Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped

Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin December 11, 2007 Duration: 11:03
asset title: Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped filename: tafalado_gra_20.mp3 track number: 46/46 time: 11:03 size: 7.77 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Oh man, where did this word come from? After a whole series of lessons in pronunciation and grammar ... and now we learn a whole bunch of words where Spanish and Portuguese are totally different. If Tá Falado is supposed to show learners the similarities between these two languages, well, this lesson just won't do that. Today Michelle and Valdo give as words like embora, ainda, rapaz, jeito, cedo, and tomara. It is true that Spanish and Portuguese are similar in many ways. However, today we look at the words that are not similar at all. Dialog Portuguese Michelle: Rapaz! Você viu aquele cara na cadeira de rodas entrando no ônibus hoje cedo? Valdo: Vi sim. Acho interessante esse jeito que os americanos têm de lidar com as pessoas com necessidades especiais, adaptando as ruas e os ônibus. Michelle: Pois é, aqui as poltronas se fecham e as portas dos ônibus se abaixam pra acomodar as pessoas. Valdo: Embora no Brasil os ônibus não tenham tantas adaptações, ninguém pode reclamar porque o sistema de transporte público é bom. Michelle: Tá, mas deixa eu fazer uma fofoca que talvez você não se lembre: no Brasil não tem ar nos ônibus, a gente tem que abrir as janelas pra ventilarse. Valdo: Por outro lado, tem o calor humano. As pessoas podem até deitar umas em cima das outras de tão cheio que às vezes os ônibus ficam. Tá vendo... pra que melhorar? Spanish Michelle: Chico, ¿viste tú aquella persona en la silla de ruedas que estaba entrando en el autobús temprano esta mañana? Valdo: Sí, lo vi. Pienso que es interesante esta manera que tienen los norteamericanos de ayudar a las personas que tienen necesidades especiales, adaptando las calles y los autobuses. Michelle: Pues, aquí las poltronas se cierran y las puertas de los autobuses se bajan para acomodar a las personas. Valdo: A pesar de que en el Brasil los autobuses no tengan tantas adaptaciones, nadie va a reclamar por que el sistema de transporte público es bueno. Michelle: Sí, pero cuidado en no exagerar porque tal vez no te acuerdes pero en el Brasil no hay aire condicionado en los autobuses. Hay que abrir las ventanas para ventilar. Valdo: Por otro lado, existe un calor humano. Las personas pueden hasta descansar unas encima de las otras porque a veces los autobuses anda muy llenos. Lo ves, ¿para qué mejorar? English Michelle: Man, did you see that guy in the wheel chair getting into the bus early this morning? Valdo: I did see him. I think it's interesting the way that Americans take care of people who have special needs, changing the streets and the busses. Michelle: I know, here the seats close up and the doors of the bus can be lowered to accommodate the people. Valdo: Although Brazil doesn't have busses that have such adaptations, nobody complains because the public transportation system is so good. Michelle: Right, but don't go too far with these stories because maybe you have forgotten that the buses in Brazil don't have air conditioning, you've got to open the window to get some air. Valdo: On the other hand, you've got human warmth. People even end up lying on top of one another because the buses en up so full sometimes. You see, what is there to improve?

For anyone who speaks Spanish and wants to learn the distinct sounds of Brazilian Portuguese, Tá Falado is a focused and practical resource. This podcast comes from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and it’s built on a simple, effective idea: your existing knowledge of Spanish is a powerful starting point. Each episode deliberately contrasts the two languages, breaking down specific pronunciation challenges like vowel sounds, nasal consonants, and intonation patterns that often trip up Spanish speakers. You’ll hear clear comparisons and practice examples that highlight these differences directly. Beyond the mechanics of speech, the podcast naturally weaves in cultural notes and real-life scenarios, offering glimpses into daily life and social interactions in Brazil compared to common experiences in the United States. It’s this combination of linguistic precision and cultural context that makes the lessons stick. As part of the broader Brazilpod project, Tá Falado is academically informed but entirely approachable, turning a potentially difficult learning curve into a series of manageable, insightful steps. The goal isn’t just to be understood, but to sound more authentic and confident when speaking.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Tá Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish
Podcast Episodes
Grammar Lesson 19: Present Perfect, Naming People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:09
asset title: Grammar Lesson 19: Present Perfect, Naming People filename: tafalado_gra_19.mp3 track number: 45/46 time: 16:09 size: 11.36 MB bitrate: 96 kbps One of life's great mysteries is if a Brazilian marries someone…
Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:56
asset title: Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services filename: tafalado_gra_18.mp3 track number: 44/46 time: 10:56 size: 7.69 MB bitrate: 96 kbps So how weird would it be to be a Brazilian in the United States…
Grammar Lesson 17: Também x Também não, Online Activities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:44
asset title: Grammar Lesson 17: Também x Também não, Online Activities filename: tafalado_gra_17.mp3 track number: 43/46 time: 9:44 size: 6.85 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Spanish speakers who are used to saying tampoco will now…
Grammar Lesson 16: Placement of Indirect Pronouns, Greeting Friends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
asset title: Grammar Lesson 16: Placement of Indirect Pronouns, Greeting Friends filename: tafalado_gra_16.mp3 track number: 42/46 time: 12:33 size: 8.82 MB bitrate: 96 kbps In this lesson, Michelle claims that most peop…
Grammar Lesson 15: False Cognates, Driver's License [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:50
asset title: Grammar Lesson 15: False Cognates, Driver's License filename: tafalado_gra_15.mp3 track number: 41/46 time: 10:50 size: 7.62 MB bitrate: 96 kbps No kidding, Orlando was in Mexico City one time and saw a man…
Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:24
asset title: Grammar Lesson 14: Absence of Direct Object Pronouns, Mobile Homes filename: tafalado_gra_14.mp3 track number: 40/46 time: 10:24 size: 7.32 MB bitrate: 96 kbps OK, so you are driving down the freeway and you…
Grammar Lesson 13: Gender in Portuguese and Spanish, Buying Alcohol [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:33
asset title: Grammar Lesson 13: Gender in Portuguese and Spanish, Buying Alcohol filename: tafalado_gra_13.mp3 track number: 39/46 time: 11:33 size: 8.12 MB bitrate: 96 kbps To be clear, we are referring to gender agreem…
Grammar Lesson 11: Topic-Comment Patterns, Special Needs Privileges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:01
asset title: Grammar Lesson 11: Topic-Comment Patterns, Special Needs Privileges filename: tafalado_gra_11.mp3 track number: 37/46 time: 12:01 size: 8.46 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Just look at that barriga! Clearly the polite…
Grammar Lesson 10: Word Order of Negative Phrases, Paying for Parties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:25
asset title: Grammar Lesson 10: Word Order of Negative Phrases, Paying for Parties filename: tafalado_gra_10.mp3 track number: 36/46 time: 11:25 size: 8.02 MB bitrate: 96 kbps 'Não, não sei não.' This is the pattern for…