English US » Spanish | 40 [forty] | Asking for directions

40 [cuarenta] Preguntando por el camino

Excuse me!	¡Disculpe!
Can you help me?	¿Me puede ayudar?
Is there a good restaurant around here?	¿Dónde hay un buen restaurante por aquí?
Take a left at the corner.	Gire (usted) a la izquierda en la esquina.
Then go straight for a while.	Siga entonces derecho un trecho.
Then go right for a hundred metres / meters (am.).	Después vaya a la derecha por cien metros.
You can also take the bus.	(Usted) también puede tomar el autobús.
You can also take the tram.	(Usted) también puede tomar el tranvía.
You can also follow me with your car.	(Usted) también puede simplemente conducir / manejar (am.) detrás de mí.
How do I get to the football / soccer (am.) stadium?	¿Cómo hago para llegar al estadio de fútbol?
Cross the bridge!	¡Cruce el puente!
Go through the tunnel!	¡Pase el túnel!
Drive until you reach the third traffic light.	Conduzca / Maneje (am.) hasta que llegue al tercer semáforo.
Then turn into the first street on your right.	Después tuerza en la primera calle a la derecha.
Then drive straight through the next intersection.	Después conduzca / maneje (am.) recto pasando el próximo cruce.
Excuse me, how do I get to the airport?	¿Disculpe, cómo hago para llegar al aeropuerto?
It is best if you take the underground / subway (am.).	Mejor tome (usted) el metro.
Simply get out at the last stop.	Simplemente vaya hasta la última estación.

Fast languages, slow languages

There are over 6,000 languages worldwide. But all have the same function. They help us exchange information. This happens in various ways in every language. Because every language behaves according to its own rules. The speed with which a language is spoken also differs. Linguists have proven this in various studies. To this end, short texts were translated into several languages. These texts were then read aloud by native speakers. The result was clear. Japanese and Spanish are the fastest languages. In these languages, almost 8 syllables per second are spoken. The Chinese speak considerably slower. They speak only 5 syllables per second. The speed is dependent on the complexity of the syllables. If the syllables are complex, speaking takes longer. German contains 3 sounds per syllable, for example. Therefore it is spoken relatively slowly. Speaking quickly does not mean, however, that there is a lot to communicate. Quite the opposite! Only a little information is contained in syllables that are quickly spoken. Although the Japanese speak quickly, they convey little content. On the other hand, the "slow" Chinese say a great deal with a few words. English syllables also contain a lot of information. Interesting is: The evaluated languages are almost equally efficient! That means, he who speaks slower says more. And he who speaks faster needs more words. In the end, all reach their goal at about the same time.