#catalan:reference

[guillemelgat]

Hey hello I made a thing! As perhaps a few of you know, I have spent the last half a year being completely unhinged about Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin books, and I’ve always been particularly interested in the character Stephen Maturin and his relationship to Catalonia. I saw that there was a lack of stuff about this part of his identity, and, being me, I felt the need to fill it in the only way I could: compiling music and yelling about it for thirty pages. Hence this playlist.

You really don’t need to know anything about these books to listen to this playlist. You also don’t need to know anything about Catalan (I hope). Catalonia and the Catalan Countries in general (including Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of southern France, Aragon, and Sardinia) have a really interesting musical and literary tradition, and I wanted to make that more accessible, so I put together a few songs I liked, translated them, and wrote a bit about each of their significance, including the most important cultural tidbits I could. Some things don’t translate super well, and I hope my Catalan followers will forgive me for trying to adapt them more for English-speaking audiences than perhaps would be preferable; I usually don’t choose to do that, but in this case I wanted to open the door, and not to intimidate people.

Now that that’s out of the way, here is a link to the PDF of the liner notes (graphic design is my passion, as they say): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MUpRM84W8aypznEIrt0eA1jG5OxaRZvz/view?usp=sharing

Under the cut I’ve included the ephimera and unnecessary commentary that you know and love, feel free to read or ignore it as you will

These roughly follow the order of the songs and are varying levels of seriousness

If you like "Sant Joan, feu-lo ben gran" then I'd highly recommend listening to the whole Tornaveus album. I almost included the “Stabat Mater de Sudanell” and the “Goigs de Sant Julià de Lòria”, which are both from western Catalonia, and they also have more cançons de pandero, in perhaps a slightly more traditional style. A lot of the other songs have interesting cultural commentary in them, especially on feminist topics, and they’re very well-researched because literally one of the members of the group is basically the ethnomusicologist of Catalan music at the moment. Anyways, if people would like the liner notes perhaps next time I’m home I’ll scan them, they’re in Catalan and English and very well-written. Also note the legendary Lluís Llach song which has been turned into a polyphonic piece lol (and I did not include the “Goigs de la Nostra Senyora de la Llibertat” but tbh that might have been a mistake on my part) (Blorbo side note that I think this fits Stephen’s childhood very well which is mostly why I chose it)

“L’Hereu Riera” is one of my favorite Catalan folk songs I love it so much and if you want to hear the Catalan version (as opposed to the Valencian one included here) and see the dance and also see a cobla, I am including a link to this version by Germà Negre which is tragically not on Spotify. I chose the Valencian one because (1) Al Tall and (2) I think it fits The Blorbo better (specifically I was thinking of his fiancée who dies before Book One who idk if anyone ever remembers shdjfhskf). That being said, Stephen would probably know the Catalan one (and almost certainly not the Valencian one). Also, on a memey-er note, Hereu Riera bisexual king and literal icon <3 love how he has to remind his girlfriend on her deathbed that actually he'd technically be interested in both her sisters AND her brothers if he wasn't so into her that he never wanted to marry anyone else

I literally did put in Roger Mas just so there would be at least one person with a Lleidan accent, #diversity win

Many points about the “Cançó de pandero de l’Urgell” and “Jo no canto per la veu” so here we go:

I put these two songs in mostly because I got very obsessed with the cançó de pandero from Alcarràs (which is a great movie that came out last year about a farming family in a village near Lleida that is winning all the awards atm). Anyways, since Carla Simón has been too busy winning things to put up the gotdam soundtrack, I did a bit of digging and it turns out that it was written for the movie?? By her brother??? It's excellent and very anticapitalist and you can listen to it here and see the trailer for Alcarràs all in one! (Includes English subtitles)

The original “Canto per un amic meu que per mi daria la vida” is probably from a Valencian cant de batre, although I could not get any confirmation on that. But regardless everyone should listen to Pep Botifarra's version of it, which I would literally marry if it had a physical form it’s so so good. (I posted it here back in ye olden days but it's been long enough I think I can post it again)

