Thread: sobre la lectura y "prestar atención"

leí un artículo muy interesante en el diario La Nación (Buenos Aires, Argentina) sobre la lectura y un libro de Juan Sasturain ("Ver para leer"), del cual les extraigo unas oraciones (va una reflexión propia debajo):

"(...) leer es en cierta medida un laburo. Hay que ponerse. Dejar de hacer otras cosas (todas, en general) y leer, prestar atención a un texto, una voz escrita que nos habla a todos y a cada uno que abre el libro.

Es curioso cómo se dice: la atención se presta. Uno no la regala ni la vende sino la presta. Y para prestar hay que tener confianza, algo que se gana, como pasa con los amigos. Y lo de los amigos sirve como modelo, porque si bien leer es un laburo, como lo son la amistad y el amor, sin ir más lejos, también es -sobre todo- un placer, un gustazo que nos damos."

se pueden hacer varias reflexiones, pero la primera tiene q ver con nuestro oficio, y qué interesante que la traducción de "prestar atención" sea en inglés "pay attention"... ¿no les parece? ¿por qué será la diferencia? ¿alguien se anima a teorizar? (como ejercicio, quizá encontremos otros pares de "collocations" extraños...)

Originally Posted by Frank van den Eeden

in French : faire attention / prêter attention
faire : to make
prêter : to lend

in Dutch : aandacht schenken
schenken : to give

in German : Beachtung schenken
schenken : to give

it’s only the English who have to PAY !

Yes, and if you don't PAY attention, you get Attention Deficit Disorder!

Those are interesting quotes! The English expression definitely makes it sound like giving someone/something your attention is an obligation instead of an invitation but there are also nicer and more eloquent ways to say it I especially liked the second quote!

I think you are being too strict with your definition of "to pay". In English pay can mean to give or to render as in "pay attention", "pay respects", or "pay compliments". It can also mean to make as in "pay a visit". It is also a nautical term where to pay means to let the ship turn or fall off leeward. None of these meaning address obligation, debt, or compensation which are more regularly associated with the word.

I don't mean to reprove but in this forum we must have a broad understanding of the variety of meaning a word can convey.

Best Regards,

Joel

Joel, the idea was exactly the opposite... we all know there's great variety and we all LOVE to get into almost "philosophical" debates about the meanings of certain phrases. I have no doubt we're all very broadminded. And no one is attacking the English language: WE LOVE LANGUAGES! We just enjoy pointing out the differences... for the sake of discussing!

So, don't reprove and don't deny us our pleasures, Joel, please!!!
;-)

Originally Posted by lauracipolla

Joel, the idea was exactly the opposite... we all know there's great variety and we all LOVE to get into almost "philosophical" debates about the meanings of certain phrases.

Exactly the point, just for the sake of it.

I think it is the first meaning of "pay" which comes to mind when we think about pay attention for example.

In all other languages it is give (as a present) like in German and French prestar in Spanish, we do not think of money, but of giving something for free and as a present.

This is definitely a philosophical point of view. I , we, know that pay has many meanings.

Originally Posted by El Detective

I think you are being too strict with your definition of "to pay". In English pay can mean to give or to render as in "pay attention", "pay respects", or "pay compliments". It can also mean to make as in "pay a visit". It is also a nautical term where to pay means to let the ship turn or fall off leeward. None of these meaning address obligation, debt, or compensation which are more regularly associated with the word.

I don't mean to reprove but in this forum we must have a broad understanding of the variety of meaning a word can convey.

Best Regards,

Joel

I don't think I expressed myself quite clearly. The expression in itself does not imply obligation, but the choice of "pay" as the verb to express the idea is an odd choice which is what I think Laura was getting at with her comment regarding the use of "prestar" in Spanish and "pay" in English.

Hi gang newbie here,
While it is true that in the United States the term indeed is pay attention, the jolly old folks over the pond at Great Britain use the term "take note".
I hope I am not adding fuel to the fire but there is a difference in what English we refer to.

Originally Posted by ignaciolarrucea

Hi gang newbie here,
While it is true that in the United States the term indeed is pay attention, the jolly old folks over the pond at Great Britain use the term "take note".
I hope I am not adding fuel to the fire but there is a difference in what English we refer to.

Being a Brit living in the US I get to see both sides of these linguistic conumdrums.
Actually as I see it the two are actually different
"Pay attention" In the UK: basically a general order, like in an unruley classroom. In America: "you better listen up people"
"Take Note" In both countries it's really just advise, i.e. take note, this part is important.