Speaking With Different Tongues

Learning the language (which generally means Spanish as opposed to Catalan) may be daunting enough for some, without the cultural differences of expression and the intonation. English, for the most part, is a round-about language, reflecting the lack of directness in British culture. English is full of linguistic "ifs" and "maybes", the grammatical result of the host of modal verbs that litter our sentences, i.e. "would", "could", "might" etc. Other languages are more direct and the cultural style is more direct, and both these facets can be difficult for the incomer to accept; they can also make for a misunderstanding or a sense that the speaker is being rude.

When I first came to Spain, one of the first expressions that took me aback was the anglicisation of "digame" (which is not pronounced as with some sort of Caribbean accent, as in de-game, but as diggermay - more or less). People would say "tell me". This imperative, this instruction sounded distinctly rude and curt. But when one came to understand that it was a translation of "digame", it began to make more sense.

Use the phone here, and the chances are that someone will respond with "digame" or just "diga". Sometimes all one gets is "si". Not often is there a cheery "hola" (hello) as one might expect with the Brits. In everyday language, the use of "escucha" (listen) is also prevalent and can also sound rather rude, though the equally prominent imperative "mira" (look) is now to be found in English as well.

It is the end of a phone conversation though that still gives off a bad vibe. Both "adios" and the Catalan alternative "adeu" have a downward intonation. This isn't so noticeable when speaking face to face, but on the phone it is, so much so that you think the other person is decidedly hacked off. The English, generally, finish with an upward flourish - "byeee". By doing so, in English, a phone conversation ends with a positive feel, a Spanish phone conversation gives off quite the opposite impression with the speaker's voice trailing off almost to a mumble.

All of this is by way of just a very brief study of linguistic differences, so if you get a "tell me" or the sound of someone terminally pissed off on the phone, don't be offended. That's how it is.

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