Valencian music side note because I can’t stop myself: the second pair of verses in the "Cançó de pandero de l'Urgell" (starting with “vos esteu ben acotxada…”) are sung by Miquel Gil, who is a very famous Valencian traditional singer, anyways you should listen to this version of him singing “Del Sud” by Obrint Pas (you want to go down a Valencian music rabbit hole so so bad)

I firmly believe that Stephen would canonically be obsessed with Ausiàs March, and the fact that he has not yet recited any of his poems is Patrick O’Brian’s biggest failing in my eyes. Anyways I have more thoughts but I’m saving them for other posts shdfjsd

If you read this before listening to the playlist please just listen to "El testament d'Amèlia" and follow along with the lyrics in real time before reading the blurb, it's such a good experience to let that song hit you as it comes. I won't say more than that but you'll get it when you get it. (Also obligatory listen to Marala they're so good <3)

From the Càntut album, I also quite like the songs "El pomeró" and "El divino vull cantar", and Càntut in general is an incredible resource, it's a database of folk song field recordings from northeastern Catalonia.

Brief pause to scream about the fact that Maria Arnal and Marcel Bagés WERE ON NPR??? AND NO ONE TOLD ME???? Anyways link in the sources section, also they're great and you should listen to their whole discography

As the #1 Roba Estesa stan blog on Tumblr, listen to Roba Estesa. And Ebri Knight. And El Diluvi.

I chose this version of "La presó de Lleida" because I like it but here's a more traditional one sung by Joan Manel Serrat, another Catalan legend. Here's another one in Catalan rumba style with Sílvia Pérez Cruz singing, the sound is a bit wonky but it's also one of my favorites. The Valencian version of this song is called "La presó de Tibi" and El Diluvi have done a very explicitly anti-monarchical rendition of it (the Balearic one is "La presó de Nàpols").

I'm sorry for never putting the Sílvia Pérez Cruz version of "Corrandes d'exili" but if you want it here it is. Also note that the statue of the Virgin in the poem is a reference to the Virgin of Montserrat, it literally all goes back to her shfjkshdf (also apologies for being very bad at Christianity and Catholicism, if I mistranslated things let me know)

HOO BOY SARDANA TIME

Okay so I have a whole essay to deliver on this that I've been holding inside for the past like two months or so, I apologize in advance for my excessive pedantry on the topic.

In Master and Commander, Stephen delivers this speech:

"‘Then I must tell you that on Sunday mornings it is the custom, in that country, for people of all ages and conditions to dance, on coming out of church: so I was dancing with Ramon Mateu i Cadafalch in the square before the cathedral church of Tarragona, where I had gone to hear the Palestrina Missa Brevis. The dance is a particular dance, a round called the sardana.’"

I hate to be a hater but it is very, very unlikely that anyone would have been dancing a sardana as far south as Tarragona in this time period. The sardana as the symbol of equality and brotherhood emerged in the Renaixença and would not yet have been a thing; Stephen could well have heard sardanas in Ullastret, but they would have been a more typical folk dance, and not anything like the way they're described in the book. It's very ironic, then, that they've become THE Catalan music style for Aubreyad readers, but hopefully this playlist can change that a bit :)

(also sorry for being a sardana-hater on main, someone bring me to dance a sardana and maybe I'll feel better)

Songs that didn't make the cut: La cançó del lladre, Rossinyol que vas a França, La balanguera, La gavina - I'm always happy for more recs!

Originally, this list was also going to include songs in Irish; I quickly realized that I was in over my head with that one, but the working list of songs is here (may be subject to changes so save songs elsewhere if you like them!). Also I would add "Fé Bhláth" by Imelda May and Kíla if it was on Spotify but alas it is not; and "Amhrán na Leabhar" which I have not had time to add but was kindly recommended by someone. I'd love it if someone was interested in actually doing a proper playlist for Irish though—it's a gap in my knowledge that I'd love to start filling.

