The Language Chronicles: El Choro Lingüístico 💬

Ever wondered what makes a house feel like home? Mexicans and Brazilians responded to online posts asking "What's one thing that can't definitely be missing from a Brazilian (or Mexican) house?" and the responses were not just informative, but also fun! Picture this: from the seldom used "horno" (oven in Spanish) doubling as storage for pots and a new pack of saltines to the omnipresent "rodinho" (little squeegee in Portuguese) in every Brazilian kitchen, these insights unveil the essence of daily life in these vibrant cultures. Whether it's the ever-present "salsa Valentina," the sacred tortillas and "farofa" (Brazilian toasted cassava flour), or the dreaded Brazilian "chuveiro elétrico" (electric shower that often scares Americans), each item highlights cherished traditions, quirky essentials, and the unmistakable vibrancy that gives life to households. Dive into the heart of Mexican and Brazilian homes with this

[This article has clickable sound files in blue.] Historically in Spanish, there is a difference between the sound for "y" as opposed to "ll" , which still exists in several pockets in the Andes highlands (most of Peru and Bolivia, parts of Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina) ,  Guaraní speaking areas like Paraguay , some parts of  northern and rural Spain , and the Philippines , usually among older Spanish speakers . In these places, "ll" is realized as /ʎ/ - calle, llamarse, valle . This is the minority sound in Spanish that is still current in standard Catalan (filla) , Portuguese (filha) , and Italian (figlia) . The consonant "y" in Spanish is pronounced in a variety of ways, with [ʝ̞] , which is similar to English [y] , being the most widespread sound outside the Southern Cone . For [ʝ̞] , the tip of the tongue doesn't rest almost relaxed behind the bottom teeth like in English  [y] . Instead, when the back of the tongue gets close

« Tal vez », « Quizá(s) », « Puede ser »/« Puede que », « A lo mejor », « De pronto », « Igual (y) », « Chance y », « Capaz   (que)» ,  De repente » All of these essentially mean the same thing - maybe , but here are some observations for each: « Tal vez » is your standard way to say maybe, and it's used in all parts of the Spanish speaking world. The one-word version, «talvez», is not incorrect, but not as common as the two-word version. Most natives think the only correct form is «tal vez». Tal vez no sepan que me encantan los espárrago s . « Quizá(s) » is also used in all countries and just bit more formal than «tal vez». People tend to use «quizá» before a word starting with a consonant ( quizá para ella significa/signifique mucho ) , and «quizás» with words starting with a vowel ( quizás a mí no interesa/interese much o ), but this is certainly not a rule. Literature, especially older literature, tends to favor «quizá(s)», so it does have that "perhaps" f

Yesterday at the #FAUBAI Conference 2019 in Belém, Brazil, UDEM (Universidad de Monterrey) gave a presentation on the programs they have for refugees. Under their umbrella, they have programs for the typical refugee from Syria (from the perspective of American eyes although the presenter is was M) among others, and it was interesting to hear that even our brothers from Syria with war-torn countries have concerns about the crime rate in Mexico when deciding to come live here (I'm writing as if I was in Mexico now).  When the presenter started talking about those of Mexican descent who were taken to the USA as children, and then how they were supported through a scholarship called ReconoceR, I couldn't help to feel weird as we (returnees and deportees)  were being discussed as the subject of study in a presentation at an International Education Conference. I don't even know if I'm trying to make a point here, but I felt:  1. A huge disconnect being now an International Ed

I shared my story with a senator (about the DREAM ACT) over his website, which I want to share with everyone on my Facebook account: I lived for 10 years in the USA, from the age of 12 to 22. Then I moved to Mexico (I left by my own will) knowing that I was not going to be able to come back soon. Still, I took the chance and finished my major in Mexico because I couldn't in the USA (even with a scholarship). I then won another scholarship (while in Mexico) to do my MA in Applied Linguistics at Georgia State University. While I was doing my major, I applied for and got a VISA to visit my relatives who still live in the USA, undocumented. I do not wish this last part to be shared publicly (on TV or radio, I meant in the original message), as I fear that my relatives will be deported. I have a brother who could have benefited from the DREAM Act, but he is being deported as we speak. He is now in Atlanta and will be deported in a couple of weeks, even though he arrived to the USA when