Unit 3
Hist�ria i Cultura (History and Culture)
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Sant Jordi, or Saint George, is the patron saint of Catalonia (as well as England) and his saint's day, April 23, is a well-known Catalan holiday. According to legend, the knight Sant Jordi killed a dragon and rescued a princess. Sant Jordi cut off the dragon's head and from the blood emerged a rose bush. On April 23 friends and family typically exchange roses and buy books for each other. Sant Jordi's red cross on a white background can be seen on the shield of Barcelona and on the English flag. |
In this third unit, you will learn some more basic expressions to help you through your stay in Catalonia.
In this dialog an Englishman (l'angl�s) asks a Catalan woman (la catalana) if she speaks English.
Di�leg (Dialog):
| Catalan Dialog | English Translation | |
| L'angl�s: Perdoni, vost� parla angl�s? | Excuse me, do you speak English? | |
| La catalana: No, ho sento. Parlo catal� i castell� per� no parlo angl�s. Es americ� ? | No, sorry. I speak Catalan and Spanish but I do not speak English. Are you (3rd) American? | |
| L'angl�s: No, s�c angl�s. S�c de Londres. I vost�? | No, I am English. I am from London. And you (3rd)? | |
| La catalana: Jo s�c catalana i s�c de Barcelona. Vost� parla molt b� el catal�. | I am Catalan and I am from Barcelona. You speak Catalan very well. | |
| L'angl�s: Moltes gr�cies. Ad�u. | Thank you very much. Goodbye |
Vocabulari i Frases (Vocabulary and Phrases):
| Catal� | English |
| perdoni | excuse me (for attention) |
| parlar | to speak |
| vost� | you (formal, 3rd person)t |
| angl�s | English (language/man) |
| ho sento | I am sorry |
| catal� | Catalan (language/man) |
| castell� | Spanish (language) |
| per� | but |
| �s | you(formal) are |
| americ� | American (man) |
| s�c | (I) am |
| moltes | many (f. pl) |
| Other Useful Words | Other Useful Words |
| on | where |
| ets | (you) are |
Gram�tica:
| Ser i estar: In Catalan there are two different verbs both meaning "to be", ser and estar. Ser is used for physical characteristics and locations ( I am American / I am from Barcelona) while estar is used more for feelings and temporary conditions (I am well today / I am sick). *Spanish also has two verbs for "to be" but there are some differences in usage between Spanish and Catalan. For example in Spanish you use estar for locations (Estoy en Madrid) while in Catalan you would use ser (Soc a Barcelona NOT estic a Barcelona) |
| Vost� i tu: Catalan (as do many other Romance languages), has two different pronouns both meaning "you". Tu is more informal and used among friends and family. It takes the second person singular conjugation: Com est�s (tu)? Vost� is formal and used with strangers and people older than you to show respect. It takes the third person singular conjugation: Com est� (Vost�)?. |
Nationalities: man / woman
l'angl�s / l'anglesa
l'espanyol / l'espanyola
el catal� / la catalana
l'americ� / l'americana
NOTE: the definite articles (el and la) are contracted if the next letter is a vowel. (el + angl�s = l'angl�s)
Pr�ctica (Practice):
1. Answer in Catalan: D'on (de + on) �s vost�?
2. Translate: "The Catalan will want bread with tomato"
3. Translate: "I am in London but I am from New York"
Respostes (Answers):
1. S�c d'Angleterra, S�c dels Estats Units, S�c de Catalunya...
2. "El catal� voldr� pa amb tom�quet."
3. "S�c a Londres per� s�c de Nova York."
