Category: Language

Obama Talks to Pánfilo: It’s not Que Bolá, It’s Qué Bolá. Qué Lío

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ObamaPanfilo

Oh yes!

Before his historic (and hysterical) trip to Havana, Cuba, President Obama called Luis Silvia (aka Pánfilo), a retired, not-too-bright Cuban man who plays a (subtle) satire of how Cuban people often have to use their wits to escape the poverty and absurdity of life in modern communist Cuba.

In a video of the skit posted by the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Pánfilo ends up getting connected directly to Obama in the Oval Office only to be tangled up in the whole Qué bolá (or is it Qué bóla?) thing.

Watch, anyway, and let’s discuss this tomorrow. This blogger is too “Bolá” to make any more sense tonight.

Bud Light Banner Ad in Spanish Features Amy Schumer, Seth Rogen and Bad Grammar

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budlight2Dear people of Budweiser:

While I appreciate your efforts to peddle bad, watery beer to my people (i.e. The Hispanics,) your advertising agency would be well-advised to plunk down a few pesitos to hire ME some Spanish-speaking person to at least — AT LEAST — proofread your stuff.*

Perhaps the folks that worked on the above banner would want to use Google Translate instead, which I’m sure is what you guys did to translate this other thing (below).

 

*DM me for details

Bernie Sanders en Español: Progresivo [sic], Honesto… and the Spanish Subjunctive is a Bitch

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Bernie Sanders Hispanic Spanish campaign
I believe they meant: ‘Quiero que votes por este hombre’

Bernie Sanders this week launched a new campaign ad in which we hear the Senator speak some Spanish at the end.

While saying “Soy Bernie Sanders y apruebo este mensaje” is not a very difficult thing to say and have him practice, Bernie’s Hispanic campaign — and Bernie’s supporters — would be well advised to take a better look at their Spanish-language print and online copy.

Take the above promo by a Bernie Sanders advocacy group, which perfectly shows what many non-native Spanish speakers have known for years: The Spanish subjunctive is a bitch.

Oh… and DON’T get me started on “Progresivo” por favor.

UPDATE: This blog post was updated on Sunday February 21, 2016 to reflect the promo is not an official Bernie Sanders ad, but one created by advocacy group Women for Bernie.

Hillary Clinton Makes Good on Her Promise to Be our Abuela

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hillary

Making good on her promise to be the savior of my people and assume the role of our abuelas, Grandma Clinton has released Brave, a new 60-second spot in which we see her reassuring a young girl who says her parents are going to be deported.

“My parents have a letter of deportation,” the girl says. “I’m scared they are going to be deported.” Clinton then calls the girl on stage and tells her that she’s going to do everything she can to help her.

WATCH and do not try to hold back tears, because I guess that’s what we’re supposed to do upon seeing this thing.

Have fun. Have sex. Beware of HIV — and faulty marketing in Spanish

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Prep

It’s always great to see New York City spend money in communicating useful stuff to Spanish-speaking New Yorkers (there are tons of us, you know?) but it should be well advised to work a little more on their Spanish-language marketing copy.

Take the print ad above (seen at a my local bar in West Harlem) talking about the all too important PrEP, a daily pill also known as Truvada, that helps high-risk individuals lower their chances of getting infected with the HIV virus. While the overall message is kind of understood (I hope) the NYC Health Department might want to work on its Esté VIH E ITS Seguro copy, which last time I checked meant absolutely nothing.

That said, stay safe neoyorquinos: Have fun BUT, more importantly, remember to protect yourselves from HIV and bad Spanish.

Photo: Laura Martínez, Harlem

‘Better Caul Saul’ to Feature Mariachi Band Singing About Lawyers, Cojones and Avocados

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'Yo soy Saul; el amo y señor de los abogados, mis cojones son tan grandes como los avocados'
‘Yo soy Saul; el amo y señor de los abogados, mis cojones son tan grandes como los avocados’

Are you a fan of Better Caul Saul?

If so, you’d better get ready for Yo soy Saul, a catchy mariachi tune AMC has chosen to tease the upcoming Season 2 of the Breaking Bad spin-off.

Why a mariachi? Well, per Viewpoint Creative:

AMC was looking for a conceptual way to tease the second season of their critically acclaimed show, Better Call Saul. […] The spot needed to reflect the ‘crossroads’ theme, get returning fans excited, and create intrigue for those who hadn’t yet tuned in.

And, what better than a mariachi band singing about cojones, lawyers and avocados to do just that?

WATCH (below) and let me know what you think and/or if you need help understanding the lyrics.

Hat tip: @CableKent

Miss Colombia Loses Miss Universe Crown, Hilarity Ensues

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MissC

Sunday night Miss Colombia was crowned Miss Universe at the Miss Universe pageant for, like two seconds…. Turns out the crown was actually for Miss Philippines but host Steve Harvey read the cue card wrong, and then everything went to hell for la colombiana — and for Harvey himself.

Here are some of the first memes of the night (they keep coming so make sure to come back) and scroll down for a video of what went down Sunday night.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

WATCH:

 

Because the Colombia-Not-Columbia Blunder is so Passé…

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Well, at least it doesn't say 'Columbia.'
Well, at least it doesn’t say ‘Columbia.’
Having mastered the art of writing “Colombia” when it meant to write “Columbia,” The New York Times via The Associated Press has decided to move onto yet another Latin American-themed, Spanish-language mixup.

So, as I was saying: #ItsManuelNotManual*

Just like #ItsColombiaNotColumbia

Hat tip: @tropicarlitos

It’s a Hollywood Miracle! Chile’s 33 Rescued Miners Speak Fluent English

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We’re trapped; we’re poorly paid… but hey, we’re bilingual!’

In August 2010, 33 Chilean miners were trapped 700 meters underground and about 5 kilometers from a mine’s entrance in Copiapó, Chile, where they remained for an agonizing 69 days until the 33 of them were rescued, alive and almost all in good medical condition.

So far so good.

Enter Hollywood, a clueless Mexican director and an enthusiast crowd of subtitle-intolerant Americans. The result: The 33, a film directed by Patricia Riggen, a Mexican-born director whose dubious credentials include La misma luna, a movie I saw, so that you don’t have to.

I am not going to bother you with details behind The 33, simply because A) I have not seen it; B) I have no intention of doing so and C) I think there are many things you could do with those $13 instead (there are some killer happy hours out there.)

In addition, according to my sources, the trama takes place in English, because as we all know, the poorly-paid, poorly-educated mining workers of Copiapó are fluent in the language of Shakespeare, with heavy accents if you will (thus the presence of Antonio Banderas) but still…

Watch. Cringe. Do NOT repeat.

The 33 is opening nationwide Nov. 13 but you don’t have to see it. Do yourself a favor and READ THIS INSTEAD.

Google Translate Welcomes you to the ‘Clitoris Festival’

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Certainly NOT clitoris
Certainly NOT clitoris

Well, this was awkward.

Officials in the small Galician town of As Pontes wanted to invite Spanish-speakers to a festival celebrating one of its culinary traditions, the grelo or rapini (aka as broccoli rabe.)

But, since apparently nobody in the 11,000-town spoke any Spanish, festival organizers turned to Google Translate.

The result?

The town’s “Feria do grelo” or rapini festival – held every year with tastings and awards for the best grelos – became “Feria clítoris” in Spanish.

“The translated announcement read: The clitoris is one of the typical products of Galician cuisine. Since 1981 … the festival has made the clitoris one of the star products of its local gastronomy.”

 

 

Excuse me?

Wow. Who thought Galicia could be so much fun?

Via: The Guardian