Guide To The Spanish Language
An introduction to Spanish without the grammar - A new and fresh perspective with some interesting items on
language and the similarities between Spanish and English
It seems that each different language has its own particular rhythm, rather like
music. The ups and downs, the rhythm and the pitch can be used to identify the language used even if you do not understand one word. When foreigners
use English they quite often use English words but deliver those words in the pitch and rhythm of their mother tongue “I am from Sweeeden” in a high pitch
and “I am from Rush-a” in a much lower pitch. When we hear foreigners in conversation we can hear their accent and very often guess at where they are
from. We are able to do this because we recognize the musical characteristics of their mother tongue. It will be the same for us speaking
Spanish; the Spanish people will probably guess fairly quickly that we are
from the UK. This characteristic of speech can be used to interesting and sometimes comical effect, have you ever seen the TV programme “Hello
Hello”? they cleverly make use of foreigner’s bad accents and mispronunciation.
Those who are said to be fluent in Spanish have, not only a good understanding of grammar and vocabulary, but have also mastered the
delivery of the words and the pronunciation. They understand the rhythm of the language. This is true for anyone who is considered fluent in any
language. A fluent speaker will understand not only the vocabulary and grammar, but the very essence and nature of the language.
To converse in Spanish we need to think about the nature of the language, the pronunciation, the rhythm and the pitch of delivery and the elision. In
France they are notorious for refusing to co-operate with foreigners unless they get the tone, pitch and rhythm of the delivery spot on. I have found the
Spanish are far more accommodating.
