Spanish Language Questions
Dec 27th, 2012, 06:44 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spanish Language Questions
During my upcoming visit to Spain, I hope to speak as much Spanish as possible. I have obtained a few phrasebooks, and am also working through the Pimsleur audio language course. There is conflicting information and pronunciations between the sources, and I hope to resolve the issues, so I can learn correctly. Might there be someone fluent in the European Spanish language, who could help with occasional questions?
Dec 27th, 2012, 06:56 PM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I speak some Spanish and my experience has been that if your Spanish is clear, although not necessarily of the local pronounciation, you are usually okay. For example, my Latin Spanish says "gracias" but in Spain it would be pronounced like "grathias", yet everyone knows what was said.
I apologize that I'm not really answering your question, but I hope it provides encouragement.
I apologize that I'm not really answering your question, but I hope it provides encouragement.
Dec 28th, 2012, 10:03 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't worry about pronunciation that much if you can actually say something. They are used to various accents. I believe Pimsleur has people from South America on their Spanish tapes, and they pronounce words differently than people in Spain. At least that's what I remember, they had a very strong accent that sounded Argentinean or something, as I recall. And some words are different, of course, such as the word commonly used for "to drive" or car or toilets (as in public rest rooms).
Dec 28th, 2012, 10:16 AM
#8
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you've got Skype, sign up to a free conversation exchange site like this one: http://www.conversationexchange.com/...nguage=Spanish
Dec 28th, 2012, 10:17 AM
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are tremendous differences in pronunciation between various areas of Spain - never mind other Spanish - speaking countries.
When my mother (91) took Spanish in high school they were taught Castilian Spanish (that spoken in the area around Madrid - with the "th" sounds). Her brother spoke that on a visit to the south of Spain and was told he had an aristocratic (not sure if this is good or not) accent.
When I went to high school we were taught Mexican Spanish as the standard (no "th" sounds). And I had no trouble being understood anyplace in Spain (well, at least my accent, although my vocabulary could have used some help).
So as long as you speak clearly and slowly - people should be able to understand you.
When my mother (91) took Spanish in high school they were taught Castilian Spanish (that spoken in the area around Madrid - with the "th" sounds). Her brother spoke that on a visit to the south of Spain and was told he had an aristocratic (not sure if this is good or not) accent.
When I went to high school we were taught Mexican Spanish as the standard (no "th" sounds). And I had no trouble being understood anyplace in Spain (well, at least my accent, although my vocabulary could have used some help).
So as long as you speak clearly and slowly - people should be able to understand you.
Dec 28th, 2012, 12:22 PM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I learned Spanish in California from a combo of high school and college courses, speaking it to Mexicans and Central Americans, and then brushing up with a Berlitz audio course. I didn't have any trouble making myself understood in Spain, even with my non-Spanish pronounciation.
Dec 28th, 2012, 01:02 PM
#14
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My few spainish phrases were commenrted on by a cab driver and in english..Senora your Spanish is very tijuana!!! LOL I did, however get by, being understood and understanding using what I had/have and lots of hand gesturing and smiles.. Not to worry!!!
Dec 28th, 2012, 02:35 PM
#17
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There may be variations in vocabulary as well as in pronunciation. In Mexico, "computer" could very well be "computadora," whereas in Spain it would be "ordenador." But that's just in a few words.
My Spanish teachers have mostly been South Americans or Americans. (My best teacher was an American who had learned her Spanish in Mexico.)
Spaniards had no difficult understanding my Spanish, and I didn't have much problem understanding them, as long as they didn't speak too fast.
In 2011 was heading out to the Madrid airport in a taxi. The driver was telling me something he was hearing on the radio. He was quite excited, and I finally understood enough to learn that he was telling me the American forces had killed Osama bin Laden. For some reason it was especially gratifying to me to know that the information had been communicated to me in Spanish.
My Spanish teachers have mostly been South Americans or Americans. (My best teacher was an American who had learned her Spanish in Mexico.)
Spaniards had no difficult understanding my Spanish, and I didn't have much problem understanding them, as long as they didn't speak too fast.
In 2011 was heading out to the Madrid airport in a taxi. The driver was telling me something he was hearing on the radio. He was quite excited, and I finally understood enough to learn that he was telling me the American forces had killed Osama bin Laden. For some reason it was especially gratifying to me to know that the information had been communicated to me in Spanish.
Dec 28th, 2012, 02:37 PM
#18
They may understand me, but I seldom understand them when they answer in their rapid, locally accented Spanish.>>
that's not restricted to spanish. it's common with whatever language you are trying to learn. but after a while somehow it just "clicks" - even if you don't understand every word, you'll start to get the gist. The trick is to go with the flow and to smile a lot!
that's not restricted to spanish. it's common with whatever language you are trying to learn. but after a while somehow it just "clicks" - even if you don't understand every word, you'll start to get the gist. The trick is to go with the flow and to smile a lot!
