It’s summer! Like Californians, Valencianos head to the water: the beach, a river, or lake. That’s what I did last weekend to celebrate the summer equinox.
As I trotted down to the beach, I saw a green flag flying high above the sand. Noticing a sign below, I took a moment to read it.
Being in Valencia, the sign was in Valenciano, allowing me to practice the language. Right below Valenciano was the Spanish translation in small letters. By comparing the two languages, I figured out I got the message correct: green flag; safe to swim; yellow flag, swim with caution; and the red flag, prohibited from swimming. Californian beaches have a similar colored flag system to help keep beach goers safe.
Then, I noticed the third language on the sign below the Valenciano and Spanish. It was my mother tongue, yet ironically, it was the one I didn’t understand! I read the messages over carefully:
Valenciano: Bones condiciones per al bany (conditions are good for bathing)
Castellano: Buenas condiciones para el baño (conditions are good for bathing)
English: Good conditions for the bathroom.
For the bathroom? Why do they mention the bathroom?
To make matters worse, the “Red Flag” warned that the “Bathroom was prohibited”! In Valenciano it was clear: “Prohibit el bany” (Swimming is prohibited). I could understand why swimming in hostile conditions would be prohibited, but the bathroom?
I pondered the absurdity. Was it a punishment against English speakers for not speaking Valenciano? Or perhaps, during hostile conditions, the water backs up, making the toilets unusable…
Still wanting to make sense, I used a technique I commonly employ with my students; I translated the statement literally from Spanish to English. I laughed aloud when I understood! Let me explain.
When native English speakers go to the beach, we don’t bathe (which means to take a bath in a bathtub in order to clean your body); we swim. When Spanish and Valencian people go to the beach, they don’t swim; rather, they bathe. For them to bathe means to frolic joyfully in the cool salt waters. Swimming is a sport which one practices! It’s not a way to spend time with family and friends.
Once clarified, I enjoyed a playful swim until the waves turned rough and the yellow flag went up. I took advantage of the break to run to the bathroom. Interestingly, on a beach heavily frequented by foreigners, I did not hear any English speakers in the bathroom.
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