Comments on: Manolito Gafotas

By: david carmona

david carmona — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:09:14 +0000

The first part is just a silly meaningless ditty that leads to the rhyming “colleja”. A “colleja” is a slap on the nape, normally after sneaking up from behind the victim. Depending on your relationship with that person, the purpose can range from a playful greeting to a friend, as a laugh, to an act of bullying if done repeatedly and mockingly.

By: George

George — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:45:54 +0000

any idea how to translate
“Taran tarateja… Taran tarateja … Colleja. Colleja. “

By: Aida

Aida — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:35:30 +0000

Hi to all fans of Manolito
Manolito is a great hero in his own world. He is nice and lovely but naughty child.
The writer’s stile and imagination is really great to make this attractive story with highly affective words out of usual life of a usual boy.
I love you Manolito

By: david carmona

david carmona — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:46:26 +0000

Well, the truth is that “sardinilla” cannot be translated into English, since it’s culturally unique. A translator would just put it in italics and explain it in a footnote.
The meaning of the term is explained in the text; it’s in brackets right after it appears. However, I don’t think you can quite picture it unless you’ve seen someone perform it before. You’re supposed to approach the “victim” from behind, raise your hand, and then drop it as fast as you can in a whip-like manner so that your knuckles brush very quickly down the victim’s bum. Oddly enough, you can do this to friends and foes alike, although the response you get from them will be very different, since the procedure is quite painful for the receiver. Oh, and bear in mind that performing “sardinillas” becomes quite unfashionable after the age of 12-14.

By: George Meagher

George Meagher — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:31:22 +0000

How should I translate sardinillas ?

By: david carmona

david carmona — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:41:48 +0000

You guessed it right!

By: George Meagher

George Meagher — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:34:14 +0000

I’m guessing “la tía” in the second line means something like “the old hag” rather than “the aunt”?

By: Adir Ferreira

Adir Ferreira — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:31:39 +0000

And in Mexico they also use “señito” as a diminutive of seño.

By: david carmona

david carmona — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:22:22 +0000

“Sita” is childspeak for “Señorita” (referring to a teacher). Another common way for children to refer to their female teacher is “Seño”.

By: George Meagher

George Meagher — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:22:22 +0000

The first line of the story reads:
El otro día, la sita Asunción entró en clase con una noticia muy grande que darnos.
What is “sita”?
I have asked Spanish speaking friends from Mexico, Puerto Rico and Peru. None of them have any idea.