Customer Reviews

NTC's Dictionary of Mexican Cultural Code Words : The Complete Guide to Key Words That Express How the Mexicans Think, Communicate, and Behave

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Great book but the SAME EXACT BOOK with a different cover can be bought !!! "There's a Word for It in Mexico" by the same author!!! I was the idiot who bought both!!!

NTC's dictionary of Mexican cultural code words (ISBN 0-8442-7959-5) by Boyé Lafayette De Mente in 1996 is terrible. I can well make my commentaries because I am Mexican by all sides and know Mexico. I will mentions chapter 120 mostly since it may be the worse one. The rest of it is just bad.

I am well aware that it's not up to NTC and Boyé to publish one point of view or another. But they must publish quality works. So, wat wuld yu tink if one of iour writers wrote as I do in thys sentense? This dictionary is full of orthography mistakes and bad translations all over. Let's see some examples of words and famous sentences around Mexico:

By the way, Boyé's translation is BT, Actual Meaning is AM and commentaries is CM

"Robar no es verguenza. Robar y que lo agarren es verguenza"
BT: It is not a shame to kill; but to kill and get caught is a shame. (Chapt. 37)
AM: Stealing is not a shame. Stealing and get caught is shame
CM:
1)The meaning is depressing, but far less immoral.
2)The real saying is a bit different

" " (originalsentence not showed)
BT: Respect (for all people) is the foundation of peace.
Pag. 264, chapt 119
AM: Respecting others people's rights is the peace.
CM:
The Original sentence is "El respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz"

Vacile, relajo, relajientos
BT:
-Vacile: to vacillate, to dilly-dally, to never make up one's mind, to avoid responsability.
-Relajo: chaos.
-Relajientos: people who introduce a caotic element into everything they do, ....and to be more interested in human relatios and spiritual things than in hard work and sticking to projects they start.
AM:
-All of these terms are synonyms.
Vacile is used especially when poking fun at someone in an easy way, NOT in a mean one. They do imply some chaos, but they simply mean having fun; nothing to do with spiritually at all. We use normal terms for the meanings attached to these ones: irresponsible and disorganized. -It's vacileo This term is regarded today as childish and you'll hardly hear it. It's like goophy or teasing in English.
-Boyé got this definition from Mexicans, but from anthropologist ones. Intellectual are not good in dealing with reality.

Boyé never showed much real contact with Mexicans. It even seems that he was thye typical foreigner in any nation that self-segregates to his/her own community or contact the locals very little. It even seems that his single one friend was someone called "Mike" who as any other rich Mexican worships rich countries (or any foreign nation) I don't exaggerate when I say "worship". One of the readers at Amazon.com made really harsh judgments of Boyé since he didn't mention a single Mexican woman amongst his many commentaries of them. But as I read the book I found she was right, Boyé's bases are extremely weak. I can almost say that whenever he doesn't base his information with Mike's knowledge, he relies in intellectual's opinions that he doesn't even mention often, barely one big name like Octavio Paz, let alone a bibliographical reference. And as I said in the former table, intellectuals usually can't see reality. The incredibly bad translation of "relajiento" is a very good example; the anthropologist who state its meaning blew things out of proportion. It was like saying that "having fun" means being promiscuous, taking drugs, etc. Yes, "having fun" can mean that but only in strange exceptions; it has a saner meaning, like when a mom drops her kids in school and tells them, "have fun".

Not only Boyé didn't show good knowledge of Mexico, he didn't show it of USA either. He said in chapter 120,
Americans and other Anglos, on the other hand, have been programmed to regard personal responsibility as a positive attribute.

Sorry guys, it turns out that I have also been to your nation and I always strove to get to knows American people unlike the typical foreigner self segregated foreigner. I even married one of you! -that's why I bother to look for a book to explain Mexico to my wife. Not only this, I also lived in Illinois, the tort state where people have sued for things like a hot coffee! So, please don't publish such works from people pushes others to use a derogative terms like "egg-heads" And remember, the sentence above is just one example of very doubtful opinions.

The best indication that he didn't melted with us is that at the beginning of the book he mentioned that we over agree. I've heard it in two other publications as well. That's wrong, but I think that's the first impression of foreigners in USA and Mexico. I also had that impression of Americans when I just arrived there. As I got to know you more and more I found out that it's almost all the other way around. It's the same with Mexicans.

In short, Boyé's book has the worst of the two current American trends, liberalism and conservative. Like a liberal he pretends to understand foreign things but ends up focusing most in the bad side of people -the best example are feminists- And as conservative he appeals to baseless or even hypocrite righteousness. His is too liberal biased on his views of Mexican history. Why did he disagree with a huge group of Mexicans in USA (Chicanos) for trying to take American culture when most of book is about the worst of Mexican people? Saying that they were rejected is a bad answer. Again, I know it's not up to NTC to check an author's views, but for the same freedom of expression I write this letter. A negative book can be published about any nation.....well except France `because they're expert brain-washers (just read "French or Foe?" or Culture Shock: France)

Boyé might well be right in his negative views of us (easy job to look at defects) I can tell that since I know it since birth. Yet, you must do things right. This book is a freshmen scratch work, it's dishonest to sell it.

I have lived in Mexico for 2 years. Although some seem insulted by this book, I have found it extremely helpful in aiding my family and I to understand how Mexican's think. It differs from our cultural view of things. It contains an excellent history of Cortez and the influence of the Catholic church which still plays a major role in the daily culture of the people. I am purchasing a second copy today. It's worth every penny. I also have NYC's Dictionary of China's Cultural Code Words. Mr. De Mente does an excellent job of capturing the flavor of a culture.

