Communicating in Catalonia
 

Will Catalonians get "angry" if you speak Spanish to them? <BR> <BR>If so, can anyone recommend a book or guide with key phrases?? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance. <BR> <BR>sue.

I never had anyone get angry with me for trying Spanish (which I have only limited knowledge of) in Catalonia, but I did have several people tell me they would prefer to speak in French or English. Who knows if that's the prevailing sentiment or not, but I don't think anyone will get angry at you for trying whatever you're most comfortable with.

Hi Sue. No, they won't get angry. Instead, they will merely roll you up into a little ball and drop you from the top of one of the towers of Sagrada Familia. :~) <BR> <BR>Seriously, I can only speak from the experience of a week in Barcelona a year ago. My girlfriend speaks fairly fluent Spanish and no one seemed to get even remotely upset when she spoke in Spanish to them. <BR> <BR>We did learn basic/polite Catalan words & phrases and tried to use these whenever possible. <BR> <BR>Here's a Catalan language website: <BR> <BR>http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pant...77/easycat.htm

thanks all!!

Rogh Guides do a guide to the Pyrenees which has a good Catalan glossary at the back. <BR> <BR>But as someone who ALWAYS has to try the local language, I found "Bon Dia" got me a very long ay

I spoke Spanish in Barcelona and had no trouble at all. People understand Spanish and will respond to you in Spanish if you speak to them in Spanish. Knowing a few Catalan phrases would be courteous and appreciated, however. The only people that may not understand Spanish as well are the foreigners who came to work in Barcelona and have primarily picked up Catalan (some North Africans, Indian/Pakastani types).