Aaaaaaand that's a wrap. I hope. Final comment to say thank you to everyone who voted in the cover image poll, turns out you all won :) (Pirineus did win and take the cover of the liner notes though)

[guillemelgat]

He fet una traducció de la cançó (no és ben bé un sea shanty, però podria ser) "Here's a Health" al català! Com que vinc de l'anglès, això ha estat més aviat un intent de posar el meu català a prova que no pas una versió definitiva, però crec que ha quedat bastant bé. Aquesta cançó té com deu mil versions, així que he triat la de The Longest Johns, que també s'assembla molt a la versió de The Chieftans. Dit això, he fet quatre estrofes, que ve d'una versió amb constància de Paddy Tunny, com ha comentat algú en aquest fil a Mudcat. Sigui la versió que sigui, és una cançó molt bonica i espero haver transmès una mica d'això en la meva traducció. Pels que ja la coneixeu, sisplau digueu-me com us ha semblat!

Aquí teniu una versió de la imatge en PDF, l'àudio, i el fitxer de la partitura en format de MuseScore per si us interessa. (Dit això, la imatge aquí té molt bona qualitat, la pots imprimir.)

Lletra a sota / Lyrics & English translation below

Lletra

Estimats compares, canteu tots amb mi Aclariu-vos la gola amb un bon glop de vi Haurem d'acomiadar-nos quan demà surti el sol Però fins aleshores deixarem el dol

Aixequem una copa i brindem pels companys Per sort i fortuna en tots els afanys I en la tristesa, deixem de pensar Qui sap si mai més ens tornarem a trobar

Ara vull fer un brindis per al meu amor Que té un somriure tan encantador I amb la bellesa i amb la bondat No queda cap dubte que el cor m'ha robat

S'acosta el trenc d'alba, i amb l'alba el comiat No hi haurà melangia, marxem de bon grat Si en una altra vida ens trobéssim de nou Tornaríem a fer junts un bon enrenou

Però tot ja s'acaba, ens n'haurem d'anar Perquè tota història té el seu final Un desig permeteu-me, estimats amics meus Que porteu bons records del moment dels adéus

English Translation

Beloved compatriots, sing all with me Clear your throat with a good draught of wine We’ll have to say goodbye tomorrow when the sun comes up But until then we will abandon our grief

We’ll raise a glass and toast to our companions To luck and fortune in all our labors And in sadness, we’ll stop from thinking Who knows if we’ll ever meet again

Now I’d like to make a toast to my love Who has such an enchanting smile And with their beauty and with their goodness There’s no doubt remains that they’ve stolen my heart

Dawn is getting close, and with dawn our farewell There won’t be melancholy, we’ll leave of our own accord If in another life we were to find each other again We’d make a racket again together

But everything is ending, we have to go Because every story has its end One wish allow me, my beloved friends That you bring good memories with you from the moment of parting

[guillemelgat]

GUILLEMELGAT’S CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD | Catalunya (Catalonia)

A stall at Santa Llúcia’s Fair in Barcelona (source). The Fira de Santa Llúcia is a Christmas fair set up around the Barcelona Cathedral, starting in late November and ending right before Christmas. Vendors sell Christmas decorations of all kinds, as well as other crafts. The oldest reference to the fair is almost 300 years ago, making it a very long-running tradition.

A traditional Nativity scene at a shop in San Cugat (source). Like many of the other Christmas traditions we’ll look at, Catalans enjoy making large and detailed Nativity dioramas, often taking up entire displays in shop windows or in homes. It’s also common to go around and look at neighbors’ scenes, especially with all the hidden figures in each!

The traditional caganer figurine (source). One of the most (in)famous figures in the Catalan Nativity scene, the caganer (’pooper’) is traditionally tucked away in a corner for viewers to try to find. Traditional caganers are made to look like a Catalan peasant man, in farmer’s clothes and a red barretina hat. In recent years, however, caganers of public figures such as politicians or celebrities have become very popular as well.

A plate of Christmas stew (source). The traditional first dish of the Christmas meal in Catalonia is escudella de Nadal, a hearty soup made of large shell pasta (galets) with a meatball filling.

The Sybil’s Chant being performed in Mallorca (source). Sung at the midnight mass on Christmas Eve, this haunting Gregorian Chant was traditionally performed all across Southern Europe before being pushed away by the Church in the 16th century. The tradition only remained in Mallorca and Alguer (Sardinia), and in the late 20th century it began to be revived in Catalonia and the Valencian Country as well. Historically a young boy performed as the sybil, dressed in luxurious clothes and carrying a sword in front of them; now, it is also performed by girls as well as adults (the singer Maria del Mar Bonet in particular is known for her version).

