For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Por favor disculpameIn Spain they do not speak “español “but castillano . That is a big difference.
Español they speak in latin America.
Is that really so? Just to avoid confusion: I am aware of the polemics and political sensitivities.In Spain they do not speak “español “but castillano . That is a big difference.
Español they speak in Latin America.
Hi Akela77:I am staying in Santiago de Compostela for 2 months to travel and learn Spanish (taking a course). Right now, I'm working off of what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Hi Albertinho:In Spain they do not speak “español “but castillano . That is a big difference.
Español they speak in latin America.
One can write a lot about languages and foreign languages and it is interesting stuff.I used to work for some years in Spain as a salesman and my area was the four provinces of Catalunya [...]
Interesting.Hi Albertinho:
The Castellano became the language of Spain once the country was reunified after the “Reconquista” or the defeat of the Moors. Also, became the language brought by the “Conquistadors” to the Americas.
By decree of the United Nations and European Union says that the language spoken in a country should be a demonym of the country. For this reason, Spanish (español) is the name of the country and also the name of the people that live there. Ex. Portugal-Portuguese, France-French, etc.
So, for me either way is correct, my grandparents were from Galicia (O Barco de Valdeorroa). This theme is delicate, as many of the regions are seeking to become independent countries themselves. One of requirements of the European Union to consider creation of a country is that the language be unique; that it is ancient, no traces of another language. The only in Spain that qualifies under this requirement is: Basque Country, their language is older than Greek and Latin. That’s why the other two major areas, Cataluña and Galicia, are very expectant of the independence events.
Hope this helps bring some light into the ring.
Ivan_Prada
I understand these feelings. Quick own background: passive (reading) knowledge now quite good, active (speaking and listening) knowledge still very poor. I walk in sections and started the Camino Frances with zero active knowledge in Navarra and ended it in Galicia with enough knowledge to order food in a bar or a restaurant, buy bus or train tickets, check in at an hotel or albergue, have very simple conversational exchanges. (I practised at home between those sections).what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Hee Haw !I learned my Spanish from cowboy movies but soon found that phrases like "manos
arriba" and "mata los gringos" were of limited use on the Camino. So I learned cafe con leche grande" and now I get by just fine.
Good question, and from my experience as a native English speaker who has learned both Spanish and Galician, the answer is no, avoiding reference to the language as "español" is not necessary from an etiquette point of view. Castellano and español are synonyms.One can write a lot about languages and foreign languages and it is interesting stuff.
However, the question here is posted by someone who will spend time in Santiago in the autonomous region of Galicia and has already knowledge - a little high school Spanish, enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Would it matter to the locals in Santiago in the region of Galicia whether you say that you speak only a bit of español instead of only a bit of castellano? Would it be part of the local 'etiquette' to avoid referring to the language as español? As I mentioned already, I am more than a little aware of political issues related to minority languages as they are called in various EU countries (many have them in addition to their official language or official languages); in Spain, the preferred term is perhaps autonomous languages or what is the usual term in Spain?
Smile. It goes a long way.I am staying in Santiago de Compostela for 2 months to travel and learn Spanish (taking a course). Right now, I'm working off of what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Or laugh at yourself! That goes a long way too!Smile. It goes a long way.
cafe con leche grande
Just got back from France. My fractured French was always an embarrassment to me, but I always was able to communicate. Here's the key, which I learned from walking the camino: 1. Look plaintive (there's nothing more endearing than looking like a miserable peregrino), 2. Always open by apologizing for your miserable Spanish...doing so in Spanish (or French or whatever). They will always deny that you are pathetic, no matter how bad you are. This makes you even more endearing! 3. Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat...again using their language. 4. Talk as naturally as you can and never, ever raise your voice. They can hear your bad language perfectly fine; don't make it more painful for them.I am staying in Santiago de Compostela for 2 months to travel and learn Spanish (taking a course). Right now, I'm working off of what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
As a humble pilgrim who speaks only a handful words of Spanish - I found that "No hablo español. May we speak English?" generally kept me out of trouble...I am staying in Santiago de Compostela for 2 months to travel and learn Spanish (taking a course). Right now, I'm working off of what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Sorry in Spain and Latin America both speak Spanish, Castellano was the language spoken in Castilla, the same language Don Quijote was written, we can say Castellano it’s old Spanish.In Spain they do not speak “español “but castillano . That is a big difference.
Español they speak in latin America.
