A rose by any other name may still smell as sweet, but if the name is said with an accent, there are unexpected complexities that are being unraveled now by scientists. And understanding these complexities may be of value to foreigners living in a country where the principal language is not their own.
Expats may notice that as they talk to Costa Ricans
Salonero – waiter
¿Puedo ver el menú? – May I see the menu
¿Puede recomendarme algunos platos? – Can you recommend some dishes?
¿Cuál es la especialidad de la casa? – What’s the special?
El plato del día – The daily special in Costa Rica
¿Qué clase de… tiene? – What kind of
Bakery: La panadería
Book store: La librería
Barbershop.: La peluquería
Beauty parlor: El salón de belleza (Salón de fellaza in jest)
Butcher shop: La carnicería
Candy store.: La confitería
Corner grocery store: La pulpería (CR) also called “la pulpe”
Department store: Tienda por departamentos
lacra – a thief or person with a bad reputation. Los políticos no parecen lacras, pero tenga cuidado con ellos, porque muchos lo son. Politicians don’t always look like bad guys, but be careful, because some of them truly are.
largarto – literally means lizard but in Costa Rica
As many bilingual individuals know, their abilities to speak two or more languages fluently is like hosting several persons within the same body.
One study shows that even infants born to bilingual mothers exhibit preferences for both languages because they heard both while in the womb.
Another study shows that bilingual speakers can focus better on