A stall selling Christmas logs (source). A key part of Catalan Christmas celebrations is the Tió de Nadal, a log which is usually decorated with a cartoonish painted face, two legs to prop it up, and a barretina hat. The log is brought out in early December, and children feed it every day and cover it with a blanket to keep it warm. Then, on Christmas, all the children in the house take turns hitting the tió with sticks while singing a song to make it “shit” presents. Typically, these are sweets to be shared or other small gifts; larger presents are given on Three Kings’ Day.

A plate of neules, traditional Catalan Christmas cookies (source). After Christmas dinner, one of the traditional desserts in Catalonia are neules, thin, rolled-up wafer cookies, usually eaten dipped in cava (Catalan sparkling wine). The other common dessert is a type of nougat-based sweet called torró.

The St. Stephen’s Day concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana (source). The Orfeó Català, resident choir at the Palau de la Música Catalana, hosts a concert every year on the day after Christmas. The music selection typically includes tradtional Christmas carols, classical pieces, and new works for the occasion. It usually fills the entire concert hall, and is also broadcast on public television.

A plate of canelons, typically eaten on St. Stephen’s Day (source). The day after Christmas, the traditional meal is canelons, made from meat or fish rolled in sheets of pasta and covered with cheese. The filling is usually leftovers from Christmas dinner, and the tradition arose as a way to make use of them.

[guillemelgat]

Constel·lacions en anglès / Constellations in Catalan

Imatge: el cúmul de les Plèiades, les set cabretes, fotografiat des de Pinyana, a l’Alta Ribagorça (tret del web de Celístia). / Image: The Pleiades star cluster, the Seven Sisters, photographed from Pinyana, in l’Alta Ribagorça, Catalonia (from the Celístia website).

Una llista dels noms i significats de les 88 constel·lacions oficials designades per la Unió Astronòmica Internacional, en anglès i en català (alguns dels noms i significats no són equivalents en les dues llengües, però he intentat de fer-los concordar al màxim possible).  / A list of the names and significances of the 88 official constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union, in English and Catalan (some of the names and meanings aren’t equivalent in the two languages, but I’ve tried to make them agree as much as possible).

🌌 Andròmeda - Andromeda ⭐️ (personatge mitològica) - (mythological character)

🌌 Aquari - Aquarius ⭐️ l'aiguader (m.) - the water bearer

🌌 Àries - Aries ⭐️ el corder - the ram

🌌 Capricorn - Capricorn ⭐️ el boc - the sea goat

🌌 Cassiopea - Cassiopeia ⭐️ (personatge mitològica) - (mythological character)

🌌 Cefeu - Cepheus ⭐️ (personatge mitològic) - (mythological character)

