Argentine Actress Unpacks Unique Catalan Sounds Not Found in Spanish

BARCELONA – Anacá, an Argentine actress residing in Barcelona, has shed light on the unique phonetic challenges encountered when learning Catalan, particularly for native Spanish speakers. In a recent video, Anacá detailed several sounds in Catalan that have no direct equivalent in Castilian Spanish, offering a glimpse into the complexities of linguistic immersion. One of the primary difficulties, according to Anacá, lies in the pronunciation of the vowel 'E'. Unlike Spanish, where 'E' typically has one sound, Catalan features three distinct pronunciations: open, closed, and neutral. "I don't know how to identify which words go with which 'E'; I learn it by imitation," she explained, highlighting the nuanced nature of the language. Another notable difference she pointed out is the pronunciation of the letter 'X'. In certain Catalan words, such as 'xocolata' (chocolate), the 'X' produces a 'sh' sound, which is not present in standard Spanish. Anacá clarified that it is neither 'xocolata' nor 'chocolata' but rather 'shocolata'. Furthermore, the video addressed the 'S' sound, noting that Catalan includes a voiced 'S', similar to a 'z' sound, as heard in the word 'casa' (house). This contrasts with the unvoiced 'S' commonly found in Spanish. Anacá, who often faces "daily phonetic crises" as a migrant actress, shared her journey of adapting to these linguistic intricacies. Her video serves as an informative resource for those interested in the nuances of the Catalan language and the personal experiences of migrants navigating new cultural and linguistic landscapes.

ElNacional.cat

one month ago

Els fonemes catalans impossibles de pronunciar per a un castellanoparlant: "És …

Hi ha alguns fonemes que són impossibles de pronunciar per persones castellanoparlants, descobreix-los!