Tá Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish

Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services

11.26.2007 - By College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at AustinPlay

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asset title: Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services

filename: tafalado_gra_18.mp3

track number: 44/46

time: 10:56

size: 7.69 MB

bitrate: 96 kbps

So how weird would it be to be a Brazilian in the United States and see for the first time a bicycle attached to the front of a city bus? Sure enough, that would never happen on a bus in Brazil. These are the kinds of observations that North Americans would never make because, well, we think it's normal. It's all a matter of perspective. This lesson talks about those kind of cultural differences, and we do so while going over a lesson about word order. (We know the title doesn't sound all that exciting, but it really is an interesting grammar topic -- if you are into language learning.)

Dialog

Portuguese

Michelle: Eu acho interessante que existam pessoas que colocam suas bicicletas na frente dos ônibus.

Valdo: Pois é, aqui nos Estados Unidos tem lugares específicos nos ônibus pra carregar bicicletas.

Michelle: Eh, e sobram motivos aqui para as pessoas levarem suas bicicletas na frente dos ônibus e irem sentadas.

Valdo: É verdade! Sempre acontecem coisas inesperadas quando se anda de bicicleta, por exemplo: chuva, o sol muito quente, ladeiras.

Michelle: De fato, sempre surge algum imprevisto que nos faz preferir o conforto do ar condicionado dos ônibus.

Valdo: Puxa, falta só esse serviço para o transporte público no Brasil ficar ótimo.

Spanish

Michelle: Yo creo que es interesante que existen personas que ponen su bicicleta en frente de los autobuses.

Valdo: Sí, aquí en los Estados Unidos hay lugares específicos en los autobuses para llevar bicicletas

Michelle: Sí y eso les dá el incentivo a las personas aquí para que lleven su bicicleta en frente del autobús para que se puedan sentar.

Valdo: Es verdad. Siempre nos suceden cosas inesperadas al andar en bicicleta, por ejemplo: la lluvia, el sol muy fuerte, escaleras.

Michelle: Además, siempre surge algo imprevisto que hace que se prefiera el confort del aire condicionado del autobús.

Valdo: Caramba, nos falta ese servicio para el transporte público en Brasil para que sea excelente.

English

Michelle: I think that it's interesting that there are people who put their bicycles in front of the buses.

Valdo: Yes, here in the United State we have specific places in front of the buses to carry bicycles.

Michelle: Yes and it give people a reason to carry their bicycles in front of the bus so that they can sit down.

Valdo: That's true. Unexpected things always happen when riding a bicycle, for example: rain, hot sun, ladders.

Michelle: In fact, some unexpected thing always comes up that makes you prefer the comfort of the air-conditioned bus.

Valdo: Gee, that's what we're missing in Brazil to make our public transportation system the best.

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