A question about language etiquette in Barcelona. I speak Spanish, but don't speak any Catalan other than the usual "please" and "thank you" type things. (I can read it just fine, and can understand it to some extent, but can't produce it on my own).<BR><BR>If I am in a shop or a restaurant or wherever in Barcelona, what's the polite way to start a conversation with somebody since I don't speak Catalan? It seems presumptuous to just launch into Spanish immediately. Then again, maybe it would be stupid of me to start out with, "Parles castella? or "Habla Ud. catalan?" But memorizing the Catalan for, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Catalan; may we speak Spanish?" seems a little contrived. ;-)<BR><BR>Any tips? Maybe I am being overly sensitive, but I don't want to really irk people by making a language faux pas.

Hi Grant:<BR><BR>I think it's really nice that you even thought about what language you should try to use...<BR>Speaking in Castillian is fine. Don't worry about trying to speak in Catalan. Never have I encountered anyone thinking I am rude or impolite speaking Castillian instead of Catalan.<BR>By all means, if you have the ability to, you can try to memorise a few lines. But don't immediately assume that every shopkeeper, etc speaks Catalan anyway!<BR>I say stick to Castillian and this will get you the results that you are after!<BR>Enjoy your trip - Barcelona is a great city!<BR>Jade<BR>

Yea, and you speak Cajun to everyone in Louisiana? And Yiddish in Brooklyn?

I'm sure you think that being the first one to call every post a troll makes you clever, but it just makes you very juvenile. Go away. If you think that Cajun in Louisiana or Yiddish in Brooklyn are similar to Catalan in Barcelona, then you are very poorly educated.<BR><BR>Jade, thanks for your answer. Considering the history of the Catalan language policy in Spain, I wasn't sure what kind of reaction just charging in and speaking Castillian would get me.

Troll alert, you're totally offbase. This question is perfectly legitimate. Actually, I already asked the exact same question to friends from Barcelona.<BR>Catalan is the language of choice, there, not just a minority language.

Clair, how did your Catalonian friends respond to your question? This is an interesting question I have wondered about myself.<BR><BR>Troll alert, just because you don't understand a question doesn't make it a troll post.

Hi Grant,<BR>What Jade said. And I too, think it's really nice that you are sensitive to language differences in Spain and that you asked.

Oh, Grant, you are just so culturally sensitive. I bet the boys in the bath house appreciate that.

Troll alert: As someone said, you are simply exposing yourself as juvenile and undereducated.<BR><BR>Catalan is a language. It is the MAIN language spoken in Barcelona and all over French and Spanish Catalunya (Catalonia). It isn't even remotely analogous to Yiddish or Cajun. <BR><BR>It's a perfectly reasonably request by someone who has obviously done some homework and probably traveled a good deal. In fact, since it is the first language of most denizens of Barcelona, it is a thoroughly sensible question.<BR><BR>Now scuttle on back to your mudhole and pick up a book and learn something. Or take a bath. Or something.

Dear Grant:<BR><BR>I am Basque by birth, and the same sort of thing obviously applies in the Basque country. I, for example, was born when Franco still banned Euskera from being spoken or learnt, so I do not speak Basque. <BR><BR>So when I visit my homeland ( I am currently living in Sydney, Australia) I have to speak Castillian (because it was the only language I was allowed to learn at the time and quite difficult to learn now in my mid-twenties). <BR><BR>So this is why I say that the general language to go by when travelling in Spain is Castillian. I'm sure that there are similar reasons why some Catalans don't speak Catalan and obviously there are always people who live there but are from other parts of Spain.<BR>Regards,<BR>Jade

grant, i think it would show great courtesy to begin with 'bon dia' or another catalan greeting and then proceed to speak castillian. I can't imagine anyone in Catalunya being offended by a tourist speaking castillian, but the added catalan would be especialy nice. I would say that people in Catalunya, Pais Vasco, Galicia et cetera do not expect foreign tourists to speak their specific languages but throwing in a word of catalan or basque or galego shows that you are aware that different languages exist.

You will have no problem with Castillian in Barcelona. A good percentage of the population speak castillian as their first language and catalan as a learned language. On several occasions I have tried some catalan in Barcelona only to have someone think I'm Italian or something! Things are different up near the French border in Gerona province, where people will automatically speak to foreigners in Catalan, but I have yet to meet anyone who will not automatically switch to castillian (or even english) when it becomes apparant that a conversation is not going to be possible in catalan)

I agree with others who think Castillian is the way to go. I also agree with Joan that a little Catalan here and there will earn you brownie points. I think most people around the world are surprised and very pleased to see Americans (or other native English speakers) who have taken the time to learn a language other than English. As Joan suggests, I think that opening with "Bon dia" or other Catalan greeting and then switching to Castillian says to them, "I recognize that Catalan is probably your native language, but I don't speak it, so let's try Castillian."

Hi<BR><BR>I drive down several times each year. In fact I arrived back only last Friday night.<BR><BR>I don't think the language is a big deal for foreigners.<BR><BR>I tried my few words of Spanish .......... with great amusement they told me Catalan is the better language !<BR><BR>I think people in this area welcome foreigners who speak either Castillian or Catalan.<BR><BR>Certainly you will get by in Castillian, with no hard feelings if you are a foreigner<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

Sam,<BR><BR>They told me that speaking Castillan won't be an issue, but could be if I were a spanish tourist instead of a french one.<BR><BR><BR>They also told me that contrarily to students people who decide to work there for some time or study there won't necessarily get a pass by their coworkers/fellow students if they're unwilling to learn Catalan, though.

I meant contrarily to *tourists*, not contrarily to students, in the above post..

Clare I think "they" were pulling your hairy leg.

Claire, they told you right. <BR>I have been to one or two-week computer courses in Barcelona, and people in the course have insisted on having it in catalan instead of spanish or english ... but usually they weren´t even born in Catalunya and the first people who spoke against that were born and bred in Barcelona ...<BR>I guess it depends on the other person´s education.