Lesson 22: Epenthetic Vowels (wow, fancy word!),  Fast Food

Lesson 22: Epenthetic Vowels (wow, fancy word!), Fast Food

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin March 19, 2007 Duration: 11:50
asset title: Lesson 22: Epenthetic Vowels (wow, fancy word!), Fast Food filename: tafalado_22.mp3 track number: 23/46 time: 11:50 size: 8.32 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Epenthe ... what? Epenthetic vowels. We know, it sounds like a tropical disease, but it's really the linguistic feature that produces such great Brazilian words as 'piquenique' for picnic. Valdo isn't sure he can bring himself to say 'hoti doggie' for 'hot dog,' but he has no problem with 'fasti foodi.' Dialog Portuguese Valdo: Você já observou como a comida daqui é diferente da nossa? Michelle: É óbvio que sim! E o mais absurdo é que a gente não tem opção: é fast food todo dia! Valdo: Você está absolutamente certa! No Brasil, nós nunca substituiríamos um prato de arroz e feijão por um pedaço de pizza ou por um hot dog. Michelle: É verdade. Nossa comida é digna dos deuses! Valdo: Ainda bem que nós não somos adeptos a esse sistema, né? Michelle: Pois é ... apesar do nosso ritmo de vida ser igual, sempre optamos por ter pelo menos uma refeição de verdade. Spanish Valdo: ¿Ha observado usted como la comida de aquí es diferente que la nuestra? Michelle: Sí, es obvio. Y lo más absurdo es que no hay otra opción: es fast food todos los días Valdo: Absolutamente, usted tiene toda la razón. En Brasil, nunca substituiríamos un plato de arroz y frijoles por una pizza o por una hot dog. Michelle: Es verdad. Nuestra comida es digna de los dióses. Valdo: Felizmente no somos adeptos a ese sistema, ¿verdad? Michelle: Pues sí ... puede ser que nuestra ritmo de vida sea igual, pero siempre hay opciones para comer una comida de verdad. English Valdo: Have you ever observed how food here is different from ours? Michelle: It's obvious yes. And the most absurd thing is that we have no options here: fast food every day! Valdo: You are absolutely correct. In Brazil we would never substitute a plate of rice and beans for a slice of pizza or for a hot dog. Michelle: That is true. Our food is worthy of the gods! Valdo: It's a good thing that we aren't very adept at their system, you know? Michelle: You're right ... even if our rhythm of life is just like theirs, we'll always take time to at least have a real meal.

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 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…
Grammar Lesson 9: Possessive Pronouns, How to Dress Like an American [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:29
asset title: Grammar Lesson 9: Possessive Pronouns, How to Dress Like an American filename: tafalado_gra_09.mp3 track number: 35/46 time: 12:29 size: 8.78 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Who would have ever guessed that Valdo and Mi…
Grammar Lesson 8: Plural of words that end in 'ão', Car Insurance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:22
asset title: Grammar Lesson 8: Plural of words that end in 'ão', Car Insurance filename: tafalado_gra_08.mp3 track number: 34/46 time: 13:22 size: 9.40 MB bitrate: 96 kbps So why is the plural of alemão alemães, but he p…
Grammar Lesson 6: The Verb 'Ficar', Studying in Cafés [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
asset title: Grammar Lesson 6: The Verb 'Ficar', Studying in Cafés filename: tafalado_gra_06.mp3 track number: 32/46 time: 11:11 size: 7.87 MB bitrate: 96 kbps In this lesson Orlando dreams about being able to use the ve…
Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:39
asset title: Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons filename: tafalado_gra_05.mp3 track number: 31/46 time: 9:39 size: 6.79 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Here's a trick question for Spanish speakers: Would…
Grammar Lesson 4: Future Subjunctive, Soda Refills at Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:55
asset title: Grammar Lesson 4: Future Subjunctive, Soda Refills at Restaurants filename: tafalado_gra_04.mp3 track number: 30/46 time: 13:55 size: 9.78 MB bitrate: 96 kbps When you go, you will buy a soda. If you buy a s…
Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
asset title: Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations filename: tafalado_gra_03.mp3 track number: 29/46 time: 13:15 size: 9.31 MB bitrate: 96 kbps The plural of Brazil, if there were two of them, would be 'Brasis…
Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:20
asset title: Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine filename: tafalado_gra_02.mp3 track number: 28/46 time: 12:20 size: 8.67 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Can you believe how many contractions Portuguese has…
Grammar Lesson 1: Gostar vs. Gustar,  Sitting on the Grass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:49
asset title: Grammar Lesson 1: Gostar vs. Gustar, Sitting on the Grass filename: tafalado_gra_01.mp3 track number: 27/46 time: 10:49 size: 7.61 MB bitrate: 96 kbps We've made a switch. Welcome back to all who have previo…