🌌 El Bover - Boötes ⭐️ el bover - the herdsman

🌌 El Burí - Caelum ⭐️ el cisell - the chisel

🌌 El Ca Major - Canus Major ⭐️ el gos major - the greater dog

🌌 El Ca Menor - Canus Minor ⭐️ el gos menor - the lesser dog

🌌 El Camaleó - Chamaeleon ⭐️ el camaleó - the chameleon

🌌 El Cavallet - Equuleus ⭐️ el poltre - the foal

🌌 El Cavallet de Pintor - Pictor ⭐️ el cavallet de pintor - the painter's easel

🌌 El Centaure - Centaurus ⭐️ el centaure - centaur

🌌 El Cigne - Cygnus ⭐️ el cigne - the swan

🌌 El Compàs - Circinus ⭐️ el compàs - the compasses

🌌 El Corb - Corvus ⭐️ el corb - the crow

🌌 El Cotxer - Auriga ⭐️ el cotxer - the charioteer

🌌 El Cranc - Cancer ⭐️ el cranc - the crab

🌌 El Dofí - Delphinus ⭐️ el dofí - the dolphin

🌌 El Dragó - Draco ⭐️ el drac - the dragon

🌌 El Fènix - Phoenix ⭐️ l'au fènix (m.) - the phoenix

🌌 El Forn - Fornax ⭐️ el forn - the furnace

🌌 El Gall D'Indi - Pavo ⭐️ el gall d'indi - the peacock

🌌 El Linx - Lynx ⭐️ el linx - the lynx

🌌 El Llangardaix - Lacerta ⭐️ el llangardaix - the lizard

🌌 El Lleó - Leo ⭐️ el lleó - the lion

🌌 El Lleó Menor - Leo Minor ⭐️ el lleó menor - the lesser lion

🌌 El Llop - Lupus ⭐️ el llop - the wolf

🌌 El Microscopi - Microscopium ⭐️ el microscopi - the microscope

🌌 El Pegàs - Pegasus ⭐️ (personatge mitològic) - (mythological character)

🌌 El Peix Austral - Piscis Austrinus ⭐️ el peix austral - the southern fish

🌌 El Peix Volador - Volans ⭐️ el peix volador - the flying fish

🌌 El Rellotge - Horologium ⭐️ el rellotge de pèndola - the pendulum clock

🌌 El Reticle - Reticulum ⭐️ el reticle - the reticule

🌌 El Sagitari - Sagittarius ⭐️ l'arquer (m.) - the archer

🌌 El Serpent - Serpens ⭐️ la serp - the serpent

🌌 El Serpentari - Ophiuchus ⭐️ el portador de la serp - the serpent holder

🌌 El Sextant - Sextans ⭐️ el sextant - the sextant

🌌 El Taure - Taurus ⭐️ el bou - the bull

🌌 El Telescopi - Telescopium ⭐️ el telescopi - the telescope

🌌 El Triangle - Triangulum ⭐️ el triangle - the triangle

🌌 El Triangle Austral - Triangulum Australe ⭐️ el triangle austral - the southern triangle

🌌 El Tucà - Tucana ⭐️ el tucà - the toucan

🌌 Els Bessons - Gemini ⭐️ els bessons - the twins

🌌 Els Llebrers - Canes Venatici ⭐️ el llebrers - the hunting dogs

🌌 Els Peixos - Pisces ⭐️ el peixos - the fishes

🌌 Hèrcules - Hercules ⭐️ (personatge mitològic) - (mythological character)

🌌 L'Àguila - Aquila ⭐️ l'àguila (f.) - the eagle

🌌 L'Altar - Ara ⭐️ l'altar (m.) - the altar

🌌 L'Au del Paradís - Apus ⭐️ l'ocell del paradís (m.) - the bird of paradise

🌌 L'Eridà - Eridanus ⭐️ el riu Eridà - the River Eridanus

🌌 L'Escaire - Norma ⭐️ l'escaire (m.) - the level

🌌 L'Escorpió - Scorpio ⭐️ l'escorpí (m.) - the scorpion

🌌 L'Escultor - Sculptor ⭐️ l'escultor (m.) - the sculptor

🌌 L'Escut - Scutum ⭐️ l'escut (m.) - the shield

🌌 L'Hidra Femella - Hydra ⭐️ l'hidra de molts caps (f.) - the many-headed hydra

🌌 L'Hidra Mascle - Hydrus ⭐️ la serp d'aigua - the little water snake

🌌 L'Indi - Indus ⭐️ l'indi americà (m.) - the Native American

🌌 L'Octant - Octans ⭐️ l'octant (m.) - octant

🌌 L'Orada - Dorado ⭐️ la peix espasa - the swordfish

🌌 L'Ossa Major - Ursa Major ⭐️ l'ós gros - the great bear

🌌 L'Ossa Menor - Ursa Minor ⭐️ l'ossa menor, el carro menor - the little bear, the little dipper

🌌 L'Unicorn - Monoceros ⭐️ l'unicorn (m.) - unicorn

🌌 La Balança - Libra ⭐️ la balança - the scales

🌌 La Balena - Cetus ⭐️ la balena, el monstre marí - the whale, the sea monster

🌌 La Brúixola - Pyxis ⭐️ la brúixola - the compass

🌌 La Caballera de la Berenice - Coma Berenices ⭐️ la caballera de la reina Berenice - Queen Berenice's hair

