Modifying nouns: proper adjective sequence

Question

I wrote "Por favor visite mi blog poco loco". (I didn't think there was a real Spanish equivilant to "wacky", so I chose 'crazy little') I checked it here, and it was okay, but "mi pequeno blog loco" was also okay. This brings me to what frustrates me about my slow progress: what is presented as a reliable rule - in this case, sentence structure - inevitably proves to be fluid in ways that appear nearly arbitrary. I thought nouns always precede the adjectives that modify them. Why does 'pequeno' get to precede 'blog', while 'poco' doesn't? Instead of noun, adjective, adjective, it's suddenly adjective, noun, adjective. Also, 'pequeno" means "small", not "litttle" - I thought. In fact, I would have bet the ranch that "pequito" was an option after 'poco'. No one ever says, for example," Aprendo Espanol, pero hablo muy pequeno" - um…at least, I think they don't. I do realize that language is not a static THING, but a complex, living process with an inherent plasticity - I don't think I could ever explain English to a non-speaker. But, at what point do you guys think that a FEEL for Spanish clicks on in the brain, so that rote memorization is no longer the sole means of navigating? What's weird is that I really can - and do - read and understand Spanish language newspapers (I live near the Mexican border) and I have an excellent accent. But after two years, my brain refuses to retain any more verb tenses. I wonder if it got lazy because everyone here not only lets me stay in the present tense, but praises me for it! Sorry for such a long post. If it's inappropriate, please toss it, Mr. or Ms. Administrator: I really appreciate your site.

Hi, welcome to the forum! - rac1, Oct 20, 2012

Ola - y gracias! - notsmart, Oct 22, 2012

Answer 1

I do realize that language is not a static THING, but a complex, living process with an inherent plasticity

Well said! To realize this would help many people who struggle with an acquired language, so you are obviously well advanced in your learning. You also have the benefit of a certain amount of imersion by living near the border of Mexico.

On-line translators are only machines and they make mistakes and I can´t imagine they will ever be perfect. They are best used by having a general idea of what you want to say and then you deciding which is most appropriate for you. Of course most of the time you will have set the proper word sequence after the translation and maybe even adjust a tense or so.

Por favor visite mi blog "poco loco"

This is the correct translation and it is a catchy frase that works well in Spanish. The incorrect translators probably don´t know that "poco loco" is a name and not a discription.

"mi pequeno blog loco"

Here the translator thinks you are discribing the properties of your blog, which is correct only if you have a small blog and it happens to be crazy.

Soy una pequeña vikinga, un poco loca.. - annierats, Oct 20, 2012

Un poco loca pero bien buenota, ja ja - 005faa61, Oct 20, 2012

Oh, you've made me feel so much smarter! I didn't think to question the translations provided - I just thought "Oh, here's another thing I thought I'd mastered that turns out to have numerous exceptions I'll never be able to make sense of!" I didn't think - notsmart, Oct 20, 2012

LLo siento - I keep getting kicked off. I meant to say I didn't stop to consider the extent to which my frustration might actually be a sign of progess! Mira, Mama - sin manos! Senor Chivi, you are simultaneously helpful, encouraging - and humorous too. - notsmart, Oct 22, 2012