Now that is one hell of a good idea. Maybe we should contact the new Secretary of Education and suggest that. Does not have to be run by the government, private sources could contribute some prizes and away we go, but I've heard that the powers that be don't mind that the status quo remain.:ermm:
- Thread starter Princesa777
- Start date
writing skills of Dominicans
Now that is one hell of a good idea. Maybe we should contact the new Secretary of Education and suggest that. Does not have to be run by the government, private sources could contribute some prizes and away we go, but I've heard that the powers that be don't mind that the status quo remain.:ermm:
There was some sort of international spelling contest held in the DR recently, in the last few months IIRC. Guess who won!?
Estudiante RD gana VIII Concurso Hispanoamericano de Ortograf?*a*
Thanks Rosa for info. I did some research and yes a Dominican was among four students to co-win the first prize. What I find interesting is that the Dominican winner An?bal Santill?n, attends el colegio cat?lico Nuestra Se?ora del Sagrado Coraz?n de Jes?s, de La Romana. Not part of the public school system. What's needed is a homegrown national spelling bee contest that takes place on an annual or more frequent basis. Article below......
Estudiante RD gana VIII Concurso Hispanoamericano de Ortograf?a
link was originally posted by Chirimoya
Estudiante RD gana VIII Concurso Hispanoamericano de Ortograf?a
link was originally posted by Chirimoya
Keep in mind that is not only " obscure, rarely used, scientific" words that average Dominicans can't spell correctly, those are the ones that are usually used in spelling bees.
It's the easy, everyday speech words, such as "
gente, vaca, helado, etc, etc.
I don't think is really that hard to know where to place the "b,v,c,z" and the "h" where they belong. :tired:
A little reading everyday of a well proof-read publication will do.
Question: What does it take to become a "teacher' in the DR Public Schools"???
Answer: Buy the "textbook" you are going to "teach" from, go to the school you are going to 'teach" at for a 4-6 week study period. Take an exam on the subject material and YOU'RE IN!!!
Question: Why don't the"teachers give out "homework assignments" in Public Schools???
Answer: Why bother when it will be the parents who answer the questions and work the problems for their children. (this was the answer I got from the Public School Superintendent when I asked this question.
Just those two Q&A's were/are enough to give a failing mark to the DR Public School System in my book.
Texas Bill
Answer: Buy the "textbook" you are going to "teach" from, go to the school you are going to 'teach" at for a 4-6 week study period. Take an exam on the subject material and YOU'RE IN!!!
Question: Why don't the"teachers give out "homework assignments" in Public Schools???
Answer: Why bother when it will be the parents who answer the questions and work the problems for their children. (this was the answer I got from the Public School Superintendent when I asked this question.
Just those two Q&A's were/are enough to give a failing mark to the DR Public School System in my book.
Texas Bill
This to the OP:
Forget about the regular Dominican population's writing skills. Have you ever read the Dominican newspapers online? They are full of gramatical errors and some of the headlines make me laugh out loud! I have a notebook next to my computer where I write down some of the better ones like: "Se recuperan dos suicidas." Roughly translated, it means that two people who committed suicide are getting better..!!! You would think that they have proofreaders and or a supervisor who approves what is printed, but no. So, keep those headlines coming!
Forget about the regular Dominican population's writing skills. Have you ever read the Dominican newspapers online? They are full of gramatical errors and some of the headlines make me laugh out loud! I have a notebook next to my computer where I write down some of the better ones like: "Se recuperan dos suicidas." Roughly translated, it means that two people who committed suicide are getting better..!!! You would think that they have proofreaders and or a supervisor who approves what is printed, but no. So, keep those headlines coming!
We must remove this from the context of the Dominican Republic. This is an international phenomenon. This happens in the US, Europe and the rest of Latin America. This is partly due to the loss of the writing arts.
What do I mean? Rarely are we forced to write, so we don't practice. Everything is email and text messages so rarely are we forced to practice proper writing skills. When was the last time anyone wrote a letter and sent it through the post office?
How many people know how to properly write a letter? Other than college, when was the last time you wrote something for pleasure or not business related?
For those of you who have children, have you ever seen a text message from your kids? : "U wnt 2 cm ova 2 mi krib 2 wach tv nd it sum fud? Lol, jk...nah meen?"
Even in college, at universities in the US, teachers are accepting short hand on essays and papers.
For god sakes, let's look at posts from DR1 members in general. Let's exclude foreign speakers and you will notice that not even native English speakers can write properly in their own language. (Note from me: This is not a condemnation of anyone in particular or meant to insult anyone. This comment is not directed at anyone.
Part of it is reading. When you read you expand your abilities to write.
Part of it is the way you learn the language. Most people, in this case, are auditory. So if it sounds "right" then most people think its "right."
Part of it is the the quality of education (public and private) have decreased in the last 20 years
Part of it is laziness on the part of writers, teachers, parents etc.
Part of it is indifference.
And part of it is the fact that bad habits ( in learning) are passed down from generation to generation.
Look at the newspapers, as was stated earlier, or the fact that parents with low quality skills impress upon their children the same bad habits.