Castellano is a name for modern Spanish. Using castellano instead of español to denote the overall official language of Spain is a fairly recent development. This may not be widely known in other countries. Pay attention to Spanish websites where you can choose from a number of languages in which the text of the website will be displayed: You will often but not always see castellano for Spanish in the menu options, for example on the website of the Tourism Office of Galicia, see this screenshot:Castellano was the language spoken in Castilla, the same language Don Quijote was written, we can say Castellano it’s old Spanish.
Now I understand why my Spanish customers thought I was born in Medieval times and my real name is Sancho Panza .Sorry in Spain and Latin America both speak Spanish, Castellano was the language spoken in Castilla, the same language Don Quijote was written, we can say Castellano it’s old Spanish.
As this random collection shows: The pilgrim albergue of Roncesvalles opted for Español, as did the Alsa bus company while the Spanish railway operator Renfe does not only offer the usual four - Castellano [Spanish], Catalán, Euskera [Basque] and Gallego [Galician] but also Valenciano [regional language spoken in the east of Spain].You will often but not always see castellano for Spanish in the menu options,
Not to derail this even further, but the name "valenciano" is interesting, as the language spoken in and around Valencia is commonly called catalán. It's a different variant than what's spoken in Barcelona but is generally considered to be the same language, though choosing to call it "valenciano" could also have political undertones.As this random collection shows: The pilgrim albergue of Roncesvalles opted for Español, as did the Alsa bus company while the Spanish railway operator Renfe does not only offer the usual four - Castellano [Spanish], Catalán, Euskera [Basque] and Gallego [Galician] but also Valenciano [regional language spoken in the east of Spain].
Luckily, @akela77 who started this thread is not planning to study all five of them.
View attachment 127040
I have not read any replies. You ask for tips. Find the Mercado. Go look at the stands. Ask the people behind the counters to tell you something about their offerings. They generally have the name of the items written, and the price. You could find a not so busy person and see if they have time and interest to respond to you, once you say: (of course they will see this anyway!) Soy extranjera/extranjero. Quiero aprender más Eg: Como se dice, or - la pronunciación? Y, para cocinar? I can't quite get my keyboard to respond properly, nor do I actually know for sure where all the accents go! I recall my first letter in Spanish. I inserted a few tildes here and there for effect...relax into it. The object? To understand be understood? Ok. Dive in! And then, buen caminoI am staying in Santiago de Compostela for 2 months to travel and learn Spanish (taking a course). Right now, I'm working off of what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
IncorrectIn Spain they do not speak “español “but castillano . That is a big difference.
Español they speak in latin America.
Speaking of English...I will never forget walking on the Camino Ignaciano and arriving in Catalunya. We went into a restaurant in Verdu, the waiter came up to us, I ordered in Spanish and the waiter walked away. I signaled him to come back. He did...with the same result. After a few minutes, i sought him out and asked him what's the problem? He said to me in English, "You are in Catalunya. Speak Catalan or English. Otherwise, no service." We were stunned, but we then noticed not even one Spanish flag in town, or in many other subsequent towns in Catalunya. This was 5 years ago, so perhaps things have changed there. In any case, it was nice to have English as a fallback!As a humble pilgrim who speaks only a handful words of Spanish - I found that "No hablo español. May we speak English?" generally kept me out of trouble...
I recall only two occasions when I was caught out - once when I tried to order a freshly squeezed orange juice and two nearby pilgrims (i was later told) mocked me for travelling in Spain without knowing the basics of the language, and when I tried to order orujo de hierbas and the lady behind the counter told me quite firmly that "we don't speak English here!". Fortunately for me, another lady behind the counter came over and we quickly sorted out what I wanted.
And, should you ask, why did I not learn more Spanish? I have a hearing impediment (age and industrial deafness) that makes it very difficult to discern and remember the nuances of another language...
Moral of my story - it is generally OK if you do not speak any Spanish (except perhaps for Hola and gracias) on the Camino, if you are humble about it... Commerce and humanitarian needs/acts speak all languages.
I prefer to alternate with "Una cerveza por favor"This is the only language I need!!
When I learnt French as an older adult, the best advice I received was:I am staying in Santiago de Compostela for 2 months to travel and learn Spanish (taking a course). Right now, I'm working off of what little high school Spanish I remember. It's enough to get by so far, but with difficulty. Mostly I'm just feeling awkward and bad for not knowing the language! Does anybody have any tips (for in the meantime as I get my bearings) for etiquette when you don't speak the same language? I know it's probably silly but I tend to internalize any perceived or potential annoyance at my not knowing Spanish. Any experiences, reassurance, and/or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?