I see a new language has emerged with the Hispanics coming to America. One we take for granted now and hear almost daily: Spanglish. (For the record, NO, this isn't negative bashing about this influx of folks. For instance, according to National Public Radio: Some kids as young as 9 years old, traveling alone, can take up to a month to travel here from South American countries, facing numerous hazards - gangs, falling off trains and loosing limbs, being cut in half or decapitated, being kidnapped, robbed and other heinous crimes, dishonest Mexican local police taking money/items of value and then days of walking across deserts hoping they are getting helped and not left alone to finally die just south of the US border?) Just hoping for a better life. Any way..... Carol & I dined at a fine restaurant tonight before heading over to hang curtain rods for Andrea.
At El Pollo Loco chicken:
Me: I'd like the two piece meal, white meat, with slaw and mac n cheese as side dishes.
Clerk: Okay, You waan leg n tie or weeng and breas? waa side deeshes you wan?
Me: White meat. Wing and breast, mac and cheese and slaw for side dishes.
Clerk: Okay, you waan drank weeth thees?
Me: Just a water glass please.
Clerk: Okay, you waan eat here or waan to-go?
Me: Eat here.
Clerk: Nam?
Me: Ron
Clerk: Juan?
Me: R O N
As I write this I think of how hard it would be for me to learn another language at my age, especially. I haven't always considered the honest Hispanics who come here with nothing but dreams and faith to make a better life. They aren't always the ones hanging at day labor spots or seen in the news committing crimes. Maybe Marion Webster needs to write a Spanglish Dictionary. There's no doubt many words that could go in it. (PS one of my favorite foods is Mexican - so I guess I'm no racist. But, then again, I'm not fond of soul food. Hmmmm?)
7 comments:
We eat at El Pollo Loco all the time. I cracked up just reading this post!
I can usually figure out what they're saying, but this girl was really hard to understand. I had a hard time communicating with the Germans and never could learn any words in their language. Thank goodness Hans spoke some English.
Ron, I think we had the same clerk! I went there with Carol one day...Carol had to answer the clerk for me...she was like talking another language...she had to order for me.....Carol KNEW what they were saying! I didn't!I thought it was just me! You make me laugh!
I like this post! I think it's one of my all-time favorites.
Good post Ron. It's refreshing to read something sympathetic to the Hispanic community. I use Spanglish everyday, and you're right- someone should make a Spanglish dictionary!
I am proficient in Spanglish. Now I just want to become proficient in Spanish!!
I found myself reading these out loud - I am laughing do hard!
Post a Comment