Have you ever read a Dominican newspaper? It's a joke, but since most "Dominicans" don't read anything beyond the newspaper then they are stuck within this cycle.
Still, this problem is global. How many kids do you know in the US who go to the library instead of reading a book. Not many since they just sit around getting fat, playing X-box.
As per language skills, which goes hand in hand with writing, Dominican Spanish is a horrid interpretation of the language. I cringe most times when I hear Dominicans speak. Have you ever heard our politicians speak? Mejia, Maldonado? But in defense of Dominicans it's not as if they are inherently dumb or don't have the mental capacity to speak or write properly. But what can you expect when we only dedicate one half of 1% of our GDP to education. Chile spends, on average 2% to 3% of their GDP on education, as does Costa Rica.
Just my opinion.
Mr. Lu
What do I mean? Rarely are we forced to write, so we don't practice. Everything is email and text messages so rarely are we forced to practice proper writing skills. When was the last time anyone wrote a letter and sent it through the post office?
How many people know how to properly write a letter? Other than college, when was the last time you wrote something for pleasure or not business related?
For those of you who have children, have you ever seen a text message from your kids? : "U wnt 2 cm ova 2 mi krib 2 wach tv nd it sum fud? Lol, jk...nah meen?"
Even in college, at universities in the US, teachers are accepting short hand on essays and papers.
For god sakes, let's look at posts from DR1 members in general. Let's exclude foreign speakers and you will notice that not even native English speakers can write properly in their own language. (Note from me: This is not a condemnation of anyone in particular or meant to insult anyone. This comment is not directed at anyone.
Part of it is reading. When you read you expand your abilities to write.
Part of it is the way you learn the language. Most people, in this case, are auditory. So if it sounds "right" then most people think its "right."
Part of it is the the quality of education (public and private) have decreased in the last 20 years
Part of it is laziness on the part of writers, teachers, parents etc.
Part of it is indifference.
And part of it is the fact that bad habits ( in learning) are passed down from generation to generation.
Look at the newspapers, as was stated earlier, or the fact that parents with low quality skills impress upon their children the same bad habits.
Have you ever read a Dominican newspaper? It's a joke, but since most "Dominicans" don't read anything beyond the newspaper then they are stuck within this cycle.
Still, this problem is global. How many kids do you know in the US who go to the library instead of reading a book. Not many since they just sit around getting fat, playing X-box.
As per language skills, which goes hand in hand with writing, Dominican Spanish is a horrid interpretation of the language. I cringe most times when I hear Dominicans speak. Have you ever heard our politicians speak? Mejia, Maldonado? But in defense of Dominicans it's not as if they are inherently dumb or don't have the mental capacity to speak or write properly. But what can you expect when we only dedicate one half of 1% of our GDP to education. Chile spends, on average 2% to 3% of their GDP on education, as does Costa Rica.
Just my opinion.
Mr. Lu
The biggest problem with Spanish spelling at its most purist form is, that it is flawed at its most basic form. Why is "mensaje" spelled that way instead of "mensage"? With a "j" instead of a "g"? That, to me, shows that the "Real Academia de la Lengua Espanola" knows absolutamente nada about spelling Spanish the right way.
Are you sure the one who knows nothing about spelling is the Real Academia de la Lengua Espa?ola? :cheeky:
Sorry, I had to ask. The temptation was too much.
-NALs
Thank you for that one liner NALs - I'll keep that for future usage in the 'Polls Forum' if I may!! :cheeky:Sorry, I had to ask. The temptation was too much.
-NALs
~ Grahame.This to Stodgard:
Good for you! Believe what you want, especially those online translators which some of my students use when I ask them to write a composition in English. They really do the trick!
Good for you! Believe what you want, especially those online translators which some of my students use when I ask them to write a composition in English. They really do the trick!
S
sokitoumi
Guest
I have noticed a snag with google translate (well several actually) one is that it doesnt seem to know the past preterite tense of a lot of verbs- some strange things come up
Also, none of the "free" translators handle contractions very well. Especially Alta-Vista, tho it does a fair job ordinarily with staight English to Spanish and vice-versa. I use it a lot with instructions to my three boys.
Texas Bill
Texas Bill
LatinoRican:
I am not a language expert, but am just getting my information from what I have heard in many tv programs in spanish. For example, "en un acto suicida, el individuo se lanzara de los mas alto de el precipisio (sp?) y caera al vacio solamente siendo sujestado por una cuerda" something like that.
In your opinion, what is the word in Spanish for Suicidal? or what do you call a person in spanish, that tried to commit suicide and failed.
Also, I went to the RAE official website and looked for the definition of the word suicida.
(Voz formada a semejanza de homicida, del lat. sui, de s? mismo, y caedĕre, matar).
1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo al suicidio.
2. adj. Dicho de un acto o de una conducta: Que puede da?ar o destruir al propio agente.
3. com. Persona que se suicida. U. t. c. adj.
In analyzing the definitions I noticed that number 2, contains more or less the definition for suicidal. My analysis could be wrong though.
