Certain aspects about language are universal. I have always observed that people make errors when addressing people in a foreign language until they become very fluent in that language and even so it's possible to make an error without even realizing it. In Spanish this error happens with informal and formal address meaning t? vs. usted when addressing a person in normal everyday speech and with the command forms. As well the error happens when using forms of address such as Se?or, Se?ora and Se?orita.
On a recent plane trip I sat beside an older gentleman and I did not really take note of him. I got up for while and when I returned he was not there. When he came back he said to me "excuse me sir". Right away I thought to myself English is not his first language because he addressed me incorrectly. Now a unilingual female English speaker may have been offended by being called "sir". However because of my experience in language etc. I realized this is a language issue and that he did not even realize that what he said is incorrect.
As the journey progressed I came to realize the gentlemen was a Spanish-speaker. When the beverage service started and as I was being served the gentleman said "juguito" even before he was asked. Then I said to him: ?habla espa?ol? and he said: S?. Soy de Lima. Then they started to make announcements in English and French about delays and if anyone with a connecting flight had a chance to make their flight they would have to run like crazy to their connecting gate. Once the announcements were over he looked me and I knew that was my signal to explain to him in Spanish what was said so I did of course. After I explained to him the delay, the gate for Lima and that he has to run etc. He said to me: muchas gracias se?orita. Gracias, gracias. It clarified my point about forms of address. In Spanish he did not err but when he did not know that I spoke Spanish he said "excuse me sir".
These are some of the subtle aspects of language that many people don?t realize happen and get offended. However, lack of practice is what perpetuates it or if people don't bring it to a person's attention. When speaking it's a little harder to address but when writing a good teacher, educator, parent whomever should point it out. For example, if you begin a letter with informal address (t? vs usted) the entire letter has to follow suit. One should not go back and forth with usage. If in one phrase in the letter venga is used and in the next phrase ven, or cu?date then cu?dese in different sentences it's incorrect. It's either informal or formal address in the same letter throughout.
Just another interesting point about language.
-LDG.
On a recent plane trip I sat beside an older gentleman and I did not really take note of him. I got up for while and when I returned he was not there. When he came back he said to me "excuse me sir". Right away I thought to myself English is not his first language because he addressed me incorrectly. Now a unilingual female English speaker may have been offended by being called "sir". However because of my experience in language etc. I realized this is a language issue and that he did not even realize that what he said is incorrect.
As the journey progressed I came to realize the gentlemen was a Spanish-speaker. When the beverage service started and as I was being served the gentleman said "juguito" even before he was asked. Then I said to him: ?habla espa?ol? and he said: S?. Soy de Lima. Then they started to make announcements in English and French about delays and if anyone with a connecting flight had a chance to make their flight they would have to run like crazy to their connecting gate. Once the announcements were over he looked me and I knew that was my signal to explain to him in Spanish what was said so I did of course. After I explained to him the delay, the gate for Lima and that he has to run etc. He said to me: muchas gracias se?orita. Gracias, gracias. It clarified my point about forms of address. In Spanish he did not err but when he did not know that I spoke Spanish he said "excuse me sir".
These are some of the subtle aspects of language that many people don?t realize happen and get offended. However, lack of practice is what perpetuates it or if people don't bring it to a person's attention. When speaking it's a little harder to address but when writing a good teacher, educator, parent whomever should point it out. For example, if you begin a letter with informal address (t? vs usted) the entire letter has to follow suit. One should not go back and forth with usage. If in one phrase in the letter venga is used and in the next phrase ven, or cu?date then cu?dese in different sentences it's incorrect. It's either informal or formal address in the same letter throughout.
Just another interesting point about language.
-LDG.
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