The Catalan Language: Facts & Resources

Talk Now Catalan

IF you're new to Catalan, there are some basics you will have to learn, whether you're eight years old or 80, on business abroad or a tourist on holiday. Talk Now! Catalan offers a simple-to-use method for you to start learning the language, whoever you are.

Will it work for me?

Lots of people have difficulty learning languages. Why? Most have been put off at school, don't have time to learn, or think they are too lazy to do it.

Talk Now! Catalan answers these problems:

It lifts the language off the page. There are no dull exercises; just encouraging games that award you points for progress.

It fits easily into short ten-minute sessions. But if you want to push yourself you can learn the basics in a weekend.

if you think you're lazy, think again! You'll be amazed how motivated you can be when you enjoy the experience of learning!

What will I learn?

To speak and understand enough to "get by".

You're just starting, so we won't drop you in at the deep end. There are some things you'll want to say in any language: you'll want to say 'hello', order a drink, ask for directions and so on.

This beginners program gets straight to the point. It covers food, colors, shopping, parts of the body, numbers, telling the time, countries, greetings and essential phrases.

How does it work?

Talk Now! Catalan gives you easy-to-achieve goals. Learning a new language is far too big a task to tackle all at once, so we have broken it down into a series of rewarding challenges.

Play interactive language games. Talk Now! feeds you new words, along with pictures to reinforce your memory. It then tests your knowledge with fun quizzes. As soon as you start playing you start learning.

Earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You will hear Catalan all of the time and, using the recording games, you can start speaking straight away, then compare your voice to a native speaker.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or the ferry without a computer. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you, or upload the program's sound files onto an iPod.

System Requirements

Windows 2000 or later
Mac OS X 10.3.9 or above
CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)
You can also upload words onto your iPod

For more information visit Talk Now Beginner Catalan Software.

Talk More Catalan

THIS program teaches basic conversational phrases with structures that can be adapted to fit different situations. It also tackles one of the main challenges in learning a foreign language: building the confidence to speak it. Talk More's recording function allows you to compare your accent with that of a native speaker. Perfect for building a learner's spoken confidence.

Will it work for me?

If you know some basic Catalan, but you don't think you could handle a full conversation, Talk More will get you talking. Because it's aimed at recent beginners, everything you hear will be clearly spoken at a speed that you can easily keep up with.

What will I learn?

In this program you'll start putting together complete sentences, as opposed to learning individual bits of vocabulary. We've selected a range of phrases you commonly need abroad, including many that you might find essential: for example, "I'd like to pay by credit card", "My camera has been stolen", and "Where is the pharmacy?"

Topics cover greetings, shops and restaurants, getting around, hotels, phone calls, emergencies, leisure and the basic vocabulary of business and technology.

How does it work?

Watch and learn! See and hear how to speak Catalan by watching video footage of native speakers.

Build confidence on a computer. Before testing your new speaking skills in the real world, record yourself, then play back to compare your pronunciation with that of a native speaker. (Note that we don't use electronic voice analysis: the human ear is usually much more accurate.)

Play interactive games. The comprehension quiz prompts you to react to real life situations, while a challenging recording quiz tests your knowledge and pronunciation.

You earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or on the ferry. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you.

System Requirements

Windows 2000 or later
Mac OS X 10.2 or above
CD ROM Drive (+ computer microphone)

For more information visit Talk More Catalan Conversational Software.

Useful Catalan Phrases For Your Holiday in Menorca

By Brenda Jaaback

It's entirely possible to get by on your Menorca holidays without speaking good Catalan or even Spanish. The tourist market is so well developed here, alongside the history of British occupation, that almost all Menorca villas are serviced by towns and villages where English will be easily understood and competently spoken.

However, as many visitors to the island will tell you, an attempt to speak a little Menorquí (the island's dialect of Catalan) or standard Español is not only good manners, but will communicate a degree of humility and interest that will enhance your experience of the islands. As anyone who has lived abroad will tell you, languages are actually very easy to learn once you are immersed in them; and though you may spend no longer than a few weeks here, your Menorca holidays will benefit enormously from attempting a few of these choice phrases:

(N.B. The main difference between Menorquí and Catalan is the use of 'es' and 'sa' for masculine and feminine instead of 'el' and 'la').

Do you speak English? - Parles anglès ?

I don't speak Menorquí - No parlo el Menorquí

Where are you from ? D'on ets ?

I'm from England Sóc d'Anglaterra

My name is .. Em dic ..

What is your name ? Com et dius?

How are you ? Com estàs?

Fine, and you ? Bé, i tu?

Sorry Ho sento

Pardon ? Mana ?

Excuse me Perdona

Thank you Gràcies / Moltes gràcies / Mercès

You're welcome De res

I want to buy .. Vull comprar ..

What is it called in Catalan ? Com es diu això en català ?

How much is it ? Quin preu té ?

Do you accept credit cards ? Accepteu targetes de crèdit ?

Where is .. ? On és..?

Where are .. ? On són..?

How do I get to .. ? Com puc arribar a...?

What sandwiches do you have ? Quins entrepans teniu ?

Is there a table free ? Hi ha alguna taula lliure ?

A table for four, please Una taula per quatre, si us plau

It's my round A aquesta ronda convido jo

What would you like to drink ? Què vols beure ?

Do you have a map of .. ? Té un mapa de...?

How long does it take to get to .. ? Quant de temps cal per arribar a ..?

Cheers/Good health! Salut! Txin txin!

Bon appetit Bon profit! Que vagi de gust!

Good luck Bona sort! Molta sort!

With all these phrases under your belt your holidays in Menorca should be filled with local life and colour, Bon profit!

Brenda Jaaback is the Managing Director of Bartle Holidays. They can provide you with a choice of hand picked Menorca villas, resorts and retreats in prime locations for all your Menorca holiday needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Jaaback


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