30 Basic strategies for communication
To begin and keep communication going speakers resort to a series of words and
phrases which may vary not just according to the speaker’s intention, for example
getting someone to repeat something, but also in relation to factors which derive from
the situation itself. These can be factors such as the relationship between the speakers,
for example formal versus informal, or the speaker’s attitude, which can be sympathetic
or hostile. The sections below list and give information about the most common words
and phrases used by Spanish speakers in day-to-day communication.30.1 Attracting someone’s attention and responding to a call
for attention
30.1.1 The words most commonly used to attract someone’s attention are:
Perdone (usted)/Perdona. Excuse me.
¡Oiga! (usted)/¡Oye! Excuse me!, hey!
Disculpe (usted)/Disculpa. Excuse me.
Por favor. Excuse me.
¡Señor! Excuse me sir!
¡Señora! Excuse me madam!
¡Señorita! Excuse me madam!
Perdone and perdona, from perdonar, ‘to excuse’, are, together with¡oiga! and¡oye!,
from oír, ‘to listen’, ‘to hear’, the most common forms of attracting an individual’s
attention. Perdone/a are also used as an apology.¡Oiga!, literally ‘listen!’, is considered
rude in some Latin American countries, but the familiar form¡oye! is accepted
everywhere. Disculpe and disculpa, from disculpar, ‘to excuse’, seem to be more
common in Latin American than in Peninsular Spanish, but as a form of apology,
discúlpeme, discúlpame, they are used more or less equally in all parts of the
Spanish-speaking world. 16.1.1.6 (p. 62);^62 (p. 355)
Perdone, ¿cuánto vale este libro?
Excuse me, how much is this book?Perdona, ¿puedes pasarme esa carpeta?
Excuse me, can you pass that file?