Stranguage #2

Spanish and English share many cognates, making it not so impossible to learn the Spanish word "imposible." Occasionally I'm struck by how deep the cognate connection runs. A few examples:

1. The "second" item in a list is el segundo. One of the stranger things about "second" is why it also refers to that constantly tick-tocking unit of time, a second, which in Spanish is likewise referred to as a segundo.

2. In contrast to left, English employs the word "right." We also use it to refer to someone's legal entitlements, like his right to remain silent, and their rights to a screenplay. Derecho is the word in Spanish: meaning, yet again, a right turn, a right to bear arms, and all rights reserved. Occasionally languages include some poorly thought out phrases: when giving directions, telling someone to proceed derecho often means they should continue straight (!), a useage I considered absurd until I realized the confusion that should follow when being told to "go right ahead!"

3. If my mother ordered me to get dressed, she would be surprised if I exited my room in an actual dress. (That is, if past performance is no indicator of future activity) She would be fairly content, however, if I appeared in any other style of dress. In other words, dress refers to a specific female garment, all forms of clothing, and the state of not being nude - being dressed. I once wondered why, of all the clothes in our dresser, single piece flowy attire was selected as metonym. Once again, Spanish follows suit, with vestido referring to that which careless men occasionally call a skirt, to all clothes in general, and to the condition of wearing a garment.

Hmm!