Survial Spanish for the Library

I have spent an entire hour with this quick course on Spanish for use in the library. It is excellent. Nothing lasts more than two minutes. You'll need headphones and you should probably also download the pdf file that goes with it. That said, there are a couple of inconsistencies between the print and the audio and one ... incomplete piece of information. The inconsistencies are not of great importance. There isn't a whole lot of difference between "de nada" and "por nada" in saying "You're welcome." The difference is regional, like "y'all" versus "you'uns" or "youse guys." There was another one ... what was is? Oh, saying "se vence" instead of "expira" for a card that has expired. Again, it doesn't make a difference, but if you are following along the printed version while listening to the audio, it might confuse you.

One minor thing I'd like to make clear is that, "Excuse me" in English is used for all sorts of things, but there are two ways to translate that into Spanish and they only show one. And there is a difference. You would say "Disculpe" after you have done something rude (bumped into someone, spilled their coffee, interrupted them). If you are about to do something (trying to get someone's attention who is talking to someone else, trying to pass between people or between someone and a wall, say), you use "Permiso." The former apologises for something done, the latter begs permission to do something.

Let's practice this.

You and your co-workers are chatting and don't notice a patron has walked up. They clear their throat. What do you say, dear?
Desculpe. You were being rude and you are asking for forgiveness (literally it means to take away the fault, as in "culpable").

Someone has asked you to find some information for them, but when you are done, they are talking to someone else. What do you say, dear?
Permiso. You ask permission to interrupt their oh-so-important conversation to give them whatever they asked you for. They should say "Disculpe" to you at this point for ignoring you.

You want to put away some books, but there is a crowd of people in the aisle. What do you say, dear?
To self: Hmm, I'll come back here later.
But, as you turn to go back, you bump into someone. What do you say, dear?
Disculpe. Forgive me for bumping into you.

You are in a big hurry to get from one end of the building to another and there is a whole crowd of people in your way. What do you say, dear?
Permiso. Permiso. Permiso, permiso, permiso, permiso.

Having said all this, we also have to take into account discrepancies between the printed part and our specific library. Our bathroom is not near the entrance. I bet you could construct the proper response from the information given. For instance, in the main branch, the bathroom is next to the circulation desk. Our fines are five cents a day, not fifteen. And you can't take out "as many books as you can carry."

If you only learn, "I will go get someone who speaks Spanish," this will be worthwhile. Unlike the French (and sometimes the Germans*), people who speak Spanish are delighted to hear someone attempt their language and appreciate the gesture. After all, we will only be getting more and more people who speak this, not less.

Besides, it's fun. The fidelity of the recording is so good that you can even hear the speaker's stomach growl. No, really.

*Actually, while the French will roll their eyes and start speaking English at you if you even slightly mangle their language, the Germans will think you're cute, but spend hours working on you trying to improve your German ... while speaking perfect English at you. (Oh, ziss iss a common error of zeh English speaker. Zat verb takes zeh Datiff case ant you haff used zeh Accusatiff. Also, zeh adjectiff iss different if you are using zeh definite article. Here, let uss review ...)