This article is classified "Real"
The Spanish language is a Romance language, which means it sounds very much
like French and Italian. Actually, it sounds a lot like Italian, and very
little like French. It is a direct descendent of Latin, and follows the
same backwards [1] sentence structure.
This quick primer is meant only as a way for Field Researchers to quickly
and easily voice their concerns and needs while in a Spanish speaking
country, while hopefully hunting for someone who speaks a language that the
Hitchhiker is more fluent in (for example, English).
This article will utilize basic dialogs, a few quick vocab words, and
cut-and-paste sentences [2].
Some quick rules on accenting things in plain text:
1) Putting a "/" after a letter is an accent mark (example:
"a/").
2) Putting a "~" after a letter means to put it over that letter
(example: "n~").
When pronouncing Spanish, remember back to your old Spanish classes. It
all sounds about the same as English, but the vowels are a bit different:
a=ah, e=ay, i=ee, o=oh, u=uu. To really do well, relax your jaw.
Double-r's are to be rolled, and double-l's are pronounced like a 'y'.
NOTE: Not to worry, all of this is correct. The author has been learning
this language for over three years, and while he's not yet fluent, he's
probably on the home stretch. If, however, you find a mistake, alert him,
and he will fix it.
English
-------
Dick: Hello. How are you today?
Jane: Fine, thanks. And yourself?
Dick: I'm a bit tired, and I need some help.
Jane: I'll help you. What do you need?
Dick: Where is the bathroom?
Jane (pointing): Over there.
Dick: Thank you. Where can I buy some food?
Jane: You're welcome... Oh, over there, at that restaurant.
Dick: Thanks again! I have to go now, but thank you.
Jane: It was nothing! Good bye!
Dick: Bye!
Spanish
-------
Dick: Hola. Como esta?
Jane: Bien, gracias. Y Usted?
Dick: Estoy cansado, y necesito ayuda.
Jane: Te ayudare/. Que necesitas?
Dick: Donde esta/ el ban~o, por favor?
Jane: Alli/.
Dick: Gracias. Donde puedo comprar una comida?
Jane: De nada... Oh, alli, en ese restaurante.
Dick: Gracias! Tengo que ir, y gracias!
Jane: De nada! Adios!
Dick: Adios!
Important Vocab
---------------
the/a bathroom el/un ban~o
the/a restaurant el/un restaurante
the/a telephone el/un telefono
help ayuda
money dinero
police policia
Project Galactic Guide gui/a del proyecto gala/ctico
Cut and Paste
-------------
I need <something> Necesito <thing>
I need help Necesito ayuda.
Where is <something> Donde esta/ <thing>
Where is the restaurant Donde esta/ el restaurante?
Do you have <something> Tiene <thing>
Do you have a telephone Tiene un telefono?
I do not have <something> No tengo <thing>.
I do not have it No lo tengo.
I do not understand No entiendo.
Do you speak English? Habla ingles?
Do you speak French? Habla frances?
Do you speak German? Habla ale/man?
Do you understand English? Entiende ingles?
Do you understand French? Entiende frances?
Do you understand German? Entiende ale/man?
I do not speak <language> No hablo <language>.
Well, hopefully, that will help you out in your travels through a Spanish
country. If you want more information, Spanish classes are always being
offered everywhere in the world, and there are a large number of 'Learn
Spanish Now!' books everywhere. Good luck!
[1] In Spanish, when you say "I asked the man for the telephone", it is
effectively set up like this: "Him I asked the phone the man."
Needless to say, it takes some getting used to.
[2] A cut and paste sentence is just that: it offers a quick way for
tourists to put together strange, useless sentences that make native
speakers laugh! Yet, if done the right way, hopefully, you can get
your point across with the minimum of muss and fuss.