Visual Link Spanish(TM) Newsletter - Volume 6 Issue 16

Current # of Subscribers: 165,741

This issue:
1. Testimonial
2. Words of the Week
3. Ask Dave Section - Verb Module Question
4. Culture Lesson - “Health!, Money! and Love!”
5. Responses to Past Newsletters

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Visual Link Spanish(TM) Testimonial –
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Hola!

I knew when I found your web site on the Internet that this program
was going to be just what I was looking for. I have just finished up
the first section of Basic Needs and I am looking forward to the
remainder of the lessons.

We have a large Hispanic population in our area now and I thought it
would be an interesting and fun challenge to learn their language.

I have also heard that learning a new language is good for the mind,
especially in our senior years. I never dreamed at my age I could
ever learn another language, but you have made that possible. I’m
really enjoying it and amazing myself!

The lessons are wonderful and so well put together. I like the
gradual introduction to the mechanics of the language as well as
listening to the Spanish being spoken so that I can actually hear how
it is to be pronounced. I also like the fact that I can go at my own
pace and at my own leisure.

Thanks for a great program and Happy New Year!

Hasta luego!

Elizabeth Johnson

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Words of the Week
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Taken from our complete CD-ROM course —–

Monday / I want / (Yo) Quiero
Tuesday / He wants / (Él) Quiere
Wednesday / She wants / (Ella) Quiere
Thursday / You want / (Usted) Quiere
Friday / to buy / comprar
Saturday / meat / carne
Sunday / fruit / fruta

Click Here to login and access your free membership and lessons.
http://www.learnspanishtoday.com/login.phtml

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The Official “Ask Dave” Section —–
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Question

Hola Dave,

I’ve learned so much since I began studying from your program. I’ve
even purchase the add on verb module which is just awesome…

I … have a question in regards to “las personas vs. la gente”, are
these two words interchangeable as well as “volver vs. regresar”?

I’m waiting to hear from you soon.

Thank you,

WJLS

Answer

Hola WJLS,

Thanks for the feedback. To answer your question about “las personas”
vs. “la gente”. They are basically interchangeable although in many
cases “gente” is preferred. There is a slang/idiomatic phrase that
people use a lot with “gente” that they never use with “las
personas”. It is used to say that a certain person (only one) is a
good/great person. To say “He is a good/great person”, you would say
“El es buena gente” and to say “She is a good/great person” you would
say “Ella es buena gente”. Interesting eh?

Also - “volver” and “regresar” (which mean “to return”) are
interchangeable

Hopefully that answers your question.

Gracias,

Dave

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Culture —– Health!, Money! and Love!
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Every culture in the world, that I know of, values “Health”, “Money”,
and “Love” If any of you subscribers out there know of a culture that
doesn’t value one of these items, I’d love to hear about it.

These three words used together form a very small part of Latin
American culture, but in a way you might not have guessed. They are
said when someone sneezes! If you sneeze once, Latin people say
“Health!” If you sneeze a second time, they say “Money!” and a third
sneeze in a row brings “love!”

I have allergies and when I sneeze, I usually sneeze about 6 to 7
times in a row! I usually catch Latin people off-guard because after
“Health!”, “Money!” and “Love!”, they run out of things to say.

Sometimes the Latin people will just say “Health!” and forget the
rest. However, many are eager to wish you all three: “Health!”,
“Money!” and “Love!” when you sneeze.

You might think it sounds a little strange to say “Health!” when
someone sneezes, but if you think about it, it makes a lot more sense
than what we say in English — “Bless you!”. The word “bless” in the
dictionary, means “to consecrate by religious rite or word”. It’s
almost as though we’re trying to bless someone religiously when they
sneeze. The Spanish version makes lot more sense to me; you are
wishing someone good “Health” so they can get better and avoid more
germ-filled sneezes. So, why do they add “Money” and “Love”? I’m not
quite sure, but if you wish someone “Health”, you might as well add
“Money” and “Love” and offer them a complete package!

Just remember, one sneeze = Health - “Salud” [saw-lood]. Two sneezes
= Money - “Dinero” [dee-neh-row]. And, a third sneeze = Love - “Amor”
[Ah-more].

Now for the interesting part for me, I would love to know what people
around the world say when someone else sneezes. Please e-mail and let
me know.

Moral of the Story: This week’s topic is a fun little cultural phrase
that people say. Be daring and try it out the next time you hear a
Latin person sneeze!

Sneak peek at next week: “Don’t Waste Your Food - All Parts of the
Cow!!?”

¡Hasta luego! (”Until later”)

David S. Clark — President / Director
Visual Link Spanish(TM)
Fun, Interactive Spanish Courses
http://www.learnspanishtoday.com
dave_c@learnspanishtoday.com

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Responses to Past Newsletters
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David et al,

Granted, pronunciation is important, but here in Southern Spain -
Andalucia - it is a tangled mess !! The more you lisp the more you
are accepted. Last summer in the US, I off-handedly said thank you
and see you later to an hispanic sales clerk the same way I address
citizens here and got a facial expression that defies translation !
…. It was like I insulted him. Here, it seems the faster you speak
with a good-ole “southern lisp”, the more they love you. And when you
slur/droop off either the beginning or ending of words or some
phrases, they smile warmly. Pronunciation is important, but
miserating trying to enunciate ONE way has diminishing returns. Most
important is simply “trying” to speak their language - they love it.

RSC.

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