AEE 2576: Lindsay's Language Adventure on the Spanish Steps

This is an All-Ears English podcast episode 2576, Lindsay's Language Adventure on the Spanish Steppes. Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American host. hosts Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer. and Michelle Kaplan, the New York Radio Girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, USA.

And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to all earsenglish.com forward slash subscribe. Today, let's find out what a cop said to Lindsay in Italy and why this was slightly incorrect English. Listen in to fine-tune your grammar and vocabulary today. Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking, I could have said that better? You understood everything, but your response came out short, or unclear or not quite like you. Maybe your ideas are strong, but your

Your English doesn't show it yet. You forget words you know, you can't explain things naturally, and fast conversations leave you quietly catching up. That gap can be filled. frustrating, but it's also very specific and very fixable. Our two-minute fluency quiz helps you understand where that gap is and whether your level is B1.

B two or C one? When you know your level, progress feels lighter and faster. Take the quiz now at allearsenglish.com/slash fluency score and move closer to speaking English the way you think. One more time, go to all earsenglish.com Slash F L U E N C Y S C O R E. Hey Lindsay, how are you? Hey, Michelle. Glad to be here. How are you? How's it going?

I'm doing well. Um, so you recently went to Italy and I'm just I'm just curious, where's your favorite place in Italy to visit? Probably Rome is my favorite city in Italy just because

It feels like the most authentic city to me. In terms of touristy cities, let's say. I'm sure there's some dreamy city in some small town that I would love. But Rome is really cool because you know you're just you're taking like a city bus or you're just taking a an Uber or something or you're walking, maybe you're on your way to work and you turn left and there's these

Ancient ruins right there in the middle of the city. It's wild. Yeah. I I love Rome too. I really do. Um and one of my favorite places that when I visited Rome I I couldn't believe how beautiful the Spanish steps were. Like I I was just I could have been there all day. So nice, especially in the evening. And it was gorgeous. Mm. When we were there it was really crowded, I'm not gonna lie.

Yeah. Um a lot of a lot of people on vacation in the week between Christmas and New Year's, right? And so we were around crowds a lot, which is not my favorite thing, but I still the Spanish steps are beautiful and we just took a break and we sat down Right on the steps, right? Um, so we were sitting there for about ten minutes. Um, you know, and a lot of other tourists were also sitting on the steps or sitting on the little blocks of cement next to the steps.

So it seemed like an okay thing to do. We thought we were okay. We were tired tourists, you know, that kind of thing, deciding where to go next. And then a c um a cop, uh a policeman came up to us and said It's not possible. Right? So Michelle, what comes to your mind when you so he said it's not possible and then he kinda gestured for us to move to stand up and kind of walk away or just stand up to not sit there. What comes to your mind when you imagine this scenario?

Like a like kind of confusion and awkwardness because it's not possible. It's it's just it's not uh it it You know, where I guess uh what we would have said is someth is you can't sit here or you're not able to sit here, something like that, rather than just it's not possible. Yeah. Um I will say I really think I sat on the steps and no one bothered me. I don't know.

Maybe things have changed maybe'cause it was so busy and so crowded or I who knows. Maybe I'm wrong. Yeah,'cause I got some nice pictures there. Anyway. Yeah. Um but I but yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Did it feel like a little awkward for you? And I'm really interested in language and I think mo the thing is like We understood and we got up and we walked away. Right. Like we got it. No problem.

But because we're, you know, you and I we're we're linguists here. We love looking at language and making sure our listeners are speaking really accurately in the most clear way possible, we wanna do today's episode on this tiny, tiny mistake. Just so it's really clear.

You know? Because I have a feeling this is another false friend translation, right? From Italian. So the first thing my partner and I said to each other as soon as we got up and walked away, we kinda chuckled a little. We said, actually it is possible because we were just doing it. We were just sitting there. It is physically possible to sit on this step. Yes, that's what that's what's in yes, that's why it's so yeah interesting because yeah, something being possible, it's like

Can it be done? It can be done. It's not is it allowed? There's a difference. Exactly. Exactly. So again, what should the cop have said to us if we were uh not maybe not translating from Italian or if we want to say it exactly correctly, what could we have said? He could have just said, You can't sit here. Right. Exactly. Or if you want to elevate that a little bit and sound more professional, you could say it's not permitted to sit here. So puts that more in the passive voice.

puts a little distance between us and the cop, right? But saying it's not possible is actually incorrect, subtly incorrect, because of course it is possible. We were just doing it for ten minutes, right? Okay, but this reminds me of the whole and we've talked about this before, the can I go to the bathroom or may I go to the bathroom? Right? I think we've talked about this before. You know how kids they always say,

Oh, can I go to the bathroom? Oh, I don't know, can you? Right. And become when adults want them to say, May I, even though I think that's ridiculous because I think it's just conversational to say can I? Anyway. I feel like when I was a kid I heard that snap back. Some adults would snap back to kids when they would ask and I didn't get it. Like I didn't know why the adults were saying that.

