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Learning a foreign language is hard enough. But if that language is riddled with weird slang terms and ever-changing funny phrases, you may wind up lost in translation.
That's exactly what happened to former Maryland resident Jared Romey, author of Spanish slang books Speaking Argento, Speaking Boricua and the most recent Speaking Chileno (RIL Editores) -- guides to understanding current slang in Argentina, Puerto Rico and Chile, respectively.
Back in 1997, Romey moved from the U.S. to Chile thinking he could get by solely on the years of Spanish language classes he had taken.
He was wrong. So wrong.
Turns out his intensive studies -- including many Spanish courses while getting his MBA in international business at the University of Southern Carolina -- didn't mean squat when it came to actually living in Chile and communicating with Chileans.
They didn't speak the Spanish I was used to, Romey told AOL News in an interview from his home in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was fast, different and full of odd slang. I was totally lost.
During those first few weeks in Chile, Romey said he found himself second-guessing his Spanish skills, constantly confused over the correct words for simple things like popcorn, underwear and traffic jam.
Chilean slang was all around him and he didn't understand a lick of it.
Romey translates common colloquialisms into English so that Americans can actually understand what the heck locals are saying when they visit South American countries.
So, how about a little language lesson?
Romey wasn't kidding when he said Chilean slang is a language in and of itself. Here are some examples of weird words that could leave anyone scratching their head.
Link including video: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/26/american-creates-guide-to-understanding-weird-chilean-slang/
That's exactly what happened to former Maryland resident Jared Romey, author of Spanish slang books Speaking Argento, Speaking Boricua and the most recent Speaking Chileno (RIL Editores) -- guides to understanding current slang in Argentina, Puerto Rico and Chile, respectively.
Back in 1997, Romey moved from the U.S. to Chile thinking he could get by solely on the years of Spanish language classes he had taken.
He was wrong. So wrong.
Turns out his intensive studies -- including many Spanish courses while getting his MBA in international business at the University of Southern Carolina -- didn't mean squat when it came to actually living in Chile and communicating with Chileans.
They didn't speak the Spanish I was used to, Romey told AOL News in an interview from his home in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was fast, different and full of odd slang. I was totally lost.
During those first few weeks in Chile, Romey said he found himself second-guessing his Spanish skills, constantly confused over the correct words for simple things like popcorn, underwear and traffic jam.
Chilean slang was all around him and he didn't understand a lick of it.
Romey translates common colloquialisms into English so that Americans can actually understand what the heck locals are saying when they visit South American countries.
So, how about a little language lesson?
Romey wasn't kidding when he said Chilean slang is a language in and of itself. Here are some examples of weird words that could leave anyone scratching their head.
Link including video: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/26/american-creates-guide-to-understanding-weird-chilean-slang/
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