🌌 La Coloma - Columba ⭐️ el colom - the dove

🌌 La Copa - Crater ⭐️ la copa - the cup, the chalice

🌌 La Corona Austral - Corona Australis ⭐️ la corona del sud - the southern crown

🌌 La Corona Boreal - Corona Borealis ⭐️ la corona del nord - the northern crown

🌌 La Creu del Sud - Crux ⭐️ la creu del sud - the southern cross

🌌 La Girafa - Camelopardalis ⭐️ la girafa - the giraffe

🌌 La Grua - Grus ⭐️ la grua - the crane

🌌 La Guineueta - La Vulpecula ⭐️ la guineu - the fox

🌌 La Lira - Lyra ⭐️ la lira - the lyre

🌌 La Llebre - Lepus ⭐️ la llebre - the hare

🌌 La Màquina Pneumàtica - Antlia ⭐️ la bomba d'aire - the air pump

🌌 La Mosca - Musca ⭐️ la mosca - the fly

🌌 La Popa - Puppis ⭐️ la popa - the stern

🌌 La Quilla - Carina ⭐️ la carena - the keel

🌌 La Sageta - Sagitta ⭐️ la sageta - the arrow

🌌 La Taula - Mensa ⭐️ la muntanya de la Taula - Table Mountain

🌌 La Vela - Vela ⭐️ la vela - the sail

🌌 La Verge - Virgo ⭐️ la verge - the virgin

🌌 Orió - Orion ⭐️ (personatge mitològic) - (mythological character)

🌌 Perseu - Perseus ⭐️ (personatge mitològic) - (mythological character)

[guillemelgat]

Steam Railway Vocab in Catalan

Image: The Monistrol steam engine, a restored locomotive which runs on the Llobregat-Anoia line. Photo by Luis Zamora (eldelinux) on Flickr (used under Creative Commons license 2.0).

Tipus de tren - Types of Train

el ferrocarril - railway

el tren - train

la locomotora - locomotive

de vapor - steam engine

dièsel - diesel engine

elèctrica - electric engine

de via estreta - narrow gauge engine

de tènder - tender engine

tanc - tank engine

de mercaderies - goods engine, freight train

de viatgers - passenger engine

mixta - mixed-traffic engine

de maniobres - shunting engine

la cremallera - rack railway

el tram - tram

Components - Parts

la llar - firebox

el cendrer - ashpan

la caldera - boiler

el tub - pipe

la caixa de fums - smokebox

la graella - grate

la tovera de sortida de vapor - blast pipe

la xemeneia - funnel

la cúpula - dome

de vapor - steam dome

sorrera - sand dome

el xiulet - whistle

el tènder - tender

el bastidor, el xassís - chassis, frame

el carretó - carriage

la roda - wheel

motriu - driving wheel

davantera - leading wheel

posterior - trailing wheel

l'eix (m.) - axle

el bogi - bogie

el cilindre - cylinder

el pistó - piston

la biela - connecting rod

el cigonyal - crankshaft

la manovella - crank

la barra de connexió, d'adaptació - coupling rod

el coixinet - bearing

la cabina - cab

els controls - controls

la vàlvula - valve

de seguretat - safety valve

el regulador - regulator

l'indicador (m.) - gauge

del nivell d'aigua - water gauge

de pressió - pressure gauge

el ventilador, el bufador - blower

el tir - draught (UK), draft (US)

l'injector (m.) - injector

la bomba - pump

de vapor - steam pump

d'aire - air pump

la palanca - lever

el carregador automàtic de carbó - stoker

el calfador d'aigua - water heater

el condensador - condenser

la marxa - gear

l'aixeta - spout

el flux de l'aire - air flow

el fre - brake

d'aire - air brake

la sabata de fre - brake shoe

el topall - buffer

l'enganxall (m.) - coupling (UK), coupler (US)

