understand. “God bless you” is one example of this. Its origins go back to AD 77. At that time, many people were dying from the bubonic plague, a terrible illness. People said “God bless you” to prevent the illness from getting worse. Today, most English speakers use this expression without thinking about their religious beliefs.
Sometimes, an expression is difficult to understand because its meaning has changed. For example, English speakers often say “How do you do?” when meeting someone. People in the 17th century used the expression “How do you?” when asking about someone’s health. Its meaning was the same as today’s “How are you?” The change from a question about health to a greeting was gradual. In the 18th century, people began using “How do you do?” as a general greeting.
Another example is the expression “You’re welcome,” said in response to “Thank you.” The word “welcome” used in this way has nothing to do with inviting someone in. In the early 20th century, people began to use it to mean “with pleasure.” In other words, “I helped you with pleasure.”
Some expressions, such as “Good luck,” “See you then,” and “Well done,” are clear. But others just aren’t logical. It’s not surprising that people who speak English as a foreign language often get confused!
The Rise of Spanglish
Have you ever read Don Quixote for your literature class? If so, you probably didn’t read it in American Spanglish! Spanglish looks unusual, but it is actually just a blend of Spanish and English. Many of the more than 35 million Hispanic residents of the United States speak it. And it’s everywhere! From street signs, newspapers, and TV to the Spanish pop group Las Ketchup and the Mexican singer Paulina Rubio.
Because of its popularity, Professor Ilán Stavans of Amherst College decided to translate the first chapter of Don Quixote into Spanglish. Stavans, a Mexican American, admitted that he spoke Spanglish with his children. He said that Spanglish showed great pride in a Latino identity. He explained that it was a way for Hispanics to be part of American culture without losing their Latin heritage.
Is Spanglish a Real Language?
But many people have asked if Spanglish is a real language. Antonio Garrido, director of the Instituto Cervantes in New York, doesn’t think so. He complained that a Spanglish Don Quixote was a joke. “The idea is good English and good Spanish. Spanglish has no future,” he said.
Roberto González Echevarría of Yale University also disagrees with Stavans’ beliefs about Spanglish. He says, “We’re going to end up speaking McSpanish, a sort of anglicized Spanish.”
So, will Spanglish grow or disappear completely? It’s impossible to know for sure. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Beach Vocabulary
- Deep-sea diving: Buceo
- Swimsuit: Traje de baño
- Solo artist: Artista en solitario
- Garment: Traje de baño
- Keyboard: Teclado
- Lifeguard: Socorrista
- Songwriter: Compositor
- Shore: Orilla
- Orchestra conductor: Director de orquesta
- Pop group: Grupo de pop
- Food stand: Chiringuito
- Water skiing: Esquí acuático
- Thunderstorm: Tormenta de truenos
- Seashells: Conchas
- Sailing boat: Barco velero
- Sandcastle: Castillo de arena
- Beach towel: Toalla
- Picnic table: Mesa de picnic
- Beach umbrella: Sombrilla
- Surfboard: Tabla de surf
Introductory Verbs
- Complain: Quejarse
- Tell: Contar
- Declare: Declarar
- Explain: Explicar
- Protest: Protestar
- Announce: Anunciar
- Point out: Señalar