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Unit 1-Calling people names

PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:59 pm
by Miquel Piris
I come from Mallorca and there my name is really common. There are others like Tomeu, Biel, Toni, Andreu, Pere for men or Caterina, Margalida, Xisca, Antonia for women. And these names are really repeated inside every family because the tradition is that kids are named with grandparents names.
My family name is not really common in Mallorca. You would find more Piris in Madrid or Argentina. I found it in a really interesting webpage where you can see where is your family name more common: http://www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Main.aspx
There's a theory that says that my family name is another way of saying Perez or Peres. Some say we come from Portugal and others that's a jewish surname. I dont really know (and I dont really care...we all come from the same part of the world, Africa, and once we were all family...for me surnames are a brand new thing compared to humanity's history).
My second surname, Obrador, probably means that one of my ancestors was working with his hands making things. I'm not sure about it. In my country there are surnames like Carnicer, Ferrer or Fuster that refer to professions.
We called my daugther Carla and this name comes from Germany. Now it's really popular.
In my country when we meet someone we normally use the first name. If the person is old we use Sr. or Sra. before the name. Normally we dont use surnames. But there are exceptions. Some people call me using my surname. I think it's because it's a little bit strange, I dont know.
In catalan we use pet names like reina meva, estimada, cariño, ropit, polissó...to show afection.

Re: Unit 1-Calling people names

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:16 am
by Miquel Figarola
Dear "tocaio" (which colud be a kindly way to name someone, too),
I found very interesting your speech. The web page you recommended has been very helpful in order to investigate about my family.
I don't know if it's the place to, but I'll try: I think I know you. It's so weird, as the coincidences related in the listenings we had done, but I think you studied at UAB and lived at Cerdanyola del Vallés at a residence with a man called Montserrat (so weird too). If you are who I think, of course. If not, your name is so common that can demonstrate that.

Best wishes,

Miquel Figarola Garolera

PS: if you where so, I liked a lot when you got drunk, in a cientifically way, of course. Is the Hummer so difficult to drive? And be carefull with the saturated oils, eat vegetables.