Pronunciation
 

Whenever I try to pronounce words like

Hijo/hija/trabajar/and others similar I cant ever get it correct. People look at me odd and I can see they are trying to compute what i am trying to say.

Anybody got any tips?

Re: Pronunciation
 

Is it because you cant do the j or because your vowels arent precise enough?

The j is pretty easy, just like a h but with an added gutteral sound from the bottom of the throat

Most the problems English people have with being understood is because they dont pronounce the 5 vowel sounds precisely enough (as discussed before)

Re: Pronunciation
 

A bit of both really, "J" I find difficult and I do practice my vowel sounds, but I think you are probably right, they aren't precise enough. When I try to pronounce 'hijo' it sounds like a braying donkey.

Re: Pronunciation
 

I have a west country accent so many of the vowels sound similar but I find that any words with an R or RR in them I have to be far more precise with otherwise I get the blank look.

Rosemary

Re: Pronunciation
 

actually that's not far off!!!!


hijo - eehoh

hija - eehah

trabajar - tra-ba-har

if you can do the gutteral h sound all the better - but otherwise keep it like an English J - for sure not a k sound:eek:

vowels - try the following

a as in apple

e as in eg

i as in igloo

o as in orange

u as in soon

not perfect, but as near as dammit - & remember that they always make the same sound

Re: Pronunciation
 

Good advice, but I wouldnt suggest pronouncing the Spanish j like an English j. Like an English h, then sure. Otherwise you will sound like an Argentinean making the ll sound which will be doubly confusing :rofl:

Re: Pronunciation
 

Thanks Lynxxa and Cricketman

PS Cricketman, I definitely would not be mistaken for any kind of native speaker, my accent is just so bad.:lol:

One Spanish friend (actually I've only got one) said when we were discussing the subjunctive that I really shouldn't bother about it because my accent is so bad they can't tell when I am using it or not. It's quite difficult to learn and practice when you have no exposure to it. I try listening to some TV and radio but I cannot keep up with pace.


The particular words were "puedes/puedas

Re: Pronunciation
 

Yes I wouldnt worry about the subjunctive for a good while yet. Concentrate on the past and present tenses instead. There are 3 different past tenses which are very different and important that you recognise them even if you dont use them correctly to start with

Re: Pronunciation
 

Thanks cricketman, I'm quite good at reading Spanish and not too bad at writing (if I have lots of time) and I also use an on-line verb conjugator test thingy to practice but speaking Oh boy! How did you learn? were you fluent before you moved to Spain?
PS There are a couple of lads from south London who work in a Spanish owned bar in the village I visit and It is amazing how fantastic their Spanish is now compared to a couple of years ago. They chat all night long to the locals yet when I ask them anything they can never explain it.

Re: Pronunciation
 

Yes I was more or less fluent, but my wife is Spanish so I had no excuses and have only ever spoken to her family in Spanish (even though most of them speak English), so the long holidays there were good practice!

Spanish is a very logical language. How you learn it depends on what you like to do. Personally in my uni summer holiday I read a book of Spanish grammar from front to back twice - and have never opened it again. Then it was just a case of practice, practice and practice.

I had the rule that in Spain I should only talk to people in Spanish and then put myself in positions to use it. But of course having a Spanish girlfriend/wife makes all this much easier

Re: Pronunciation
 

:rofl::eek:

dammit - that's what I meant:o - like an English H as in my examples

Re: Pronunciation
 

you're right - if he's still struggling with basic pronunciation he's a very long way off even thinking about the subjunctive

tbh even after 8 years I still hate thinking about it.............sometimes it comes naturally.............but if I have to think about I don't bother

Re: Pronunciation
 

so when asking for Coca Cola why do I get a blank look ?

Re: Pronunciation
 

That used to be a problem for me as well. I used to have problems when I said words that I would usually say in English like brand names or people's names

Its because the vowels need to come out machine gun like. In English we tend to pronounce very round "o"s and then just say "urgh" for the other vowels, so a Spaniard may not understand

English = Coe-ker-coe-ler
Spanish = Cocacola

Spanish is pronounced exactly as spelt as long as you know the (easy) rules for consonents and vowels

Re: Pronunciation
 

the other day I asked for 1 cafe con leche 1 coca-cola sin hielo, got 2 coffees.
only when I pointed to the Coca-Cola on the large umbrellas over all the tables did it sink in. Think she just wasnt listening cos she brought the coca cola in a bottle with a glass of ice.

so when you say Recogidas as Rekoheedas you are being Spanish and saying it exactly as its said.

I will learn spanish, I will learn spanish, I will....