Phrasebook

em In the discotheque   »   es En la discoteca

46 [forty-six]

In the discotheque

In the discotheque

46 [cuarenta y seis]

En la discoteca

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Is this seat taken? ¿Es---li--e-es-- s--la? ¿____ l____ e___ s_____ ¿-s-á l-b-e e-t- s-l-a- ----------------------- ¿Está libre esta silla?
May I sit with you? ¿----o--enta-me-en-su m-s-? ¿_____ s_______ e_ s_ m____ ¿-u-d- s-n-a-m- e- s- m-s-? --------------------------- ¿Puedo sentarme en su mesa?
Sure. P-- -u--esto. P__ s________ P-r s-p-e-t-. ------------- Por supuesto.
How do you like the music? ¿--- -- pare-- -a m-s-ca? ¿___ l_ p_____ l_ m______ ¿-u- l- p-r-c- l- m-s-c-? ------------------------- ¿Qué le parece la música?
A little too loud. Un-p--o -e--siad----t-. U_ p___ d________ a____ U- p-c- d-m-s-a-o a-t-. ----------------------- Un poco demasiado alta.
But the band plays very well. Pe-o--- gru----o-a -uy bi-n. P___ e_ g____ t___ m__ b____ P-r- e- g-u-o t-c- m-y b-e-. ---------------------------- Pero el grupo toca muy bien.
Do you come here often? ¿Vi-n-----ted- -u-ho---- -qu-? ¿_____ (______ m____ p__ a____ ¿-i-n- (-s-e-) m-c-o p-r a-u-? ------------------------------ ¿Viene (usted) mucho por aquí?
No, this is the first time. N---é--a--- la-p--mer- vez. N__ é___ e_ l_ p______ v___ N-, é-t- e- l- p-i-e-a v-z- --------------------------- No, ésta es la primera vez.
I’ve never been here before. Yo n-nc--h--í- estad- a-uí-a--es. Y_ n____ h____ e_____ a___ a_____ Y- n-n-a h-b-a e-t-d- a-u- a-t-s- --------------------------------- Yo nunca había estado aquí antes.
Would you like to dance? ¿B---a? ¿______ ¿-a-l-? ------- ¿Baila?
Maybe later. Ta----z --- -ar--. T__ v__ m__ t_____ T-l v-z m-s t-r-e- ------------------ Tal vez más tarde.
I can’t dance very well. N- ba-----u--bien. N_ b____ m__ b____ N- b-i-o m-y b-e-. ------------------ No bailo muy bien.
It’s very easy. Es-m-y fác-l. E_ m__ f_____ E- m-y f-c-l- ------------- Es muy fácil.
I’ll show you. Yo-le ---e--. Y_ l_ e______ Y- l- e-s-ñ-. ------------- Yo le enseño.
No, maybe some other time. N-- ----r---------o--s---. N__ m____ e_ o___ o_______ N-, m-j-r e- o-r- o-a-i-n- -------------------------- No, mejor en otra ocasión.
Are you waiting for someone? ¿Es--r---us---)-a -l--ien? ¿______ (______ a a_______ ¿-s-e-a (-s-e-) a a-g-i-n- -------------------------- ¿Espera (usted) a alguien?
Yes, for my boyfriend. Sí--- mi ---i-. S__ a m_ n_____ S-, a m- n-v-o- --------------- Sí, a mi novio.
There he is! ¡Y----tá -quí! ¡__ e___ a____ ¡-a e-t- a-u-! -------------- ¡Ya está aquí!

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Genes influence language

The language we speak is dependent on our ancestry. But our genes are also responsible for our language. Scottish researchers have come to this conclusion. They examined how English differs from Chinese. In doing so they discovered that genes play a role, too. Because genes influence the development of our brain. That is to say, they shape our brain structures. With this, our ability to learn languages is determined. Variants of two genes are crucial to this. If a particular variant is scarce, tonal languages develop. So tonal languages are spoken by people without these gene variants. In tonal languages, the meaning of words is determined by the pitch of the tones. Chinese is included in the tonal languages, for example. If this gene variant is dominant, however, other languages develop. English is not a tonal language. The variants of this gene are not evenly distributed. That means they occur with differing frequency in the world. But languages only survive if they are passed down. In order to do this, children must be able to imitate the language of their parents. So they must be able to learn the language well. Only then will it be passed down from generation to generation. The older gene variant is the one that promotes tonal languages. So there were probably more tonal languages in the past than there are today. But one mustn't overestimate the genetic components. They can only add to explaining the development of languages. But there isn't a gene for English, or a gene for Chinese. Anybody can learn any language. You don't need genes for that, but rather only curiosity and discipline!
Did you know?
Thai is a member of the Tai-Kadai language family. It is the native language of 20 million people. In contrast to most western languages, Thai is a tonal language. In tonal languages, the pronunciation of syllables changes their meaning. Most Thai words consist of only one syllable. A word takes on a different meaning depending on the pitch in which a syllable is spoken. Altogether Thai distinguishes between five pitches. Thai society was strictly divided over many centuries. As a result, Thai still recognizes at least five different levels of speech today. These range from a simple vernacular to a very polite form of speech. Furthermore, Thai is divided into many local dialects. The language's semiotic system is a hybrid of an alphabet and syllabic writing. The grammar construction is not very complex. Because Thai is an isolating language, there are no declensions or conjugations. Learn Thai - it is really a fascinating language!