They always say Spanish is a very rich language and it is. But so it´s English! You can´t really say which one more expressive. It´s just a different approach.
What I found is that the English language is practical, descriptive and concise. They don´t say: I´ll send you an email but I'll email you. They don´t send you a text (they text you), they don´t look up something in Google (they Google something). In English, less is more. With less words they say more.
Spanish is more vague and discursive, more flexible. We use more words to say what we want, some of them, very often adding little or none sense at all. We also say things like: pass me that, that is there, without saying what or where we´re talking about and what´s more! Our recipient understands us. Because Spanish is like that. We are laid-back and so is our language and that the way you are able to say whatever you want to say, just need to make small changes with the ending of the words or just make one up for the occasion et voilá! And yes, you´ll be understood.
English people, they are more practical and concise, and that´s why Spanish speakers miss their language in certain situation. Some times what you want to say is not expressed in the same way in English, and especially at the beginning it´s difficult because you feel like you are not saying exactly what you mean.
I, as a Spanish speaker, find gaps in the English language to express certain things. Things I want to express in English and I can´t do it, because they don´t have the words to express it exactly. For example when somebody is a pain and is making you ,nervous, we say: ¡qué pesado!. And your whole mouth is filled with relief. Well, in English you can say somebody is a nuisance or a pain but...,sorry not enough!
Also when somebody wants to say somebody is un poco borde. You can say he´s mean or impolite but that´s not it! I mean it´s not that bad. You can say he´s not friendly but, come on! That sounds cheesy! And it´s in moments like these when you realize, they are different languages, that represent a different mentality and culture. And that´s when you realize that, even though there are a lot of what I call real friends between Spanish and English, you can´t translate from Spanish when talking in English. You have to actually think in English. And that it´s something that can only be accomplish by going abroad, living in English, and THINKING in English.
My advice: try this, think in English when talking to yourself, when thinking about what you have to do, when you get home or what you have to say to that person,...If you are living abroad it´s more probable that this is happening already. It may be weird at the beginning but I assure you, it helps a lot!
It´s important to learn to speak in English like an English person does. That´s why they always say you can´t translate because yes, probably 50% of the times, you´ll be understood but the aim is to achieve the best English command you can.
Also the sense of humour is different. While English humour is black, sharp, corrosive, smart, elegant. Some times you won´t realise you´ve been dropped a hint until you get home and go over the conversation again. Spanish humour, it depends of course of the part of Spain,but usually funnier, warmer, complacent.
But not all is different! Somethings in which Spanish and English are alike, and I really like that, are idioms. We both have them. Many of them are exactly the same:
There are plenty of fish in the sea.
Some are different in form but the bottom is the same:
When in Rome, do as the Romans: Donde fueres haz lo que vieres.
And some are different and genuine: The elephant in the room.
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