Hola:
In English, the expression is:
"Repeat after me". In español, it is
commonly: "Repita conmigo".
Now, this "repita conmigo" bothers me a lot.
It doesn't make any sense to me at all.
In fact it even defies logic !
Let me explain.
When someone asks you to "repeat after him",
you naturally understand it to mean that he/she
will say something after which you are to repeat
what he/she has just said. So, here we have
a chronology of two successive actions taking
place one after another.
Now, when you ask that someone to "sing
with me" (cantar conmigo), what you want him/her
to do is to sing simultaneously with you. That is,
the two of you both singing together at the same
time, like a duet. So here we have two actions
occuring at the same time, a situation of
sumultaneity.
Therefore when someone asks you en español:
"Repita conmigo", what exactly does that someone
want you to do ? Repeat with him/her simultaneously
what he/she is going to say ? Repeat at the same time ?
How the hell can that be done ?!
Now, you tell me !
Just asking, that's all ! [H]M
In English, the expression is:
"Repeat after me". In español, it is
commonly: "Repita conmigo".
Now, this "repita conmigo" bothers me a lot.
It doesn't make any sense to me at all.
In fact it even defies logic !
Let me explain.
When someone asks you to "repeat after him",
you naturally understand it to mean that he/she
will say something after which you are to repeat
what he/she has just said. So, here we have
a chronology of two successive actions taking
place one after another.
Now, when you ask that someone to "sing
with me" (cantar conmigo), what you want him/her
to do is to sing simultaneously with you. That is,
the two of you both singing together at the same
time, like a duet. So here we have two actions
occuring at the same time, a situation of
sumultaneity.
Therefore when someone asks you en español:
"Repita conmigo", what exactly does that someone
want you to do ? Repeat with him/her simultaneously
what he/she is going to say ? Repeat at the same time ?
How the hell can that be done ?!
Now, you tell me !
Just asking, that's all ! [H]M
Comments
more so if it comes as it does from someone tan guapa
como tu, Aiida.
Anyway, I wasn't really seriously questioning the logic
and correctness of the phrase, as I'm perfectly aware that
idiomatic expressions don't necessarily have to be all that
grammatical or sensible. I wrote the post more as a thought-
provoking item than anything else.
Te agradezco el interés en el post.
Hope to hear from you again. [H]M
Por favor baila conmigo, (si entiendo bien) lo que significa:
bailo de primera yo y entonces bailas tú
Imagine for a moment this futuristic
dialogue between you and me;
— YOU: Ok, Mark, now "baila conmigo".
— ME: What exactly do you mean, Ma'm ?
— YOU: I mean dance after me !
ojo: I would have no problem understanding
what you mean if you happenned to be
my dance instructress !
[H]M
(en español claro) meanwhile dancing the night away together ...