By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
Older adults who’ve spoken two languages since childhood have a distinct cognitive edge over their monolingual peers, according to a new study.
Previous studies have shown bilingualism seems to favor the development of heightened mental skills. The new research, published in Neuroscience, provides evidence
Jugar de vivo is an idiomatic expression that is used frequently in Costa Rica. Pasarse de listo is a synonym and is heard more in other Latin American countries. So what do these two phrases mean? Basically, “to be too smart for one’s own good.” They can also be translated as shrewd, clever, cunning, astute, a know-it-all
According to Hamel’s Bilingual Dictionary of Mexicanismos (Mexican Spanish) the word chingadera means trash or nonsense. During my youth when I was living and studying in México in the 1960s I became familiar with this term and most of its uses.
(1) Chingadera
Esta tienda vende puras chingaderas. This shop sells nothing but crap or trash.
Quita
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
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
