Lesson 10: Pronunciation of Palatalization, Cell Phones and Driving

Lesson 10: Pronunciation of Palatalization, Cell Phones and Driving

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin January 5, 2007 Duration: 13:47
asset title: Lesson 10: Pronunciation of Palatalization, Cell Phones and Driving filename: tafalado_10.mp3 track number: 11/46 time: 13:47 size: 9.70 MB bitrate: 96 kbps One of the great differences between Spanish and Portuguese is seen in how Brazilians pronounce words that are spelled with 'ti,' which sounds more like 'chee' and how words spelled with 'di' sound more like 'jee.' The fancy word for this is palatalization. But look out, not all Brazilian dialects do it. So, in this lesson we listen to Valdo and Michelle, who both do it. In the next lesson we'll repeat the same dialog to hear what these words sound like without palatalization. As to the culture part of this lesson, Valdo and Michelle talk about the use of cellular phones while driving. Dialog Portuguese Valdo: Um dia desses minha tia, que já é de idade, veio me visitar aqui em Austin. Michelle: Ela conversou contigo sobre a cidade? O que ela disse? Valdo: Ela gostou, mas desde que chegou decidiu falar mal de quem usa celular no trânsito. Michelle: Não acredito. Por que? Valdo: É que ela perdeu os dentes num típico acidente de carro em que o motorista estava usando o celular enquanto dirigia. Michelle: Que coisa triste! Eh, diante disso é até bom que no Brasil a gente seja proibido de usar o celular no volante. Você pode receber aquela multa! Spanish Valdo: Un día de estos mi tía, que ya es de edad, vino a visitarme aquí en Austin. Michelle: ¿Ella conversó contigo sobre la ciudad? ¿Qué dijo ella? Valdo: A ella le gustó, pero desde que llegó decidió hablar mal de los que usan el celular en el tráfico. Michelle: No lo creo. ¿Por qué? Valdo: Es que ella perdió los dientes en un típico accidente de carro en que el conductor estaba usando el celular mientras conducía. Michelle: Qué cosa triste! A causa de esto, es bueno que en Brasil nosotros seamos prohibidos usar el celular en el volante. Usted puede recibir una multa! English Valdo: A few days ago my aunt, who is getting older, came to visit me here in Austin. Michelle: Did she talk to you about the city? What did she say? Valdo: She liked it, but ever since she arrived she has decided to talk bad about those who use their cell phone while driving. Michelle: I can't believe that. Why? Valdo: She lost her teeth in a typical car accident where the driver was using a cell phone while driving. Michelle: How sad! Given that it's a good thing that in Brazil it's against the law to use a cell phone while driving. You could get a ticket!

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
Lesson 2: Pronunciation of /u/, Slamming the Car Door [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:27
asset title: Lesson 2: Pronunciation of /u/, Slamming the Car Door filename: tafalado_02.mp3 track number: 2/46 time: 9:27 size: 6.65 MB bitrate: 96 kbps The good news about Lesson #2 is that we're back. It must be that…
Lesson 1: Pronunciation of /i/, Getting the Check at a Restaurant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:32
asset title: Lesson 1: Pronunciation of /i/, Getting the Check at a Restaurant filename: tafalado_01.mp3 track number: 1/46 time: 10:32 size: 7.41 MB bitrate: 96 kbps There's only one Lesson #1. We'll never have a first…