Estop! Read This.

I came across this interesting piece in e-book.com. It’s called “Learning To Speak Spanish – Useful Phrases For The Roads.” Everything about that  headline called to me: Which roads? How many are there? Are any of them here in Pocholandia?

First, a confession. I got to that site as a consequence of the inter-webs’ serendipity trap. Those of us who are easily distracted don’t need toys like stumbleupon to keep us away from our tasks (by the way, if you haven’t tried stumbleupon go at your own risk. It’ll suck you in and your co-workers, friends and family will wonder what became of you).  Some of us see links as if they were shiny objects to be followed and explored. Thus the Spanish Phrases for the Roads discovery.

Here are some bits gleaned form it:

When driving through a major city, expect a lot of traffic – tráfico – especially around rush hour – la hora pico – when you’re bound to hit a jam – un atasco. In addition to the multitude of automobiles, be aware of the ubiquitous scooters – motos – many of which will have a pillion passenger. Travelling as a pillion passenger is “ir de paquette”, a great expression to introduce to your vocabulary as you continue to learn how to speak Spanish.
A freeway is “una autopista”, a road is “un camino” and a highway is “una carretera”. And just like everywhere else, you’ll find lots of roundabouts – islas – and of course plenty of traffic lights – semáforos.
You’ll need to keep an eye on your speed as breaking the speed limit – velocidad excesiva – will land you with a heavy fine – una multa – and many of the major roads are littered with speed cameras – radares. Sometimes a ban – una prohibición de conducir – will accompany the fine so it’s worth sticking to the limit.

OK. So now place yourself on some pox-marked back road in the middle of South Texas or on the highway in Pocholandia. Would you really say hora pico? Seriously, an atasco has little to do with traffic but if prefaced with the word cochino the meaning is more specific (especially with no space between words): cohinoatascado.

And really, who says una prohibición de conducir? El judge me dejó a pata is better understood. Also, pillon, really? Pilón maybe, gorro more likely. And what about auto pista, camino and carretera? Who has time for such distinctions? We just name the damned road, it’s easier: la ninety, o la one-o-one, y ya!

And what’s this about semáforos when everyone knows they’re la luz or la light. Imagine the literal translation of a conversation: Please conduct your automobile directly to the next semaphore, and turn right.

Anyway, I gotta get back to work, and so do you!