Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

I worked with a Scottish guy some time ago, and we came to the conclusion it is psychological. For example, I would go into a bar and order whatever, no problem for me, I am bilingual.
He would go to a bar (he spoke intermediate spanish) and 9 times out of ten he would be understood.

However, we discovered that when we went for a drink together, and we spoke English together, and then ordered it was a lot more likely that the waiter would not understand us (the first time) despite ordering correctly and in well spoken Spanish. (The waiter would obviously hear us speak in English)

We concluded that there must be some psychological process at work, that is to do with expectation. The expectation somehow influences the brain..
further than that I don´t know, as I´m not a psychologist..:thumbup:

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

If you can´t spell it, it may cause problems.

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

Mi hijo Rico dijó:lol:


that's hard enough sober:rofl:

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

why?

he's not writing it down!


if my students want to write 'abwela' above 'abuela' on the worksheets & it helps them pronounce it, I see no problem in that

after all - they want to be understood, not take an exam!


another one a lot have trouble with is 'izquierda'


until I write ITH-KEY-AIR-DA on the board

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

That is why I liked the little blue "Practical conversation guide" by Arguval.
They have the translation and also the pronunciation, most of it is nothing like you think it would be. lol

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

Always used to have trouble with "Valladolid" on the way up from the ferry got round it by not reading it.

Jim

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

yes good points on the phonetics.:thumbup:

But we don´t know how he´s pronouncing it, a slight deviation can make a difference. He might be saying coo-ar-wenta with a brit accent.
Imagine in English saying foouwty (40) or florteyy something like that. I´m sure the person saying would say "sorry?"

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

no accent on the o of course:thumbup:

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

you have a point - but I suspect he's pronouncing it OKish - the way he spelt makes me think he probably is


I reckon they're just trying it on

I rang up about an apartment & was told 'quinientos cinquenta'

as soon as the owner realised it was for a brit it was suddenly 'seiscientos cincuenta'

I was told I must have mis-heard:confused:

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

:o oops

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

Back in England a few years ago, we had a couple of Romanian labourers working with us. They spoke very good English and we used to teach them Cockney rhyming slang. Anyway one of them brought in a Romanian - English phrase book and they asked me to read out Romanian phrases and they would try to guess what it was I saying. Of course I was pronouncing it all as if they were English words. They didn't have a clue what I was saying most of the time and were falling about the place when they read it for themselves.

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

Oh stop splitting hairs. I pronounce neither word in a similar way. I already told you that.

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

That's one of the most logical explanations I've ever read. People do expect someone who looks British, and whom they've heard speak in English, to not be able to speak much Spanish, hence their surprise when addressed in their own language, fluently.

I could never pass for Spanish because of my northern European appearance, and it never ceases to surprise me when Spanish people look shocked when I speak to them in Spanish. They just don't expect it. Most of the time it pleases them that someone has made the effort to learn their language.

I was sitting in a bar in a rough part of town once and overheard two Spanish-speaking customers discussing whether they should try and rob when I went outside (I had foolishly paid for a coffee with 50 Euro note because it was all I had, after being on the beach). I went over to them and explained that I only had the one 50 Euro note and that I wouldn't hand it over without a fight.

I still got the barmaid to call me a taxi, just in case. The two would-be muggers gave me a friendly wave on my way out.

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

Agreed. Even within the UK, where you expect to hear English, if you hear an accent you weren't expecting it can take time for it to register and for your brain (mine, at least) to process it.

Re: Spanish in a british accent
 

Ok Caaaalm down! (scouse accent):eek: