General Chat

As far as I'm aware most of spain uses gracias with a th sound except for Andalucia where they use the s sound.

I've had several people say to me "Oh doesn't she talk posh" when I speak in Castillano (the th sound) and when I went to visit my daughter's in laws in Madrid they thought I was amusing talking provincial!

Now I switch around depending on whom I am talking to.......I've become a right snob since living in Spain lol.

Oh and Uzzi don't get lessons from an Argentinian teacher, I did and found they pronounce the double ll as a sh sound, couldn't understand a word she was saying.

Ah well I guess the important thing is we are trying to communicate though at times it can be a barrel of laughs!!

Ann that is something I wondered on moving here, and hearing about the difference . I wondered because as a child I battled against a lisp only to find that now when I have it right (unless angry) it would have stood me in good stead. grrrrrrr lol

talking about learning Spanish where I am I can here the bingo calling.....great for learning numbers even better is to attend.

Thanks Uzzi, interesting. It was really funny in May going to tenerife when we had been in Spain in March, I kept trying to remember where we were. To lisp or not to lisp.

Actually I wonder how people who have a natural lisp manage in the canaries?

Ann if the lisp is S of malaga (which I should have known) and it is here in Murcia than it's the North that don't lisp. I did notice near the French border that they didn't but we were driving through late and it didn't occur to me at the time. I paid for petrol and said Grathias and they said gracias ... like the UK mind the accents in the country change, we were told that Murcia has the most primitive (like patois) accent which makes it harder to learn.

I have only been to the area just South of Malaga and noticed the lisp there. Even more confusing if it is not all of the mainland Spain.

Ann the canarians didn't have the same King/ruler ....not all of Spain say Grathias either some say gracias.


edit to say is it the Catalonions don't lisp or are we them and the others don't lol ....I need my history

See I come on here to be educated. I wondered why the Spanish lisp the 'S' sound as in Grathias (gracias). However, any idea why the Canarians don't lisp?

Chica living where I do means that many of the Spanish are literate, but there are free classes for english -spanish close by via the Ayuntamiento. My unfortuate there is I don't drive and OH works, but it is something I am going to look into as I believe a few from the site I live on attend. I would love to do your lessons though, I think the Spanish have a fantastic history.
The story of why Murcians pronounce c as th I thought was a joke before I moved here but no their King had a lisp and therefore called Murcia Murthia it's true ....all the s sounds are th's

Martin I know what you mean and that is one reason why my Spanish hasn't progressed mor tha un poco, but at least like me you try ....unlike the person who I met who doesn't believe in trying at all thinking it's their right to have the Spanish speak english for them .....

Agree wholeheartedly with your comments Uzzi. I've been living on Rhodes in Greece for the last two years and am ashamed to say that my Greek has not progressed as much as it ought, but I do try to use Greek as much as I can. Perhaps what doesnt help is the fact that most Rhodians' English is far better than my Greek is ever likely to be!

Well done Uzzi for integrating with your Spanish.
When I first arrived in Spain I went to the free illiteracy class which is held every evening in just about every village in Spain, it is primarily for Spanish who can't read or write (not many of the older generation can). I was the only foreigner there and couldn't understand A WORD as it was all in village dialect. Anyway everyone welcomed me and I went on free excursions with them learning culture and more importantly how the Spanish think! Ask about these classes in your Ayuntamiento, won't cost you a penny and you'll enjoy yourself! Good luck!

Thank NW I am fine, was just a bit puzzled (nothing unusual!!)

Ann there was no reason really for the Upps I wandered into general apart from I lost my thread and realised I had been in gen not chat when I wrote it.
Was about to have a senile moment but as I said it's as valid here as on chat. and maybe some people don't cross over so even better lol

Nightwatchman Gen has a lot going for it which is the reason I look in.

edit to say NW I am more used to chat but that isn't or wasn't always the case I am comfortable with people on both boards and do flit in and out as explained I thought I had posted on chat

I don't think I have ever been on this board before! although I skim and scan a fair bit! I am only guessing here, but perhaps Uzzi is more usedto chat! like myself! trust the day finds you well Ann in glos?

I am puzzled by your remark Uzzi (Upps I wandered into to the gen boards ..)
Why is it wrong to have this on the gen boards and why do you feel you shouldn't have posted on here? Like I said I am puzzled.

I too hate that attitude Uzzi. Even when we visit Tenerife we do try and use a few words of Spanish, enough to be polite, even though most of the shops and restaurants do speak English. Although in North Tenerife more speak German I think than English so maybe we should learn that!!

Upps I wandered into to the gen boards ... still it's as valid here as it is on chat

I was talking to somebody earlier who has lived out here "for more years than I care to remember"
To which I replied oh good you can help me with my Spanish

Now I admit after 6 years out here I haven't learnt that much which is to my disgrace, but I do know enough to get by in shops etc and to be polite. My excuse is living heavily amongst ex-pats. Mind that will change in October when I move to a sector with many Spanish residents.

Anyway the person I was speaking to replied that they don't speak Spanish at all, after why should we they all speak english and if they don't they should seeing as 'we' are putting money into their economy.

I was actually gobsmacked. They are actually quite wrong also as many of the older residents on here do not speak English which I pointed out to the person only to be told well that maybe so but they aren't missed as there are enough english language speakers about. When asked how she got on at the shop where also few speak english (well they can understand some but won't if you can't be bothered to try with them) The answer was pointing and speaking slowly and if that doesn't work shopping where they understand.

I'm appalled at the attitude and will be making a point of talking with my new Spanish neighbours. T'is a shame because it would be nice to have english around but not with that attitude to their adopted countrymen (and women) .

One good that has come out of the conversation :- I will get that Spanish course out again and learn more. he he and practice it on my new neighbours. who already think I'm a loon and smile tolerantly me. They don't know what they have let themselves in for ...It would have been better to close the blinds and locked the gate.

Seriously though it's does make me mad it's not the not learning of the language but the 'why should we' . Why because it's their country that we have chosen and they have allowed us to live in.

hasta luego

gracias para escuchar