It happens that when we travel abroad jetlag ain´t the only thing that disorients us. There are a bunch of other factors that we, as travellers (and hence as passers-by), are affected by, let alone the currency change.
One of these factors has to do with meals: each language has its own mealtime schedule and its own way of referring to meals, even though it´s obvious that there are equivalents. Take for instance the Spanish word “desayunar”, which is quite clear and eloquent if we break it down. “Desayunar” means “to have breakfast” in English (“breakfast” is clear too); note that, just like what happens to many other cases in English, we have to use the verb “to have” followed by a noun to express the action of eating after a night´s sleep (preferably before 10 a.m., please). Take what happens in Portuguese: we have the noun “desjejum” (as far as I know, this noun is mainly used in Portugal as in Brazil I´ve always heard “café da manhã”) but we have no derivation when we want to utter the action; instead, we have the construction “tomar o café da manhã”, as if breakfast consisted only of coffee (nothing further from the truth since Brazilian breakfast is quite a flavorsome experience). French is somehow funny (look this word up in the dictionary, it has several meanings) when it comes to naming the first meal of the day; the construction is alike (V + NPh) those mentioned earlier: “prendre le petit-déjeuner” (it can be used the verb “déjeuner” though). The funny part is “le petit-déjeuner”, which literally means “the little breakfast/lunch” (bear in mind that according to the number of croissants you have it may not be so little). After breakfast we have lunch, naturally… or not so naturally.
There is this relatively new word (at least for me) “brunch”, a portmanteau term made up of “breakfast” + “lunch”. In Argentina, where I´m from, there isn´t an equivalent at all, although I reckon this very same word (untranslated) is used in snobbish social meetings. When I first came to Spain I was told of the Spanish “almuerzo”, which occurs between breakfast and lunch and differs from my almuerzo since for me it means “lunch”… voilà, I´ve found an equivalent for “brunch”! In Catalunya the term “esmorzar” doesn´t mean “to have lunch” but “to have breakfast”, then it´s kinda tricky for its similarity with the Spanish term “almorzar”. Gee, talking about meals made me realize it´s almost noon and I haven´t had my newly beloved “almuerzo” before almorzar, so I leave you with these words; hope they trigger some thoughts… I gotta flee, see you!
One of these factors has to do with meals: each language has its own mealtime schedule and its own way of referring to meals, even though it´s obvious that there are equivalents. Take for instance the Spanish word “desayunar”, which is quite clear and eloquent if we break it down. “Desayunar” means “to have breakfast” in English (“breakfast” is clear too); note that, just like what happens to many other cases in English, we have to use the verb “to have” followed by a noun to express the action of eating after a night´s sleep (preferably before 10 a.m., please). Take what happens in Portuguese: we have the noun “desjejum” (as far as I know, this noun is mainly used in Portugal as in Brazil I´ve always heard “café da manhã”) but we have no derivation when we want to utter the action; instead, we have the construction “tomar o café da manhã”, as if breakfast consisted only of coffee (nothing further from the truth since Brazilian breakfast is quite a flavorsome experience). French is somehow funny (look this word up in the dictionary, it has several meanings) when it comes to naming the first meal of the day; the construction is alike (V + NPh) those mentioned earlier: “prendre le petit-déjeuner” (it can be used the verb “déjeuner” though). The funny part is “le petit-déjeuner”, which literally means “the little breakfast/lunch” (bear in mind that according to the number of croissants you have it may not be so little). After breakfast we have lunch, naturally… or not so naturally.
There is this relatively new word (at least for me) “brunch”, a portmanteau term made up of “breakfast” + “lunch”. In Argentina, where I´m from, there isn´t an equivalent at all, although I reckon this very same word (untranslated) is used in snobbish social meetings. When I first came to Spain I was told of the Spanish “almuerzo”, which occurs between breakfast and lunch and differs from my almuerzo since for me it means “lunch”… voilà, I´ve found an equivalent for “brunch”! In Catalunya the term “esmorzar” doesn´t mean “to have lunch” but “to have breakfast”, then it´s kinda tricky for its similarity with the Spanish term “almorzar”. Gee, talking about meals made me realize it´s almost noon and I haven´t had my newly beloved “almuerzo” before almorzar, so I leave you with these words; hope they trigger some thoughts… I gotta flee, see you!
