Fun experience

[Marsopa]

I just got called to interpret (the person who called couldn't tell the difference, apparently) for a Brazilian couple. It ended up being fun. I haven't thought about Portuguese for quite awhile (too long to tell you guys), but I did understand them and just answered back in Spanish. It went just fine.

Marsopa

[Tomisimo]

Sounds like a riot! So Portuguese and Spanish are pretty much mutually intelligible?

[Iris]

For me it's a lot easier to understand Portuguese than Italian

[Marsopa]

Well, David,

I think they are mutually intelligible but only if you have some prior knowledge or exposure. I think that if I hadn't studied Portuguese, I wouldn't have been able to do it. But ironically, although it is the language I studied for the shortest time, I scored the highest on it (except for Spanish) on those online tests that someone had the link for (or else I found myself).

So, even though I can't speak it, apparently I am able to hear it and read it...

[Tomisimo]

I guess I need to get studying then. German is the language I've studied the most (apart from Spanish), and I'd like to study up on French, Portuguese and Italian. I think Portuguese would be the easiest, since it's the closest to Spanish.

[Rusty]

Portuguese may be closer to Spanish than Italian, but ...
Portuguese has nasal vowels. Brazilian Portuguese also has vowels that change sounds (like o to u, e to i), and a softening of some consonants when followed by e or i (like onde being pronounced onji, eu gosto de (I like) is pronounced eu gostu ji, restaurante is pronounced restauranchi).

[Tomisimo]

So.... In phonology, Portuguese is probably harder, but in vocabulary, Italian would be harder than Portuguese?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

So.... In phonology, Portuguese is probably harder, but in vocabulary, Italian would be harder than Portuguese?

I studied both languages, more out of curiosity than anything else. I found it easier to read Portuguese because the vocubulary is closer to Spanish (once you apply differences in spelling and learn important differences in articles and recognize certain phonemes that have a direct correlation to Spanish). Someone who speaks Portuguese can usually understand someone who speaks Spanish much better than the other way around.

Here is an interesting tidbit:
The double consonants that end in the letter 'l', like 'bl' in Spanish, end in 'r' in Portuguese and in 'i' in Italian. Here are some examples, showing Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian words:
blanco; branco; bianco
placer; prazer; piacere
playa; praia, spiaggia

Here's another little tidbit:
The 'ción' ending in Spanish becomes 'ção' in Portuguese and 'zione' in Italian. Here are some examples:
acción, acção, azione
atención, atenção, attenzione

[Tomisimo]

Great info Rusty! Now I've got a headstart on Portuguese and Italian.

Originally Posted by Iris

For me it's a lot easier to understand Portuguese than Italian

Hello,

Wow! It's nice to hear that easier for you to understand Portuguese. In my side it’s easier for me to understand Italian.

But I love to study both languages.

Good luck to each and everyone.

[CrOtALiTo]

Vivianne, I've 8 months studing English, my native language is Spanish, I love the English, and you, What other language you know speak.?

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

I've 8 months studing English

Tengo 8 meses estudiando inglés.
I have been studying English for 8 months.
(literalmente) *He estado estudiando inglés por 8 meses.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yeah, David, it's another mean to say it.


Thank you very much for your corrections.

[Ramses]

In the shop I work there are often Portuguese people doing their daily errands. They don't speak Dutch that well, but as soon as they found out that I speak Spanish, they often want to have a chat with me, hehe. They mix Portuguese with the Spanish they know, and it's pretty easy for me to understand them. But! Last night I was watching 'Cidade de Deus' (Ciudad de Dios - City of God), and I had a hard time understanding the actors. There were parts where I could understand them without a problem, but some knowledge of Portuguese is needed to fully understand it using your Spanish.

* Sorry if I made grammatical errors, I've been getting Spanish input last week almost 18 hours a day, so both my Dutch and English is messed up right now .

[Alfonso]

Hi Ramses, I don't think understanding Portuguese is that easy for a Spanish speaker. I'm a native Spanish speaker, and I can speak with a Brazilian or a Portuguese person if they collaborate. I can read Portuguese, although I have never studied seriously Portuguese. But in a book you have your own cooperation. You decide the speed, you re-read as much as you want, you might use the dictionary, you can ask somebody else... On the other hand, what's the cooperation you can find in a movie? I think these are different experiences when learning a language. It would have been surprising that you understood Cidade de Deus only because you are learning Spanish.

[poli]

I think Brazilian Portuguese is easier to understand than the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. I think a lot of Brazilians speak some Spanish with a heavy Portuguese accent which sounds sexy, but I really have to concentrate to understand them.

[CrOtALiTo]

Poli, I think, what the portuguese is most difficult that another language, including I think what's more easier to learn English than Brazilian

[CrOtALiTo]

Poli, I think, what the portuguese is most difficult that another language, including I think what's more easier to learn English than Brazilian and Portuguese too.

At least, it's my own view point.

[poli]

Es que muchos brasileños hablan español aunque sea un español chapurreado. Es la segunda lengua del pais.
Hace sentido porque todos sus vecinos son hispanos.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes, you've the reason, but it's as us the Mexicans, at least it's my case, I know to write English so so, but I don't know speak English, very well, only I do the intent in Speaking, you know, I'm speaking about this language very wonderful that's the English.

Regards.