Talk:The Mangy Parrot

Untitled
Nice article, seems well researched (hopefully by the contributor him/herself). If what it says in the text really applies, links might be created from Journalist (at the bottom of the page -- "Journalists turned novelists") and Picaresque novel. --KF 14:18, 17 Aug 2003 (UTC)

The name of this novel, "Periquillo" does not mean "parrot". "Perico" is a popular way to say the name "Pedro" (Peter) and have a sense of familiarity. The sufix "illo" means small.

The name of the main character is "Pedro Sarmiento". In the novel the character explains that in school, his teacher called him "Pedrillo" (little Peter). But since there was already a boy named "Pedro" and called "Perico", they decided to name him "Periquillo". It has nothing to do with parrots!!!!

And as a mock of his elegant surname "Sarmiento", they corrupted that to "Sarniento" (mangy)

Following this there is a section asking to father for not letting this childern put names to other children...

Al this is explained in the second chapter of the novel.

I wish this would be explained in the article, since the mistranslation for the title seems common.

Nanahuatzin 06:48, 13 December 2006 (UTC)


 * ... And what do you think "perico" means...? Duh.Kangarugh22 20:02, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Title: El periquillo sarniento vs. The Mangy Parrot
This book is better known, including to English speakers, by its actual title than by this translated one. The article used to be under the Spanish name, and it should revert to that. 128.148.235.72 (talk) 19:53, 28 January 2011 (UTC)