The key to any language is the common linkage provided by slang terms- Inglés, Francés, Castellano, Portugés, or any of the 500 or so indian dialects. The best way to find out what terms mean what you may or may not think they mean is to try it out on a native speaker, and get feedback. Honest Feedback. Many people tend to be polite when what is said by a foreigner comes out offensive, while others may want to shoot or cut you over it.

This book, like others of this author (and other authors) has hit and miss terms which may be past use, current use, or misunderstood use. Some terms may be outright vulgar, while others not precise enough.

In Mexico, there are 31 states, each with a local dialect, and word meanings that may not be used elsewhere. (the word sounds the same, but may be taken in understanding as something completely different). The ideal situation is to buy as many books with variants of slang and common use terms, phrases, and wade through what is the best situation to use those in, also in what part of the country you may find yourself in. Compare your study to dialects used in 50 states of the USA, and its possessions such as Guam, and Puerto Rico, and you'll comprehend what I am getting at.

What goes in Mexico may not work in Chicano America, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, or beyond, whose terminology and linguistics may be entirely abstract. Going back to Mexico, many universities and states publish their own dictionaries including words that are specific common use terms used within that state, such as Sonora.

Also, TRY OTHER BOOKS, like those of Barron, Berlitz, Rosetta Stone... You can never have too many. also dictionaries like the Oxford, LaRousse Pequeño, University of Chicago. For the latter, this is a dictionary that most represents Mexican Spanish use- try these same words in Chile and you might get beat up or asked to leave the house. Almost non of the phrases in the Unversity of Chicago dictionary works in South, and some Central American countries.

As for trying to figure out how Mexicans think, oh man, this will take some time, and maybe even 20 years won't be long enough...

This book, except for the cover, is identical to the same writer's "There's a Word for it in Mexico." Neither is worth reading, much less buying. He arrogantly presumes to sum up the culture and thought of an entire people via a list of "code" or "key" words; one of his code words isn't even Spanish-- it's Italian.

Click the writer's name to see the wide array of cultures and topics upon which he considers himself expert.

The book is badly written, offensively stereotypical, contains numerous errors and is poorly-edited. He doesn't cite any source material.

Don't waste your money on this book or this writer. There are many good histories of Mexico, a great deal of literature by well-known English authors as well as translated from Spanish. There are a number of entertaining first-personal "diary type" traval guides. There are dictionaries and phrase-books of Mexican Spanish -- the regional Spanish usages and Mexican slang. There are good travel guides. There is no reason to buy a book so arrogant and offensive before going to Mexico and learning about the country and its culture from the wonderful people you will meet there. A People's Guide to Mexico (in its 13th edition at least) is extremely useful and entertainingly-written, once you get past its "hippie" beginnings, and has it's own website to keep you current.

This book contains many important insights to the Mexican Culture, but have found it to be innacurate in characterizing the entire country as a whole. There are some inconsistancies from region to region.

Ntc's Dictionary of Mexican Cultural Code Words occupies a treasured place in my collection of Latin American lore.

This 'dictionary' is actually an alphabetical collection of insights into the 'what' and 'why' of current Mexican culture. The authors have purposefully chosen subjects that would normally confuse, dismay or confound a U.S. or Canadian citizen. These cultural customs, beliefs and practices all differ greatly from those in the rest of North America. Furthermore they illuminate and illustrate the differences. The book is organized in nightstand or bathroom sized segments, each requiring only a few interesting minutes to impart an important slice of cultural awareness.

As an instructor in Latin American culture, I'm aware that most Americans view Latin America through the 'filter' of Mexico. Since their image of Mexico is distorted, this further perverts their impressions of Latin America. This book clears up a great deal of the cultural component of our distorted image of Mexico, and many of the insights apply to other Spanish-speaking Latin American cultures.

Absolutely excellent, and worth every penny.

I'm a mexican who after reading some of the captions on the site bought this book for my dutch boyfriend and another dutch friend who is living in Mexico now, It has been very helpful for them to understand why we mexicans behave in a certain way. I don't find it insulting or dimishing the mexican culture. It is funny to see how others see us.

I recently purchased this book with the idea that it would hopefully provide an introduction to aspects of Mexican culture. Unfortunately, it seems to me to be a re-hash of usual stereotypes about Mexico and Mexicans, perhaps written from a more high-brow level than usual, but no more illuminating for all that.

It is true that writing about another culture in an attempt to "explain" it is perennially popular as well as politically suspect in some circles. Personally, I do believe that it is possible to write a book about another culture that can be illuminating, but this book probably says more about gringos and their lack of perspective than it does about Mexico. If you must read a book about Mexico written by a norteamericano, try Carl Franz' "People's Guide to Mexico." When you get past the hippie falderal it is an extremely good book and the only one that ever taught me anything about Mexico that I found useful on the ground there.

An excellent resource and worth every penny. I work extensively with the Hispanic migrant community in south Georgia, and the insights gained from this book have proven time and time invaluable.Sure some of his translations are shoddy at best, but he doesn't claim to be a linguist. I have spent a lot of time on the border and on the other side, and and wrapping up a degree in Spanish, and am frequently complimented on my cultural fluency. The book does deal in some stereotypes; however, honest people will admit that there is truth in stereotypes else they would not exist.View this book as a door opener to a wonderful world.