The true meaning of Spanglish.

I am of the opinion that a typical American's view of the meaning of "Spanglish" is one of two things: a Ricky Martin song, or a native Spanish speaker mixing the use of Spanish and English words in everyday conversation.

While at one time I would have counted myself among those who share that view, "Spanglish" has come to mean something different to me.

Spanish is a language that does not share the same grammatical structure as English, nor do all the expressions translate. Therefore, when on a daily basis you are switching back and forth between thinking and speaking the two languages, their paths often cross. While my Spanish undoubtedly sounds strange to Spanish speakers when I translate from the English, my English is beginning to sound equally strange. Some examples.

"Maybe I will go..." a.k.a. "I might go..."

"We are going to take one more drink and then leave." a.k.a. "We are going to have one more drink."

"Do you want to take something?" a.k.a. "we are going for tapas, not to rob a store."

“My dad was wanting to stay at the Alfonso XIII” a.k.a. “My dad wants to stay at the Alfonso XIII.”

These, among many other equally if not more embarrassing examples have become part of my daily English vocabulary. If my Spanish is improving then surely my English is getting much worse. I also in advance ask everyone to forgive the tendency I will surely have to start speaking Spanish while intoxicated when I get back to the U.S.