The
Spanish are very fond of inventing new words. More than neologism, they
often literally pick up an English word, chop half of it off and add
half of a Spanish word to make a new one. I am used to it now, but when I
first moved here I had to learn a whole lot of new expressions as well
as words, so as to understand them and to be understood. Not much point
looking up the dictionary as they are more often than not unlisted. The
older generation anyway don't seem too familiar with English, but this
aspect is changing fast, for both the young and the not so young, since
more and more people are using computers in recent years.
Even so, what they can't remember to say or write in English they tend to use the part they can remember and add that to the Spanish equivalent, simply dropping half of it to make room for the English addition. In the case when that method doesn't work too well, then they just invent a brand new word instead, but looking or sounding like English!!
For instance: footing - jogging, bicing - bicycling, etc. Or the very confusing one to the English speaking people, when Free Buffet means Self Service, not you can eat gratis.
Recently what is being talked about nearly more than anything else is ecofatiga, which is really Eco-fatigue. Meaning ecology is so much the present day theme or topic that people are getting tired or bored with it. I am. I think I am capable of being mindful without being told by all media every single day what I should and should not do.
Apart from those subjects already been debated upon, discussed over and over, rules and regulations set up and revised hundreds of times, on about as that many changes, we are being reminded day after day every kind of continuous recommendations of how to be a good citizen. Use bicycle instead of car whenever possible, don't leave the room without switching off the lights, unplug all electrical appliances and television when not actually in use, travel by train instead of by air ... and in Spain now with the draught, take shower and not bath, and only when absolutely necessary (!? like when you begin to smell bad?).
Even toilet paper has become a focal point of serious discussion. Only very recently the BBC gave this news: " To help towards improving the environment, the well known singer Sheryl Crow proposed that a norm should be practiced by all not to waste toilet paper, that "just one little square (sectioned line marking) should be used each time except, during such 'molesting occasions' when 2 or 3 are necessary." I refuse to ponder what Sheryl Crow's 'molesting occasions' are, but I can't help visualizing an inspector placed in each toilet to ensure that such a recommendation is dutifully complied!
Tags:Neologism,Ecofatigue,Environment
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