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yardwork

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38. I wish I knew different languages!

Thu Nov 13, 2025, 03:51 PM

Nov 13

I've never been good at any but English.

I will share an amusing experience I had last summer visiting a friend in Biarritz. He was born and raised in Paris but looks like his Jewish Spanish ancestors. We were seated at a sidewalk cafe and I said bonjour to the hostess. She could, of course, immediately tell that I don't know a word of French, but the appearance of my companion in this Basque city threw her off, so she began talking with us in Spanish. My friend is also fluent in Spanish and responded that they could speak either language, all the same to him, but I was going to be clueless in both!

We had a lovely meal. Basque food is awesome.

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Rep. Adelita Grijalva code-switches in first remarks after sworn in [View all] Jilly_in_VA Nov 13 OP

Bi-lingual is the word they are looking for? pwb Nov 13 #1

Code-switching is a well-known part of language/linguistics obamanut2012 Nov 13 #2

I thought code switching Boo1 Nov 13 #5

Agreed... bilingual is a much more accurate word. Shipwack Nov 13 #11

No. Language, dialect, and language style Dear_Prudence Nov 13 #18

I didn't even know it had a name... Hugin Nov 13 #6

Having spoken both English and Spanish all my life, often switching seamlessly from one language to the other sop Nov 13 #20

I've never heard it called code-switching... ananda Nov 13 #33

Code-switching is less about speaking two different languages and more about *how* those languages are spoken WhiskeyGrinder Nov 13 #3

"Adelante, mi gente." Beautiful. chia Nov 13 #4

I was fervently hoping Adelita would speak some Spanish! sdfernando Nov 13 #7

Wait. Do they call it that when Mamdani does it? leftstreet Nov 13 #8

I thought she was speaking Californian. usonian Nov 13 #9

I thought code switching róisín_dubh Nov 13 #10

I think the last time I saw it criticized was when Obama did it speaking at a HBC... vanlassie Nov 13 #34

Been watching Canadian news recently rurallib Nov 13 #12

They switch in and out of French and English all the time, we are used to it. Bev54 Nov 13 #28

She is well named. dobleremolque Nov 13 #13

I have wondered Jilly_in_VA Nov 13 #14

I don't think about it any more. DFW Nov 13 #15

I wish I knew different languages! yardwork Nov 13 #38

I had a somewhat similar experience when I lived in Spain DFW Nov 13 #39

You can go to Okracoke Island to hear Elizabethan! yardwork Nov 14 #43

Yup. OldBaldy1701E Nov 14 #44

I never knew that! yardwork Nov 14 #46

Eaxctly. DFW Nov 14 #48

I haven't heard it called code switching IronLionZion Nov 13 #16

I sure don't see any problem with it. Susan Calvin Nov 13 #17

Never, ever heard 'code-switching' before. In TX, it's often called Spanglish. Torchlight Nov 13 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Nov 13 #22

It also carries a benign connotation Torchlight Nov 13 #23

I tend to use Denglish Old Crank Nov 13 #25

We sometimes do that when it's just my wife and I DFW Nov 13 #40

Yes it is. Old Crank Nov 14 #41

HCR used "code switching" to describe another event LittleGirl Nov 13 #21

My wires are getting crossed. Old Crank Nov 13 #24

As we already know, Wednesdays Nov 13 #26

I wish I knew Spanish. Studied Latin and French in HS. Maybe still time. twodogsbarking Nov 13 #27

Span-gluage Javaman Nov 13 #29

I thought it was absolutely beautiful. byronius Nov 13 #30

The usage of "code-switching" here seems strange to me. Oneironaut Nov 13 #31

She delivered her talk in English and then alternatively translated to Spanish. sprinkleeninow Nov 13 #32

I don't think she translated into Spanish. Ms. Toad Nov 14 #42

lol. ecstatic Nov 13 #35

I have a heart condition. Scared me, thought it meant she switched her EPSTEIN vote! UTUSN Nov 13 #36

Good for her. yardwork Nov 13 #37

Muy bueno! (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Nov 14 #45

Personally, I have no issue with going to 'cityspeak'. OldBaldy1701E Nov 14 #47