l'aparta vaques (m.) - cowcatcher

el llum frontal - headlight

Funcionament - Operation

el combustible - fuel

el carbó - coal

el foc - fire

el fum - smoke

el vapor - steam

l'aigua (f.) - water

Infraestructures - Infrastructure

la via - track

l'amplada de via - rail gauge

èstandard - standard guage

estreta - narrow gauge

ibèrica - Iberian gauge

la plataforma - platform

l'estació - station

la columna hídrica - water column

la senyal - signal

el canvi d'agulles, l'agulla (f.), el desviament - point (UK), switch (US)

la caseta de guardaagulles - signal box (UK), signal tower (US)

la via morta - siding

el dipòsit - yard

el garatge - shed

la cotxera - coach shed

la plataforma giratòria - turntable

el material rodant - rolling stock

el cotxe - coach

el vagó - truck (UK), freight car (US)

el taller - workshop, works

el manteniment - maintenance

la inspecció - inspection

Gent - People

el maquinista, la maquinista - driver (UK), engineer (US)

el fogoner, la fogonera - fireman

el revisor - conductor

el cap de tren, la cap de tren - guard (UK)

el guardaagulles, la guardaagulles - signalman

l'inspector (m.), la inspectora - inspector

el passatger, la passatgera - passenger

Accions - Actions

paletar - to shovel

enganxar - to couple

conduir - to drive

xiular - to whistle

cremar - to burn

bullir - to boil

canviar de via - to shunt

encendre - to light

remolcar - to pull (coaches)

xocar - to crash

arreglar - to fix

[guillemelgat]

Però and Perquè: A Beginner’s Guide to Pronuncation

I want to bring up something that I’ve seen Catalan learners struggle with time and time again. I think it’s mostly people who have some background in Spanish, mostly because it’s something that works slightly different than in Spanish, and I remember having my own doubts about it when I first started learning. So without further ado…how do you pronounce però and perquè?

(This post does assume some level of basic familiarity with how Catalan pronunciation works, namely stressed/unstressed and open/closed vowels. It’s definitely intended for beginners though, and if you don’t know how Catalan pronunciation works or are shaky on your feet then it’ll walk you through that.)

PERÒ

Però ‘but’ confuses a lot of people for some reason. I think this has to do with it being similar to Spanish pero, except plus an accent. So let’s break it down:

First we can split the word into two syllables: pe-rò

The second syllable has an accent, specifically an open accent, which means that it’s an /ɔ/ sound, sort of like in ‘pot’.

Since the second syllable has an accent written on it, it is the stressed syllable in the word. Therefore, the o is not reduced to /u/. This is a thing that I’ve heard lots of people mess up — this word is not pronounced like ‘Peru’!

The first syllable is not stressed. Therefore, the e is reduced to /ə/, which is like ‘uh’ in English.

When speaking at normal conversation pace, the e actually is almost not even pronounced.

tl;dr - però /pəˈɾɔ/ is pronounced similar to the English word ‘pro’ when spoken at normal conversation speed. The e is the vowel that’s reduced, not the o!

PERQUÈ

Perquè ‘because’ is very similar, but just for beginners I’m going to walk through it again. Once again, I think this has to do with confusion compared to Spanish porque, which like with però is almost the same, except for the accent. Breaking it down:

Split the word into syllables: per-què

Once again, the second syllable has an accent. It’s also an open accent, so it’s an /ɛ/ sound like in English ‘bed’.

The accent on the second syllable means that it gets stress. That means that it’s not reduced to /ə/! So it’s not pronounced as per-kuh, something I was definitely guilty of doing when I first started learning Catalan.

Since the first syllable is unstressed, it is reduced to /ə/. (This is also how per is normally pronounced in Catalan.)

tl;dr - perquè /pəɾˈkɛ/ is pronounced something like the English word ‘parquet’. It’s written as one word (cf. per què? ‘why?’), but still has the accent, which is different from Spanish (so if you’re used to that, you’ll need to change gears a bit).

That’s basically it! This isn’t a super formal pronunciation guide, mostly just a quick and easy way to remember how to pronounce these if you’re a beginner struggling with them. If you listen to or watch a lot of things in Catalan, hopefully you’ll get more used to them.

(Also this is for standard Eastern Catalan, vowel pronunciation changes a fair amount between dialects and especially for Western dialects, so let me know if you want to see stuff for those as well!)

