What is wrong with this?

Question

What is wrong with this?

Please let those learning Spanish answer first. Por favor espera para los que aprenden español a contestar primero.

I took the photo because the error I noticed was kind of funny.

Identify the error, in Spanish and English write what they were trying to say, in English write what they actually said.

I agree, it´s very funny! - 005faa61, Jul 7, 2013

Jjejej!! - pacofinkler, Jul 7, 2013

Answer 1

" Votar" is the problem in the anuncio,

Votar is of course to "vote" in English.

"Botar" appears to be the needed verb here " to discard" . So the sign is saying 'Do not discard". And by the way we really do not use it in Mexico. we would use " No tirar" for that.

This is an orthographical error we do see in Spanish from time to time substituting the "V' for "B" or vice versa. As in speech the sound is nearly exactly the same.

I listened to an article, where they looked at the recorded sound waves produced by both the b and v sounds, and could not tell the waves apart - they were identidal. - togtog, Jul 7, 2013

Some time ago we had a discussion about just that- to my ear-i sense a difference- but a differences so small it is not recognizable in daily speech. - pacofinkler, Jul 7, 2013

In Costa Rica botar is the norm for getting rid of something. Tirar for throwing to hit something. Él tiró la lata in la basura. When focusing no the throw more than the discard. - 00551866, Jul 7, 2013

Answer 2

But shouldn't it also be "no bote " imperativo negativo de la tercera persona? Or am I mistaken?

Yes " no botar" --do not throw or discard anything into the sanitario. - pacofinkler, Jul 7, 2013

No bote is directed at a specific person. No botar is in general. - 00551866, Jul 7, 2013

yes ofcourse....I totally forgot it was in general. thanks - Aranjuez12, Jul 8, 2013

Answer 3

It gives me great pleasure to know it's not only Engish learners of Spanish that have the problem with the V and the B sound! Hablantes get confused too. ha.

Por ejemplo:

"ortografía¨otra vez - pacofinkler, Jul 7, 2013

The H also is a common error. - 00551866, Jul 7, 2013

Answer 4

It´s very interesting that the political system and toilet paper are together in the same sentence. Could it be that someone is making a valid point?

Best comment of the day Julían ! - pacofinkler, Jul 7, 2013

And it is a problem keeping them out of the toilet. - 00551866, Jul 7, 2013

Answer 5

haha, en ocasiones algunas personas se suelen confundir con las palabras homofonas, ejemplo:

• Casa (de vivienda) - Caza (del verbo cazar)
• Rosa (Flor) - Roza (del verbo rozar)
• Abrasar (quemar con brasas) - Abrazar (estrechar con los brazos)
• Sierra (herramienta para cortar) – Cierra (del verbo cerrar)
• Masa (Mezcla de harina con agua y levadura) - Maza (Instrumento con mango para machacar)
• Vota (del verbo votar) – Bota (calzado que cubre el pie y parte de la pierna) y del verbo botar algo. :D

Buen ejemplos, también "¿qué (h)aces?" - 00551866, Jul 7, 2013

Answer 6

It seems that toilet paper has announced for President!

But don't vote for it. - 00551866, Jul 7, 2013