Right. It's because yeah, but I get it now, obviously. Right. You've got Lindsay, let me tell you. No, but guys, so it's because can is about ability. So it's the same idea as like if something's possible, well yeah, it's it's possible. I'm doing possible. Yeah, but at the same time.

Don't let that throw you off guys because we do use you know, I go to a restaurant and I order all the time, I s you know, can I have mac and cheese? Right. Oh yeah. Well that's why I think it that's why I think it was so like ridiculous to you know, to pick on Especially to pick on kids about that. It'd be like may I you know I I feel like may I is just kinda antiquated and but yeah. So I I just like ugh this is it's like

I don't know, really picking so at nothing. Nothing. Um anyway, but that's a whole conversation for another day. Guys, we also want to remind you that we have an excellent app that is available on Android, right, Lindsay? It is uh it is available on Android. So guys.

Our app is on Android and I want to call out some listeners who reviewed our app in the Android. Uh thank you to our listener, uh Ritique Roshan. Uh thank you to Peter Sarach. Thank you to Ali Ishag. Thank you to Maid Osaini. Uh Jassan Sidou Maira Warmalinger Lemez. Guys, you all left us some amazing reviews. We super appreciate your reviews. So come on over if you are an app user.

And let us know what you think of the show. Or even if you're just a listener on Apple or Spotify, leave us a rating and review. Tell us what you think of our show. All right. Absolutely. Yes. Thank you so much. Yes. So Yeah. Uh so w we're gonna we're gonna get more into this today. Um yeah, again, maybe maybe you realize, oh, I've said it's it's not possible. Right. So we're gonna talk about, you know, these more natural ways to say

that something is not okay to do. And guys this is part of a series. So today we're focusing on saying you can't do something. Um the second part of the series is gonna be over on the Business English podcast. So if you are not following that, make sure you hit follow. So that you don't miss the next episode in the series. Good. I'm so excited for this series. So important, you know, looking at these subtle translation mistakes where we wanna learn the language.

from the language, the original langu right, from um we wanna learn um in a in immersion m uh sorry, I'm having a hard time speaking today. We wanna learn in an immersive sense. So we're learning directly English through English.

Instead of translating from our native language, because I do think this is where this cop probably got into trouble a little bit. And by the way, like it's only because we are language people, most other people wouldn't worry about it. It's great. But we we're here for you guys.

Yes. Um we want you to feel that you're speaking as accurately as you can for the best connection. Okay. Exactly. So yeah, as we talked about already, one thing the cop could have said was you can't X. So in this case, you can't sit here. Um This is very direct. It's very blunt. Yes. Um, and it's really good for a person of authority to use. So, you know, it be It could sound rude, but this is a cop. He's he's just getting things done. There's a lot of people. You can't sit here, right? Yeah. Um

And it's good for these short interactions. You're on the step, you can't sit here. Yeah, yeah. It it gets a little more complicated if you're with your friends who are at your same level and you're starting to say things like that, right? You can't. Because then you might seem kind of bossy. That sort of thing. But a cop is allowed to sort of say that kind of thing. So here's an example. You can't use these bags without paying for them. Did you bring your own bag?

Mm-hmm. So like when you go in and there's the reusable bags. Yes. Uh, and you're m maybe you don't realize you have to pay for them. Um or you can't use this phone. It's meant for emergencies. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Good. Yeah. So just straightforward, this is the most I guess casual and kind of direct way of saying it, wouldn't you say, Michelle?

