In Spanish words really flow together like no other language.

Question

As beautiful as Spanish is, it is really difficult to distinguish words from each other because everyone speaks it so quickly, and so sentences sound like one long word. My Hispanic friends argue that other languages sound like one huge word when spoken quickly, but I've heard and listened to many other languages and I have to say that Spanish words really flow together like no other language. There is a name for this (how the words stick together) and I don't recall it. If anyone knows I would appreciate the help thank you

Answer 1

Hi Preny,

It's called elision — the omission of sounds as words run together, and although we do it in English too it's more common in Spanish, as you say.

I suddenly realised last night when watching a film set in Iowa (I'm English), I couldn't actually pick out and understand every single word, unless maybe I replayed it a few times, any more than I pick out and understand every single word in a Spanish film. The difference is that in English I'm that bit better at filling in the gaps. With practice though, I'm getting so much better at doing that in Spanish.

Practice makes perfect. (or as close as you can get to that!)

Answer 2

The difference is that in English I'm that bit better at filling in the gaps.

That's it. The better you get at recognising what should be there even if you didn't actually process it, the better your Spanish is.

Good point that.

Answer 3

In my trip to Panama last August, I noticed my hotel manager instructing the kitchen staff (in Spanish, of course). It was fast, but very clear. I was surprised I could follow it pretty well. Although I didn't know all the words, I could recognize the pattern, verb conjugations, conjunctions, the interrogatives, and the ever-present "que". Her diction was so rythmic and beautiful, it was mesmerising. I could sit and listen to it all day...