English As She Is Spoke: Being a Comprehensive Phrasebook of the English Language, Written by Men to Whom English Was Entirely UnknownIn 1855, when Jose da Fonseca and Pedro Carolino wrote an English phrasebook for Portuguese students, they faced just one problem: they didn't know any English. Even worse, they didn't own an English-to-Portuguese dictionary. What they did have, though, was a Portuguese-to-French dictionary, and a French-to-English dictionary. The linguistic train wreck that ensued is a classic of unintentional humor, now revived in the first newly selected edition in a century. Armed with Fonseca and Carolino's guide, a Portuguese traveler can insult a barber ("What news tell me? All hairs dresser are newsmonger"), complain about the orchestra ("It is a noise which to cleve the head"), go hunting ("let aim it! let make fire him"), and consult a handy selection of truly mystifying "Idiotisms and Proverbs." |
Common terms and phrases
â súa algúma Balaam bêm bôa bôca cabeça cáça câda câma cása cego certo côm CÔM ÚM comédia Cômo côusa Dái-me âu dê-me dênte depréssa díga díga-me dinheiro díz dous Élla Elle English éssa está Estamos êste fálla fáz senão fazêis francêz french language frúcta gato Geoffrey Pyke homem Ísso lhê máis mão Mark Twain mêsa mêsmo múito n'ísso náda Novo Guia Núnca ô mêu ô sêu olhos Ônde one's ôu â ôu Vm pânno pâra Parêce-me párte PAUL COLLINS PEDRO CAROLINO pêlo phrasebook póde pôdre pôr porquê Portuguese portuguese language posso primeira prômpto quêm quên quér sábe sêde senhor sêu Sím Sôis tál tell têm têmpo Têndes Tênho tinha tôda tôdo ô told tomár tóme túdo úma Vâmos vêr vestido vêzes visinho vomitory Vós vóssa ôu súa vósso