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, and the next one was the other one you were talking about, which is a little more formal sounding and um more passive. Um so it's not permitted to sit here or something is not permitted. Mm-hmm. Yeah, going into the passive voice, getting formal, putting distance.

formalities, uh it's not permitted to use your cell phone here, right? So maybe if I feel a little awkward saying this to someone, um If I'm not in a I don't know I don't know, would you say this if you're not in a position of authority? Do you think Michelle? I mean, it feels very fancy I don't know that I yeah, that's the thing is I don't know that I would say this. Right. Um unless I was um I mean, perhaps like in the classroom. I might say, Oh, it's not permitted to use your cell phone.

Um i you know, this is like f really about like a formal rule. I don't know that I would just say if I'm if I'm like okay, like I'm imagining a situation where I'm uh maybe You know, maybe it's it we're like in a like it's like a parade route and there's uh there's like gates up. You know, they put up gates.

um in the street and, you know, you're standing and there's somebody who's trying to get back and you just wanna let them know, like, oh, you're not supposed to right, go be go beyond here. I don't think I would turn to the person next to me and say, Oh, y

It's not permitted, right? Right, right. Good point. Yeah. I think this could be used also if the person of authority feels awkward saying this. It's like kind of hiding behind the rule a little bit, right? Because it is so formal the way you're saying it.

So you're kind of blaming the rule or the law, right? Right. Right. Right. So say someone like it's not permitted to go beyond this line or going beyond this line is not permitted. So you could put it in both uh st right formats, right? Right. Right. Exactly.

Um, and then another one is just you're not allowed to or saying something is not allowed. So you're not allowed to sit in this section. Mm-hmm. Or you're not allowed to enter this area without a ticket. And you hear kids use this, you hear adults use this. It's all over the place. Allowed is a very common word, I think. Yes, exactly. Yeah. New Maybelline series. Okay, and that's not it, Michelle. There's more. So what else? What else can we say?

side. Um, so let's talk about some ways that we might soften this. Yeah. Um, so you could soften this by saying, I'm sorry, but and then give your explanation. So I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to X. I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to sit in this section. It's reserved for premium ticket holders. Yeah, and the interesting thing is Whether you feel the need to soften this or not can depend on, well, number one, personality, but number two, culture.

Right. I mean some cultures are much more rules based. Um and there's less of a need for maybe politeness or saving face. Whereas other cultures really a saving face is very important. So it really it think about your own culture and what you feel would be necessary.

And of course it depends on your position in society, like are you a cop or are you an authority figure? Or are you just talking to someone at your level, like a peer or a family member? Right. There's a lot here culturally speaking, Michelle. Yeah. Oh my gosh, exactly. Or I'm sorry, but uh you're not allowed to use these bags unless you pay for them. They cost one dollar. So going to that bag example. Yes. Oh jeez.

Or I'm sorry, but it's not permitted to sit here. Okay. So here we're using the old structure we just taught our listeners, but we're we're we're making we're softening it a bit, patting it, right? It is only for our premium members. Right. Yes.

Um and another one you could say is um I mean this is really softening it. And you might need to. You might need to use this. I apologize for the inconvenience, but so I apologize for the inconvenience, but it isn't permitted to purchase this at this time. time. Yeah, and uh you might hear this too on from someone coming over a loudspeaker, right? We apologize for the inconvenience, but this line is off limits. This is only for first class passengers.

That kind of thing. Right. Um, I apologize for the inconvenience, but you're aren't you aren't able to purchase more than one bottle of this medication right now. Yeah. Sometimes they have limits, you know, I'm even thinking COVID times uh you know. Um but yeah, saying something like this, let's just highlight this. You aren't able to. You aren't able to. Which is kind of funny because it it is kind of more the it is or isn't possible, right? You aren't able to. Well I

I mean, but it's saying that there's a rule. Like Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. You know what's funny, Michelle? This makes me think of um, do you know where you can learn the most about the politeness culture of a city? Let's just say within the US, the airport security line. Because if you go to Boston Logan, oh man, watch out. They will be complete I can't say the words on the show because we don't swear on the show, but they will be jerks to you.

