What would you say to a Beginner about the spanish language?
Since I am still a beginner, learning spanish : I would like to ask a few questions: 1. What do you want me to know about the language? 2. What are some grammar errors that english speakers use the most? 3. What spoken words are most frequently mis-used or spoken out of context? Everyone is welcome to answer! Gracias!
3 Answers
Alius vero, qui Germanus erat, retulit, eundem Carolum Quintum dicere aliquando solitum esse; Si loqui cum Deo oporteret, se Hispanice locuturum, quod lingua Hispanorum gravitatem maiestatemque prae se ferat; si cum amicis, Italice, quod Italorum dialectus familiaris sit; si cui blandiendum esset, Gallice, quod illorum lingua nihil blandius; si cui minandum aut asperius loquendum, Germanice, quod tota eorum lingua minax, aspera sit ac vehemens
"Indeed another, who was German, related that the same Charles V sometimes used to say: if it was necessary to talk with God, that he would talk in Spanish, which language suggests itself for the graveness and majesty of the Spaniards; if with friends, in Italian, for the dialect of the Italians was one of familiarity; if to caress someone, in French, for no language is tenderer than theirs; if to threaten someone or to speak harshly to them, in German, for their entire language is threatening, rough and vehement"
wikiquote
Many versions of this quotation are extant. The most common one is so: "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my dog." Another one is: "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to my horse."
Charles V (Carlos I) was German by the way.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Jakob_Seisenegger_001.jpg/359px-Jakob_Seisenegger_001.jpg
Es claro que amó a sus perros y sus perros le amaron.
Otra versión: "Uno debe hablar español con Dios, italiano con la amiga, francés con el amigo, alemán con los soldados, inglés con los patos, húngaro con los caballos y bohemio (checo) con el diablo."
