Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
Feb 25th 2003, 12:56 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
words of Catalan?
One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
significance?
Ian
speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
words of Catalan?
One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
significance?
Ian
Feb 25th 2003, 1:16 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
>Subject: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
>From: [email protected] (Ian Burns)
>Date: 2/25/2003 7:56 AM
>My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
>speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
>using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
>words of Catalan?
>One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
>language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
>significance?
>Ian
If you can speak any Catalan, use it. Back this up with the Castillian you
know. Effort is appreciated.
>From: [email protected] (Ian Burns)
>Date: 2/25/2003 7:56 AM
>My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
>speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
>using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
>words of Catalan?
>One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
>language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
>significance?
>Ian
If you can speak any Catalan, use it. Back this up with the Castillian you
know. Effort is appreciated.
Feb 25th 2003, 1:28 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
"Oopsdaisy2" wrote in message
> >One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
> >language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
> >significance?
> >
> >Ian
> If you can speak any Catalan, use it. Back this up with the Castillian
you
> know. Effort is appreciated.
Coming from a foreigner it doesn't matter. Say 'Bon dia' (Catalan) and then
use Castillian. Many people understand French too. You won't offend anyone.
Besides, quite a lot of Bacelona residents are from other parts of Spain.
Case in point: when I was on a bus, the door closed suddenly leaving still
some passengers on board. So they shouted first in Catalan, and when nothing
happened, then in Castillian, before the driver reopened the door.
Alec
> >One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
> >language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
> >significance?
> >
> >Ian
> If you can speak any Catalan, use it. Back this up with the Castillian
you
> know. Effort is appreciated.
Coming from a foreigner it doesn't matter. Say 'Bon dia' (Catalan) and then
use Castillian. Many people understand French too. You won't offend anyone.
Besides, quite a lot of Bacelona residents are from other parts of Spain.
Case in point: when I was on a bus, the door closed suddenly leaving still
some passengers on board. So they shouted first in Catalan, and when nothing
happened, then in Castillian, before the driver reopened the door.
Alec
Feb 25th 2003, 1:35 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
>Subject: Re: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
>From: "Alec" [email protected]
>Date: 2/25/2003 8:28 AM
>"Oopsdaisy2" wrote in message
>> >One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
>> >language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
>> >significance?
>> >
>> >Ian
>> If you can speak any Catalan, use it. Back this up with the Castillian
>you
>> know. Effort is appreciated.
>Coming from a foreigner it doesn't matter. Say 'Bon dia' (Catalan) and then
>use Castillian. Many people understand French too. You won't offend anyone.
>Besides, quite a lot of Bacelona residents are from other parts of Spain.
>Case in point: when I was on a bus, the door closed suddenly leaving still
>some passengers on board. So they shouted first in Catalan, and when nothing
>happened, then in Castillian, before the driver reopened the door.
>Alec
Hmmm...I think this was my advice in action. First Catalan, then Castillian.
Considering the history of the area, I believe it does matter. Obviously in a
port city, there are many languages spoken/understood, but this isn't really
the issue IMHO. Besides it is common courtesy.
>From: "Alec" [email protected]
>Date: 2/25/2003 8:28 AM
>"Oopsdaisy2" wrote in message
>> >One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
>> >language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
>> >significance?
>> >
>> >Ian
>> If you can speak any Catalan, use it. Back this up with the Castillian
>you
>> know. Effort is appreciated.
>Coming from a foreigner it doesn't matter. Say 'Bon dia' (Catalan) and then
>use Castillian. Many people understand French too. You won't offend anyone.
>Besides, quite a lot of Bacelona residents are from other parts of Spain.
>Case in point: when I was on a bus, the door closed suddenly leaving still
>some passengers on board. So they shouted first in Catalan, and when nothing
>happened, then in Castillian, before the driver reopened the door.
>Alec
Hmmm...I think this was my advice in action. First Catalan, then Castillian.
Considering the history of the area, I believe it does matter. Obviously in a
port city, there are many languages spoken/understood, but this isn't really
the issue IMHO. Besides it is common courtesy.
Feb 25th 2003, 1:54 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
"Ian Burns" escribió en el mensaje
news:[email protected]...
> My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
> speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
> using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
> words of Catalan?
If you know or want to learn a few Catalan words, do it, but don't be afraid
of using your Spanish (Castilian) for two reasons:
a) Spanish is as official language in Catalonia as Catalan is, and
b) while the restaurant's owner mother tongue can be Catalan, there are many
chances that the waiter was born in Andalusia.
> One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
> language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
> significance?
Most of the Catalan people have no resentment at all. But they don't shout
or show placards in sporting events, so they are the 'silent majority'. Some
disagreements admitted, but don't expect to find a
cultural-ethnical-linguistic fight in Catalonia.
news:[email protected]...
> My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
> speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
> using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
> words of Catalan?
If you know or want to learn a few Catalan words, do it, but don't be afraid
of using your Spanish (Castilian) for two reasons:
a) Spanish is as official language in Catalonia as Catalan is, and
b) while the restaurant's owner mother tongue can be Catalan, there are many
chances that the waiter was born in Andalusia.
> One hears a fair bit about Catalan resentment of national (castilian)
> language, government, etc, but is this blown up and of no real
> significance?
Most of the Catalan people have no resentment at all. But they don't shout
or show placards in sporting events, so they are the 'silent majority'. Some
disagreements admitted, but don't expect to find a
cultural-ethnical-linguistic fight in Catalonia.
Feb 25th 2003, 4:49 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Catalan or Spanish - speak which badly?
Following up to Ian Burns
>My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
>speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
>using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
>words of Catalan?
I find that Catalans are quite happy to hear Castilian from
foreigners. In Basque country I intend to swat up on hello, goodbye,
please, thankyou, as a courtesy. Perhaps do the same?
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
>My family and I will be visiting Sitges near Barcelona in May. I can
>speak a little bit of 'restaurant Spanish', but would I be better not
>using it and either sticking to my native English or swotting up a few
>words of Catalan?
I find that Catalans are quite happy to hear Castilian from
foreigners. In Basque country I intend to swat up on hello, goodbye,
please, thankyou, as a courtesy. Perhaps do the same?
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
