In a Manner of Speaking: Lost in Translation

No, this isn't about the movie (Poor Bill had to stand with all those Asians...) Anyway, this is about literally losing what you mean when translating. I speak some spanish (Mi espanol es muy mal!) and I remember the rules that go with it.

It's funny to go to mexican restaurants and realize they speak poor english. There's a local one (and perhaps my favorite) that has this really funny sign up on their buffet. However, it isn't REALLY funny unless you know enough spanish. The sign reads:

Attention! To take cheese in bowl from buffet is bad. You charged on receipt 3.95!

Now I'm sure some of you are laughing at how funny it looks, but those of you who speak spanish know why it looks like this. Time for a quick foreign language lesson!

Verbs in spanish have to be conjigated (yes, i realize that isn't a word, but i also realize this is MY POST!) So what does this word that isn't really a word mean? Spanish verbs are ALWAYS "to" something. Admirar, to admire. Echar, to throw. Then there are MILLIONS of others. They have two seperate ones for certain things, such as "to divorce" and "to be divorce (from someone)".

Bottom line, who cares? It is funny, and they think so too when we butcher their language, but it's nothing to mock them over. Just realize this: One day you could be talking about a mexican right in front of him. Then he walks up to you and politely says, "Have a good day, sir." Wouldn't wanna be you!!