To Get: A Language Lesson

One of the classes I am taking this semester is called Translation Through Film and Theatre. Apart from getting the opportunity to translate some pretty awesome screenplays, such as Annie Hall and American Beauty (pass the asparagus), I get to compare the grammatical nuances of English and Spanish, which, for me, is fascinating. What really captured my attention was the difference between the two languages regarding the simple verb to get. Ok, perhaps it isn't that simple of a verb considering it has a plethora of uses--in the English language. Observe:

to get (an object)

to get (a concept)

to get (a person)

to get into

to get out of

to get on

to get off

to get up

to get down

to go get

You get the general idea. While, in English, to get serves as your best friend, in Spanish there is a different verb for each to get phrase I listed. For your enjoyment and personal vocabulary lesson:

to get (an object)-coger, obtener, conseguir, recibir

to get (a concept)-comprender, entender

to get (a person)-recoger

to get into (physically)-meterse, entrar

to get out of-salir

to get on-subir

to get off-bajar

to get up-levantarse

to get down-agacharse

to go get-ir a buscar

The interesting thing is that while English seems to recycle more verbs than does Spanish, translating colloquial English phrases becomes considerably more wordy in Spanish when you throw in all the necessary articles, prepositions, and direct object pronouns that can sometimes make you tear your hair out. For example:

now that I think about it-lo cual ahora que lo pienso

kind of-en cierta manera

to grin and bear it-poner al mal tiempo buena cara

to fly away (to escape)-largarse volando

and what about me-y qué pasa conmigo

Perhaps my examples do not prove my point as much as I thought they would, but take my word for it! After translating Z's opening speech in Antz, the Spanish version was mucho más* longer.

*much, way more