Day 41: Official Standard for Saving a Place
On a comedy radio show in Mexico City, the host Héctor (A) and three comedians, Estela (B) as a commissioner, Eugenio (C) as an expert and Ivanna (D), the youngest, as a member of the public, perform a sketch about a government panel launching the official standard for saving someone's place in line.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Spanish word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Spanish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
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A
Buenas tardes, radioescuchas. Nos visita la Comisión Nacional de la Fila, que presenta su norma para apartar lugar.
Good afternoon, listeners. We're joined by the National Line Commission, which is presenting its standard for saving places.
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B
Por este conducto, la suscrita hace del conocimiento de la ciudadanía que la norma surtirá efecto el lunes.
The undersigned hereby informs the public that the standard shall come into force on Monday.
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A
¿Y por qué una norma, comisionada? En México apartamos lugar desde que se inventó la tortilla.
And why a standard, Commissioner? In Mexico we've been saving places since the tortilla was invented.
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B
Por el abuso: conforme al artículo tercero, se podrá apartar un lugar, a condición de que no llegue la tía con los primos de Toluca.
Because of abuse: under Article Three, one place may be saved, on condition that the aunt doesn't show up with the cousins from Toluca.
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C
Como perito, añado: el único objeto válido para apartar es el suéter; la piedra y la cubeta quedan fuera de norma.
As an expert, I would add: the only valid object for saving a place is a sweater; stones and buckets fall outside the standard.
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A
¿Y el suéter solito, doctor? Mi señora lo deja en el banco y vuelve a las tres horas.
And a sweater all on its own, Doctor? My wife leaves hers at the bank and comes back three hours later.
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C
Según el reglamento, siete minutos, a menos que el ciudadano acredite fehacientemente, con ticket, que andaba en otra fila.
Under the regulations, seven minutes, unless the citizen can provide irrefutable proof, with a receipt, that they were in another line.
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D
Disculpen: si en el INE hay un suéter formado, ¿le pregunto al suéter si es el último?
Excuse me: if there's a sweater waiting in line at the ID card office, do I ask the sweater if it's the last one?
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B
Afirmativo, ciudadana. Si no le contesta, se levanta un acta con copia para el suéter.
Affirmative, citizen. If it doesn't answer, an official report is filed, with a copy to the sweater.
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D
¿Con copia para el suéter? Perdón, ya me ganó la risa: en mi colonia las reglas las pone la de las tortillas.
A copy to the sweater? Sorry, I can't keep a straight face: in my neighborhood, the rules are made by the tortilla lady.
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A
Ya la oyeron: la comisión propone y la de las tortillas dispone. Ahorita regresamos, siempre y cuando no nos ganen el lugar.
You heard her: the Commission proposes and the tortilla lady disposes. Back in a sec, as long as nobody takes our place.
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