Pronunciation watch

[Richard Tarleton]

I think it's Catalan rather than Castilian.....I have no Catalan beyond a sketchy reading knowledge - no cedillas in Spanish, but Catalan a sort of mash-up of Spanish and French.....sure somebody eg ff or jean knows more....

[french frank]

Wiki Wiki Wiki: "Catalan. Known as ce trencada (that is, "broken C") in this language, where it can be used before "a", "o", "u", or at the end of a word. Some examples of words with "c"-cedilla are: amenaça "menace", torçat "twisted", xoriço "chorizo", forçut "strong", dolç "sweet", caça "hunting". A well-known word with this character is Barça, a common Catalan diminutive for FC Barcelona, also used across the world, including the Spanish-language media.

In other words, it's used much as the cedilla is used in French - and c before e and i is 'ss', not th. In any case, even in Spain the 'soft c' isn't always pronounced th. I would expect 'Barsselona' and 'Barssa', with cedilla being used, as necessary, to indicate the 'soft c'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I would expect 'Barsselona' and 'Barssa', with cedilla being used, as necessary, to indicate the 'soft c'.

They do seem to pronounce it "Barthelona" in Madrid, though admittedly my sample is tiny.

[french frank]

They do seem to pronounce it "Barthelona" in Madrid, though admittedly my sample is tiny.

Ah, but they would be madrileños, speaking Castilian Spanish.

[teamsaint]

Ah, but they would be madrileños, speaking Castilian Spanish.

Its none of their business.
This should help.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tZQ9Z0CIWIA

( cut to the last 20 seconds if you want).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks to all. I'm beginning to get it. I'll get my Linguaphone box out and check Lesson 19.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Um. Definitely "Barrrthelona" on the Linguaphone course, but presumably it's Castillian Spanish throughout.

[Padraig]

I was intrigued and delighted this week to HEAR a newsreader say " ......and walked away from the fall unscathèd."

[Serial_Apologist]

I was intrigued and delighted this week to HEAR a newsreader say " ......and walked away from the fall unscathèd."

The word "decried" is quite commonly in use these days - which I don't remember in earlier times. "Do you use that word over here?" a Canadian friend asked me; "we would think that a very old fashioned word".

[french frank]

" ......and walked away from the fall unscathèd."

Bathèd in sweat, but perhaps swathèd in protective clothing?

Never felt there was anything old-fashioned about 'decry' - ever since I learned it it has seemed to be current. The OED definition hasn't been updated since 1894, last example as I would use it ('disparage, attack the reputation of sthg') is 1872. And the more I think about it, I don't think I've used in since about 1908 ...

[gurnemanz]

I was intrigued and delighted this week to HEAR a newsreader say " ......and walked away from the fall unscathèd."

I also enjoy those èd past participles. Maybe it was used there because the verb "scathe" (German schaden = to damage) is now obsolete, apart from "scathing" as pres participle adjective. Interestingly, blessèd, learnèd, accursèd, belovèd, agèd etc only have "èd" when used as adjectives not as part of a full verb.

[Serial_Apologist]

I also enjoy those èd past participles. Maybe it was used there because the verb "scathe" (German schaden = to damage) is now obsolete, apart from "scathing" as pres participle adjective. Interestingly, blessèd, learnèd, accursèd, belovèd, agèd etc only have "èd" when used as adjectives not as part of a full verb.

Or as the surname of Brian

[jean]

Sections of this encounter are all over the place.

But the first timne I saw an extract, it included Cameron reading a bit about the dragon's 'fiery breath', which he pronounced FEERY.

It seems to have been expunged from the record.

[MrGongGong]

Sections of this encounter are all over the place.

But the first timne I saw an extract, it included Cameron reading a bit about the dragon's 'fiery breath', which he pronounced FEERY.

It seems to have been expunged from the record.

I think she is probably more annoyed at being made to go to school in the Easter Holidays just so that he can get a few nice photos for the media.
Did these children get an extra day off?
How much was the school bribed (not just in £ terms)?

[jean]

Never mind that - it's Cameron's pronunciation I'm talking about!