¿Qué tipo de chamba tienen ustedes? (What kind of job do you have?) ¿Habían escuchado la palabra “chambear” antes de esta lección?

¡Hola, Quique!

¡Muschísimas gracias por los comentarios instructivos! That’s some really great insight. Thanks so much for your comments. I think they really shed light on what we’re trying to open the world up to. Also, I think it’s a unique opportunity for other students to hear how you use these words. Parece que eres limeño… ¿me equivoco?

I’ve just recently learned that the verb “chambear” is also used in México. Tienes mucha razón que “una chambaza” is “toil”, it’s a “grueling job”.

I’d also like to point out that “chochera” or “chocherita” could be shortened as well to “choche”. I love that expression. Thanks again for helping to make this interesting!

¡Muchos saludos y que no te pierdas!

Joseph

Quique,

¿Qué tal? That’s an interesting explanation for the origin of the word “chambear”. Do you think it’s accurate? I haven’t found another more believable definition yet, but I’m still looking. You know, this brings out a noteworthy aspect of colloquial language; it is difficult to nail down its origin, since it isn’t “accepted” by the authorities. In any case, the definition at the url you cited is entertaining.

Si se te ocurriera alguna idea para una futura lección peruana me encantaría saberla. Este ciclo nos ofrece la oportunidad de dar a conocer el Perú tal como es. Pues, dime, ¿qué es lo que quisieras que el mundo conozca de tu país?

¡Chaufa!

Joseph

Quique,

De nuevo estoy en deuda por las buenas ideas que nos has ofrecido. Yes, we’ve talked a lot about devoting time to discussing “chifa” (aka. Peruvian Chinese food) and all that is associated with it. Also, transportation is in our plans as well: el bus, el bus cama, micro, combi, taxi, moto taxi, and the phrases associated with these. Also idiosyncrasies like the “regateo”, as you mention, and again, phrases that go along with this, like “cóbrame una china, que sólo voy hasta la izquina”.

Another topic that we’ve been toying with is the “tratamientos” (forms of address), which is so characteristic of Perú, and which is particularly interesting in that they are more often than not endearing and not pejorative: “morenito, -a; negrito, -a; gringuito, -a; chinito, -a; zambito, -a; cholito, -a; flacquito, -a; gordito, -a; pelado, etc.”

With Peruvian Spanish, I don’t think it’s very hard to come up with localisms to explain, mainly because Peruvians, in my opinion, have a lot of character in their speech. Yeah, I do know “nos vidrios” (for “nos vemos”). I also like “de fresa hasta alfonso”; “graciela” ( for “chela”); “lenteja” (for “lento”); among many more.

Another phenomenon I find interesting in Peruvian Spanish is the way that syllables in words are reversed, so instead of saying “japón”, we can say “ponja”; instead of “baño”, “ñoba”; instead of “hotel”, “telo”, etc. Can you think of any more? (I’m sure you can! )

I opened a thread in the forum “All About Spanish” entitled “Peruvian Regional Series”. I suggest we include some of this discussion there as well. Your comments are really valuable to us, as you like all Peruvians know better than anyone the value of what we are doing in this series; and we hope that with your helpful comments and suggestions we can offer our students a course that introduces the world to Peruvian culture and the language which reflects it.

¡Agradeczo tu colaboración!

Joseph