Yeah. Um, whereas here in Denver, like people are pretty smile at you, right? They'll smile at you, Hey, have a nice day. They don't snap at you. Yes. Um and I I what do you'm very used to the New York airports and even worse. Even worse than they're screaming. And you know, I mean I understand where they're coming from because

It's hard and they're repeating the same thing over and over and people don't hear and there's so many people. Yeah. But you're just it's like it's like you're terrified. Go You really so so We should prepare our listeners if you're traveling to the US. And I'm sure this is probably true around the world too, but I notice it really in the US because we can compare cities and the language that we know exactly.

the language that's being used, right? And there's a stark difference between certain cities, the security lines, entering airports. Super interesting. To to learn about a city. Yeah. Just don't let it get to you. You don't take it personally. In New York, Boston, Philly maybe Just don't Billy was actually I I was surprised. Okay. Um it was kinda like a dream. Everybody was very nice. Good. Okay. Um,

Yeah. I don't know. It's also like the smaller it's a it's it's not I mean, yeah, it's a big airport but it's not quite as big. It's not quite I don't know. I've had a good experience there so far. Also Florida, you know, anywhere in Florida is generally happy. Yeah, they're pretty happy. Maybe it just depends on the amount of sunshine in that city, right? Yeah. Who knows? I wonder if there are studies about this. In LA. In LA I didn't have an issue if people are pretty nice too. So

Yeah, it just but just don't let it get to you. If you're visiting these more gruff uh east coast cities, just don't take it personally. Right.'Cause you are gonna encounter people screaming and people being short with you, but it's not about you. Right. It's about what they're going to do. Like just just like keep on moving it. Don't get offended. Don't get offended. Yeah. Exactly. So but but yeah, I mean and then you know, finally you could also say just like please don't.

Right. And if you're not making that you know, plea please don't um please don't uh speak too loudly i in this library. Right. Exactly. Exactly. So Um, so then let's see. Uh let's do a role play. Okay, Michelle, here we go. So you are working at a museum and I'm visiting this museum. All right. Mm-hmm. Okay, here we go. Um I'm sorry, but touching the paintings is not permitted. Oh, okay, I'm sorry.

And I apologize for the inconvenience, but eating here is not allowed. You can eat in the cafeteria. Oh okay. Thank you. Gosh, I'm ashamed of my museum manners here. Why w why would I be touching a painting? Like who does that? Let me just see how this uh 300-year-old paint feels. Yeah, Lindsay, you gotta really you gotta get it too. Who does that? Who does that? Uh Um, so here, Michelle, you said, I'm sorry, but touching the paintings is not permitted. So here's a can a context where you're

You're a museum attendant. You're probably gonna wanna be a little more polite because you're probably gonna see that person for the next five minutes wandering around the room. It's not a gruff city feeling, right? It's a different so we're dressing it up a little bit with a little more politeness. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so yeah. I'm sorry, but touching the paintings is not permitted. And then what did you say?

Uh well then you said I oh okay, I'm sorry and then I uh yeah, so yeah, right. So then I said and I apologize for the inconvenience, but eating here is not allowed. You can eat in the cafeteria. So I could have also said, uh you're I'm I I I apologize For the inconvenience, but you're not allowed to eat here. That would have been fine too. Yep. So again, you've chosen in this context to be a little bit more polite.

If we were in an airport security line, right, if that were our role play, you may have been a little bit more than a throw away your bottles. No Sometimes I'm so embarrassed for people uh just on both sides that they're being so rude and that they're receiving that rudeness. It's just yeah but again, don't take it personally. Yeah. So

Guys, look out for the second episode in this series. It's going to be over on the Business English podcast. So if you're not subscribed to that, not following it, open your search bar. Type in business English, you'll see our yellow come up, and that is us. So hit follow. All right. Yes. And guys, check out episode 2562.

of the Holler's English podcast that was we're watching your English like a hawk. That was a fun one. Yeah. And for today's takeaway, I mean guys, don't get me wrong. We understood this cop on the Spanish steps. We walked away. He yo, he got the job done. Right. And that is connection on some level. That's what we talk about on that show.

But if we wanna fine tune our English, if you guys are at the C one, you know, B two, C one level and you wanna know if you're making certain translation mistakes, maybe from your native language. or just not saying something quite right, then this is what we're highlighting today. All right. So there are levels of achievement here. But connection can happen even at the basic level. Like connection already happened. We got we left.

Right. We got the job done. Right. Job accomplished. Yes. Good stuff. Yes. All right, Michelle. You have a good rest of your day. I'll see you back on the show very soon. All right. All right. Bye, Lindsay. All right. Bye. Thanks for listening to All Ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two-minute quiz. Go to all earsenglish.com forward slash

Fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. Norwegian presenterar rea på tusentals upplevelser. Rea på tusentals semesterminnen. Titta på simmark. Rea på tusentals biljetter. Norbygen har rea på alla destinationer. Bokan nu på norigen.se.