Jan 29, 2007 21:46
Okay, so I'm working on an exercise in my Spanish book, and the lesson is about the different vocabulary one uses to express the verb "to become." If we are talking about a temporary physical or emotional change, we use the verb ponerse, while if the change is a gradual or sudden permanent personal change, we use the verb volverse, and if the change is physical or fanastic, we use "covertirse en," and so on with a number of different verbs. This is one of those things that everyone always gets wrong on tests because you can never tell which is which. One of those things where you have to have grown up speaking the language or at least have been speaking it for a long time to get right. Like the difference between ser and estar, which can be a downright pain in the ass sometimes, or when to use the imperfect versus the preterite. You get a pretty good idea, but nevertheless use the wrong words all the time.
Anyhoo. I'm looking at number 6, a fill-in-the-blank, which reads, with the answer:
"La fiesta se convertio en una orgia, ya que no habia adultos presentes."
Now, I know exactly what you think that means. And I think you're right- the first meaning of "orgia" listed in my Spanish dictionary is, of course, "orgy." So,
"The party turned into an orgy, since there weren't any adults present."
I'm a little surprised that they used such a sentence. I know orgies can be non-sexual, but for the larger part, when someone says "orgy," you're bound to think of, as some dolt on urbandictionary.com puts it, "a shit ton of people getting together and fucking for the sake of fucking."
In all fairness, the second definition of "orgia" in the dictionary is wildness, disinhibition, so I suppose this could be what they meant. But come on! Who puts that word in a workbook designed to help English-speakers learn Spanish without realizing the first meaning that's going to come to everyone's mind? Hehehe, someone was having a good laugh when they stuck that in there. And I find it amusing, because my perverted mind works that way. I'm going to be snickering about it for days, so I thought I might share. ;)
-Jessica