Catalan vs. Spanish?

Question

I am going to spend a week in Barcelona by myself. I can handle "Mexican Spanish", but I am worried about struggling with Catalan. I was there 3 years ago and had a hard time understanding the language.

Any tips/shortcuts?

Thanks!

Thanks!

Answer 1

All the people in Cataluña (the region where Barcelona is located) speak Castilian (what is usually called Spanish) along with Catalan. They just speak in Catalan among them, even if the people around don't understand them sometimes.
But if you speak Spanish with them, they will answer in Spanish.
If your "Mexican Spanish" is good enough, you shouldn't have any problems being understood.
The signs or any information are usually both in Catalan and Spanish.

*Edit*
Just one suggestion: If you want them to speak Spanish to you, do not ask them to speak "español" but "castellano". Catalan is a Spanish language too, and they usually don't like it when people call Spanish to Castilian, as if it were the only language in Spain.
That might help you. And they won't have any problems to speak Spanish.

Answer 2

pretty much everyone in Barcelona speaks or at least knows Castillian Spanish, so it's not pure Catalan there. But also know that there are differences between Mexican Spanish and Castillian Spanish. It's nothing huge, just think of what the difference is between American english and British English. Plus, Barcelona is a very tourist-oriented city, so you'll find people that speak English too. But if you can speak mexican spanish, you'll do just fine

Answer 3

I think that people there (like most Europeans) will speak another language (in your case, Spanish) as well as their native language. heck if i went i would just use my mexpañol and ustedes-up the place. Especially if you're out buying something, they'll probably be used to having to speak or at least understand Spanish (btw is that Castillian Spanish? i'm not sure)

I don't know much about Catalan but here are some phrases that i found at wikipedia

Catalan: Català /kətəˈlɑ/
Hello: hola /ˈɔlə/
Good-bye: adéu /əˈðɛw/ (sing.); adéu siau /əˈðɛw siˈaw/ (pl.)
Please: si us plau /sisˈplaw/
Thank you: gràcies /ˈgrɑsiəs/; mercès /mərˈsɛs/
Sorry: perdó /pərˈðo/, ho sento /u ˈsentu/
That one: aquest /əˈkɛt/ (masc.); aquesta /əˈkɛstə/ (fem.)
How much?: quant val? /ˈkwɑmˈbɑl/; quant és? /ˈkwɑnˈes/
Yes: sí /ˈsi/
No: no /ˈno/
I don't understand: No ho entenc /ˈno wənˈteŋ/
where's the bathroom?: on és el bany? /ˈonˈezəlˈβaɲ/; on és el lavabo? /ˈonˈezəlˈləˈβɑβu/
Generic toast: salut! /səˈlut/;
Do you speak English?: Que parla l'anglès? /kə ˈparlə lənˈglɛs/
Do you speak Catalan?: Que parla el català? /kə ˈparləl kətəˈlɑ/

Pues, a mí me parece que puedes preguntar "Que parla el español?" and work your way around.
Kinda looks like a spanish/italian/french blend... good luck and have fun.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Catalan vs. Spanish?
I am going to spend a week in Barcelona by myself. I can handle "Mexican Spanish", but I am worried about struggling with Catalan. I was there 3 years ago and had a hard time understanding the language.

Any tips/shortcuts?

Thanks!

Thanks!

Answer 5

My Spanish teacher actually comes from the Catalan speaking area, and can speak it and read it. If you would like me to get into contact with him for you, I'm sure he'd be willing to help you understand a bit about the language. He's a pretty good and patient teacher.
My email is [e-mail] if you'd like to talk to me more about talking to him for you.

Answer 6

In Barcelona everybody speaks normal Castilian Spanish. They use the Catalán between themselves but not with tourists or visitors. I have been there a couple of times without any problems about the language.

So, enjoy yourself and don´t worry, but please don´t use those Mexican slangs because then you will be totally lost.

Answer 7

I think everyone speak spanish in catalúnia