Lesson 7: Pronunciation of Nasal Vowels,  Invitations to Parties

Lesson 7: Pronunciation of Nasal Vowels, Invitations to Parties

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin December 18, 2006 Duration: 12:47
asset title: Lesson 7: Pronunciation of Nasal Vowels, Invitations to Parties filename: tafalado_07.mp3 track number: 8/46 time: 12:47 size: 8.99 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Often people hear, 'I think Portuguese sounds a lot like French and Spanish combined.' Maybe those that say this are hearing the nasalized vowels in Portuguese, and there are a lot of them. Either way, this lesson introduces the nasalized vowels. As to the cultural element, Michelle and Valdo talk about how surprised they were to see that sometimes invitations to parties in the United States not only tell you when the party starts, but also when the party ends. How bizarre is that? Dialog Portuguese Michelle: Olha aqui o convite de casamento que a minha irmã me enviou hoje de manhã. Valdo: Mas ela não é muito tua fã, né? Mandou o convite com horário pra começar e terminar? Sem noção! Michelle: Sim, quando eu vim pra cá também estranhei. Valdo: Bom, no Brasil isso não funcionaria de jeito nenhum. Michelle: Concordo contigo. Valdo: Tudo bem ter um horário pra começar a festa, mas pra terminar nunca. Spanish Michelle: Mira aquí la invitación de la boda que mi hermana me envió hoy por la mañana. Valdo: Pero ella no es fanática tuya, ¿verdad? ¿Mandó la invitación con horario para comenzar y terminar? ¡Difícil de creer! Michelle: Sí, cuando vine aquí también pensé que era raro. Valdo: Bueno, en Brasil eso no funcionaría de ninguna manera. Michelle: De acuerdo contigo. Valdo: Todo bien en tener un horario para comenzar la fiesta, pero para terminar nunca. English Michelle: Look at this wedding invitation that my sister sent to me this morning. Valdo: She must not be much of a fan of yours, right? She sent the invitation with the beginning and an ending time? Hard to believe! Michelle: Yeah, when I first came here I thought it was weird too. Valdo: Well, in Brazil this would never work at all. Michelle: I agree with you. Valdo: No problem with a starting time for a party, but never for an ending time.

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 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
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…