Phonetics.

Question

Has anyone found that a course (or personal study) of phonetics has assisted them with learning spoken Spanish? I am always at a loss for what people are saying despite being able to understand probably around 60% of non repetitive content (90% if you include basic words that make up almost all sentences) when reading.

I'm watching a show right now, and the woman is berating some children who have vandalized her temple. She says something like "has que nozos con perros" to admonish them, but I can not figure out what the words before con perros actually are. I'm considering doing some private study in the phonetics of Spanish in order to help me with this. When I run into things like this, I can always hear it after someone tells me what they are saying, but not before. It infuriates me.

Join the club amigo/a :) - ian-hill, Jun 26, 2013

Answer 1

Hi ATuring, the University of Iowa has a phonetics project that you may find useful. You need to have Flash 7 to use the site. They have done the phonetic sounds of American English, German and Spanish. It's very well done, but it takes a few minutes to navigate the system and figure out how to use it. Good luck! The Sounds Of Spoken Language

Thanks Marge, some of it seems a little funky, but it looks interesting. - ATuring, Jun 26, 2013

Answer 2

It´s possible that could help, but I personally believe it´s a very academic approach to a real world human problem -- that of just needing a lot of practice hearing actual speakers speak. It´s very tough to do that when you´re not immersed in it everyday. For instance, years ago, my German was good enough to attend, and understand fully, post-grad level engineering classes in German. And I lived and worked with Germans 24-7, and even taught basic German to immigrant children. B U T, things blurted out in pop culture lingo and slang and casual speech, could be difficult even then sometimes. Even when I left there, I was still learning everyday and still missed things sometimes. It can be frustrating, but it´s also important to understand it´s normal, as one learns. Don´t be too hard on yourself, and while you continue to learn, celebrate how much you have learned.

Answer 3

Maybe we should just ask native Spanish speakers to talk so that we others can understand them. Ha.

Maybe they could shout - like we do to help foreigners understand us.

or do the baby talk thing :-) - 0095ca4c, Jun 26, 2013

I would love it if they would shout! Just as long as they enunciate while doing it? hehe - ATuring, Jun 26, 2013

Answer 4

Maybe she is saying

Asquerosos

Ahs-keh-roh-sohs

Now, look up the word!