Archive for the year 2008
100 Years of the Japanese in Brazil: Part II Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 16, 2008
Today, we’re going to look at the second half of the list of Japanese influences in Brazilian culture, since this year is the centennial of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in Brazil. There are now 1.3 million people of Japanese descent all over the country, with the largest concentration in São Paulo. Let’s…
The New Bondinho Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 15, 2008
Last week, the city government unveiled the new bondinhos (cable cars) at Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. The new cable cars are part of a city-wide face lift in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. The bondinho system was constructed in 1913, and has undergone several major renovations since then. The latest one cost…
Brazilian Profile: Zé Carioca Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 12, 2008
This year, Zé Carioca turns sixty five, but he hasn’t aged a bit. That’s because he’s a Disney cartoon who was wildly popular in Brazil for years. During World War II, Walt Disney and his team traveled to South America with the official purpose of finding new cartoon characters, and with the real purpose being…
Translating Idiomatic Expressions: Part III Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 11, 2008
We’re going to continue our discussion of idiomatic expressions, using this humor site as a source. The idea is to show the dangers of translating word for word instead of understanding the actual meaning behind the expressions. 1. Ela é cheia de nove horas. She’s full of nine o’clock. This expression means a person is…
I Messed Up Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 10, 2008
There are a few ways to say “I messed up” or “I made a mistake.” Here they are: 1. Pisei na bola. [Pee-zay nah boh-lah] This expression literally means “I stepped on the ball.” In reality, it means “I made a big mistake.” Eu esqueci meu passaporte em casa, mas só reparei agora no aeroporto…
100 Years of the Japanese in Brazil: Part I Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 9, 2008
This year marks the centennial of the arrival of the first boat of Japanese immigrants in Brazil, which started a wave of immigration. Brazil is now the home of the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Let’s take a look at the legacy of the Japanese in Brazil to see how they’ve contributed to Brazilian…
Cabine Cornofônica Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 8, 2008
Leopoldo Buosanti Neto, owner of the bar Boteco Brasil in São Paulo, noticed that his clients would often run outside when they received phone calls, since many didn’t want their spouses to know where they were–especially the male customers. So he invented the Cabine Cornofônica, an English-style telephone booth that produces different sounds meant to…