Author: Xavier (Page 4 of 5)

    Multiple phrases translated in English mean completely different words in the Spanish context. One such word is “Hurry Up and Take Your Time.” The literal and the implied meanings of the word differ in the community depending on the tone and context of speech whereas if you were to translate it into Spanish the context would be different. Besides, if the word is used in the normal English language, the meaning is transformed and could mean so much more . Since childhood, my grandfather has used the phrase so many times, that only people that have stayed in the community long enough can understand the diverse contexts of the phrase. Whereas the phrase implies a simple meaning in English, it bears different context meaning, the way my grandpa uses it, and the correct interpretation depends on the pronunciation and context. The key contexts of use include sending someone and expecting them back soon, sending someone and asking them to go in a rush, and instructing someone to rush to the destination but take their time to execute the intended task. Understanding each of the key contexts helps you get a better idea of how the phrase could be used. 

     One of the contexts of use involves sending someone and expecting them to arrive back soon. Its use is relevant when a person is sent to accomplish some tasks within a set deadline quickly. The task must hold urgency and require the messenger to institute quick measures to relay the message quickly. The pronunciation differentiates the context of the word, making it apparent for the listener to interpret the desired context. For instance, my grandfather would speak the word faster as a parting shot while sending someone to a given destination and my grandpa was famously known for saying it this way, like there would be times where I would tell my grandpa that I’m going to friends house and he would say “hurry up and take your time I need something from the store”. Most of the time I would never say no to my grandfather because he never meant no harm and especially in the tone he says things. It makes it hard for me to say no. 

     Another context of use is when the messenger needs to rush into the destination without anticipated return. This context was by far the least used, like I honestly think that no one In my community ever said it this way but I thought it would interesting to show how it could be used in that context too, but the primary use in this context is to encourage the messenger to relay the desired information quickly, and his return is not as important as in the first case. The task at hand must require sending a quick message to the intended destination and sorting out a dilemma within a prescribed timeframe. The pronunciation of the word involves a quick mention of the first three words, “Hurry Up and” followed by a slight pause then the phrase “Take Your Time.” The current context ensured that the messenger delivered the message and took safety afterward.  

     The other context of use involves sending a person to a destination and requiring them to take their time to execute the given tasks. When saying “Hurry up and take your time” the pronunciation of the word is constant throughout and spoken in a moderate tone. My grandfather used this context the most, there could be moments where I’m with a girl on my way to go out and he would say “hurry up and take your time” and the way he says it almost feels like he’s saying have fun but for people who wouldn’t understand the context of the words they would be more confused than anything. Like when my grandpa told me that, the girl I was with laughed in confusion and then proceeded to ask me “how does that make sense”. Knowing what the context means I replied with “you right it doesn’t make sense but it makes sense at the same time” and that right there would confuse the hell out of them. I would say this just to see the look of confusion on their face and get a little laugh out of it. That goes to show you that people outside the community interpret that phrase differently. 

     The last context of use is the formal conversations held with friends. The context lacks a specific action that the participants must engage in. The engagement between the groups is casual, and when spoken, each of the parties had to assume the information and take the best course of action. When I used the phrase in school, my friends interpreted it as a sarcastic statement that encouraged a person to hurry up and take their time. The sarcasm implies that the person must rush and not delay. The final section of the word “take your time” holds sarcasm, and the messenger must keenly look at the sender to understand the implied meaning.

     The phrase “hurry up and take your time” has numerous contexts within which the same words can apply and the meanings altered by the pronunciation. One of the noteworthy observations is that the community members easily recognize the variations in the contextual meanings. When transferred into other communities or social scenes, the word lacks meaning. The unique use of the phrase reveals an important part of the community, pointing at the similarity in words and differentiated by simple pronunciations. Other communities cannot understand the message due to the lack of understanding of the contextual meaning. The examination of the English context of the word revealed the community meaning of the word. The literal meaning cannot apply in the cultural context, distinguishing the phrase usage. It is important to note that interaction with the community enables them to understand the contextual use of the phrases. Regular practice of the phrases enables people to understand the use of the phrase.