Beatriz Ramírez de Haro Sep 23, 2010:

Agree! Great explanation, Greg

Greg Hunt Sep 22, 2010:

The thing is the main reason why this phrase sounds so good is that it plays with the semantics and syntax of talk and listen. Both are very often followed by the preposition “to” for a start, but “talk to”, especially when used as a gerund, very often has this special meaning, similar to reñir, and it is also frequently accompanied with the intensifier “good” (The OED defines “a talking to” as a “reprimand, admonition”) . "Listening to” is much less commonly used in this kind of grammatical structure and it’s this gives the phrase its pithiness or “salsa”, if you will. When I see the phrase “a good talking to” I think of the negative sense, but then seeing “a good listening to” makes me realize that Brault is in fact also referring to the core meaning of “talk” as well. Both senses of “talk to” need to be inferred for the phrase to really work. This is deliberate, clever and difficult to translate, as it’s playing off the idiosyncratic features of specific English verbs which their usual Spanish equivalents don’t really share.

Lydia De Jorge Sep 22, 2010:

If that were the case, it would say "yelled at" or "scolded"... anyway, it's just my opinion...

Greg Hunt Sep 22, 2010:

I disagree. I think the advice is a warning against automatically telling children off ("I'm going to give him a good talking to!") for the things they do that we, as adults, don't like, as well as a recommendation to get to know them better instead.

Lydia De Jorge Sep 22, 2010:

IMO No me parece q se trate de sermonear o reñir, simplemente se trata de la comunicación en general y coomo a los niños, más q escuchar, les gusta ser escuchados.

Adriana Martinez Sep 22, 2010:

To Lydia: This Robert Brault is very wise! I love your favorite quote!

Lydia De Jorge Sep 22, 2010:

My favorite Robert Brault quote: “Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.” (not relevant, but I wanted to share)