[guillemelgat]

Comença la quarta (!!!) setmana d’El català a casa, aquesta setmana tenim un conte curt de Pere Calders, un autor molt conegut. Es diu “Fet d’armes” i forma part de la col·lecció Cròniques de la veritat oculta.

Un dia, fent guerra, vaig trobar-me separat de la meva gent, sense armes, sol i desemparat com mai. Em sentia una mica humiliat, perquè tot feia preveure que el meu concurs no devia ésser decisiu i la batalla feia via, amb un soroll i una quantitat de morts que esgarrifava.

Vaig asseure'm a la vora d'un camí per fer determinades reflexions sobre aquest estat de coses, i vet aquí que, de sobte, un paracaigudista vestit d'una manera estranya va prendre terra a prop meu. Sota la capa que portava, s'hi veia una metralladora i una bicicleta plegable, tot això dissimulat, és clar.

Va acostar-se'm i amb un accent estranger molt marcat em preguntà:

–¿Que em podríeu dir si vaig bé per anar a l'Ajuntament d'aquest poblet?

(Per allí, la setmana passada, hi havia un poble.)

–No sigueu ase –vaig dir-li–. Se us veu de seguida que sou un enemic, i si aneu cap allí us agafaran.

Això el va desconcertar, i després de fer un soroll amb els dits que denotava la seva ràbia replicà:

–Ja m'ho semblava, que no ho havien previst tot –respongué–. Què em fa falta? ¿Quin és el detall que m'acusa?

–Aquest uniforme que porteu és caducat. Fa més de dos anys que el nostre general el va suprimir, donant a entendre que els temps havien canviat. Aneu mal informat, vosaltres.

–L'hem tret d'un diccionari –va dir-me amb tristesa.

Es va asseure al meu costat, aguantant-se el cap amb les mans, segons sembla per pensar amb més garanties. Jo me'l mirava i de cop li vaig dir:

–Vós i jo el que hauríem de fer és barallar-nos. Si portés armes com vós ja us ho diria d'una altra manera...

–No –digué–, no valdria. De fet estem fora del camp de batalla i els resultats que obtinguéssim no serien homologats oficialment. El que hem de fer és mirar d'entrar al camp, i allí, si ens toca, ens les mesurarem.

Provàrem fins a deu vegades d'entrar a la batalla, però una paret de bales i de fum ho impedia. Per mirar de descobrir una escletxa, pujàrem en un petit turó que dominava l'espectacle. Des d'allí es veia que la guerra seguia amb una gran empenta i que hi havia tot el podien demanar els generals.

L'enemic em digué:

–Vist des d'aquí fa l'efecte que, segons com hi entréssim, més aviat faríem nosa...

(Vaig fer que sí amb el cap.)

–... I, això no obstant, entre vós i jo hi ha una qüestió pendent –acabà.

Jo trobava que tenia tota la raó, i per tal d'ajudar-lo vaig suggerir.

–I si anéssim a cops de puny?

–No, tampoc. Devem un cert respecte al progrés, pel prestigi del vostre país i del meu. És difícil –digué–, és positivament difícil.

Pensant, vaig trobar una solució:

–Ja ho sé! Ens ho podem fer a la ratlleta. Si guanyeu vós podeu usar el meu uniforme correcte i fer-me presoner; si guanyo jo, el presoner sereu vós i el material de guerra que porteu passarà a les nostres mans. Fet?

S'hi avingué, jugàrem i vaig guanyar jo. Aquella mateixa tarda, entrava al campament, portant el meu botí, i quan el general, ple de satisfacció pel meu treball, em va preguntar quina recompensa volia, li vaig dir que, si no li feia res, em quedaria la bicicleta.

📝 Tasca 1: Llegeix el text. Fés una llista de paraules que no coneixes, i buscar-ne els significats.

📍Fés un post amb… la llista de paraules i significats, i sobretot amb paraules que encara no entens després de buscar les seves definicions.

[guillemelgat]

📚Aquí teniu el text d’aquesta setmana (“Fet d’armes” de Pere Calders)

📝 Tasca 7: Llegeix en veu alta el conte que vas escriure ahir. 

📍Fés un post amb… una gravació de la lectura.