The phrase "dicho de una conducta" I translate it as saying 'said of a conduct (behavior)'. Suicidal is a type of behavior. Also, the phrase "que puede da?ar or destuir al propio agente" I translate as saying "that could break or destroy the own person". When someone does not succeed in a suicide attempt, in a way, that person is said to be broken and need fixing (psychiatric help).
This is why I think the word "suicida" as used in the phrase you complaint about "dos suicidas se recuperan" is correct.
I am not a language expert, but am just getting my information from what I have heard in many tv programs in spanish. For example, "en un acto suicida, el individuo se lanzara de los mas alto de el precipisio (sp?) y caera al vacio solamente siendo sujestado por una cuerda" something like that.
In your opinion, what is the word in Spanish for Suicidal? or what do you call a person in spanish, that tried to commit suicide and failed.
Also, I went to the RAE official website and looked for the definition of the word suicida.
(Voz formada a semejanza de homicida, del lat. sui, de s? mismo, y caedĕre, matar).
1. adj. Perteneciente o relativo al suicidio.
2. adj. Dicho de un acto o de una conducta: Que puede da?ar o destruir al propio agente.
3. com. Persona que se suicida. U. t. c. adj.
In analyzing the definitions I noticed that number 2, contains more or less the definition for suicidal. My analysis could be wrong though.
The phrase "dicho de una conducta" I translate it as saying 'said of a conduct (behavior)'. Suicidal is a type of behavior. Also, the phrase "que puede da?ar or destuir al propio agente" I translate as saying "that could break or destroy the own person". When someone does not succeed in a suicide attempt, in a way, that person is said to be broken and need fixing (psychiatric help).
This is why I think the word "suicida" as used in the phrase you complaint about "dos suicidas se recuperan" is correct.
I was not going to get into this, but here goes..."Se recuperan dos suicidas" translates into, "Two people who committed suicide get better or recuperate" whichever you prefer. If, instead, it had said, "Se recuperan dos fallidos suicidas." or "Se recuperan dos de intentos suicidas" it would mean that two people who had tried to commit suicide are getting better or recuperating. The term 'suicidal' translates 'suicida' in Spanish as an adjective as in: un acto suicida, un plan suicida, un pensamiento suicida; but 'dos suicidas' are two dead people no matter how you look at it!
By the way, to whoever reads this post: In Spanish, a person who commits suicide is referred to as "el suicida" or "la suicida." Is there an equivalent term in English? The suicider? The suicidee? I don't think so, but that's only me....
By the way, to whoever reads this post: In Spanish, a person who commits suicide is referred to as "el suicida" or "la suicida." Is there an equivalent term in English? The suicider? The suicidee? I don't think so, but that's only me....
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From another Spanish dictionary. WordReference.com Diccionario de la lengua espa?ola. Read the last line of the definition.
suicida
adj. Del suicidio o relativo a ?l:
fantas?as suicidas.
Hecho arriesgado,imprudente o que da?a a quien lo realiza:
su descuido de la salud es casi suicida.
adj. y com. [Persona] que se suicida o lo intenta:
los m?dicos practicaron un lavado de est?mago al suicida.
Also from the Puerto Rican paper El Nuevo Dia headline
"Se rinde una ni?a suicida"
La joven, de 13 a?os, llevaba un chaleco de explosivos sobre su cuerpo que no quiso detonar. Fotogaler?a y v?deo.
according to the Puerto Rican paper the girl is alive and kicking and she just committed suicide, according to your definition.
suicida
adj. Del suicidio o relativo a ?l:
fantas?as suicidas.
Hecho arriesgado,imprudente o que da?a a quien lo realiza:
su descuido de la salud es casi suicida.
adj. y com. [Persona] que se suicida o lo intenta:
los m?dicos practicaron un lavado de est?mago al suicida.
Also from the Puerto Rican paper El Nuevo Dia headline
"Se rinde una ni?a suicida"
La joven, de 13 a?os, llevaba un chaleco de explosivos sobre su cuerpo que no quiso detonar. Fotogaler?a y v?deo.
according to the Puerto Rican paper the girl is alive and kicking and she just committed suicide, according to your definition.
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http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicida
El suicidio: Evoluci?n hist?rica
"Las antiguas civilizaciones sacralizaron la muerte, la domesticaron, queriendo restarle dramatismo e integrarla en un sistema de ritos y creencias que ten?an por objeto convertirla en una etapa m?s del destino, por ello, rechazaban y condenaban el suicidio: el cuerpo del suicida era castigado, arrastrado por el piso, y no ten?a derecho a ser sepultado en la Iglesia... solo en el caso del soldado vencido que se suicidaba por honor, o de otras formas de suicidio como el duelo."
El suicidio: Evoluci?n hist?rica
"Las antiguas civilizaciones sacralizaron la muerte, la domesticaron, queriendo restarle dramatismo e integrarla en un sistema de ritos y creencias que ten?an por objeto convertirla en una etapa m?s del destino, por ello, rechazaban y condenaban el suicidio: el cuerpo del suicida era castigado, arrastrado por el piso, y no ten?a derecho a ser sepultado en la Iglesia... solo en el caso del soldado vencido que se suicidaba por honor, o de otras formas de suicidio como el duelo."