asset title: Lesson 5: Stressed and Unstressed /a/, Self-Checkout at the Supermarket
filename: tafalado_05.mp3
track number: 5/46
time: 9:30
size: 6.52 MB
bitrate: 96 kbps

There is a tendency for almost every vowel in unstressed syllables in English to turn into what is called a 'schwa'.  It is the sound like 'uh'. Listen, for example the 'e' in 'delivery'.  When learning Spanish, one of the great challenges is to stop saying 'uh.'  'It's 'nada' not 'naduh'!  However, in Portuguese Brazilians also pronounce unstressed /a/ as a schwa.  You see, all this time you thought you had bad Spanish and you really just have good Portuguese.  As to the cultural situation in this lesson, both Michelle and Valdo had to get used to the self-checkout lines at the supermarket.

Dialog

Portuguese
Valdo: Ah, essa fila tÃ¡ enorme!
Michelle: Ã verdade. Vamos pagar no auto-atendimento.
Valdo: Onde fica a mÃ¡quina?
Michelle: EstÃ¡ lÃ¡ na entrada.
Valdo: VocÃª sabe como se usa essa coisa aqui?
Michelle: Claro, Ã© fÃ¡cil. Ã sÃ³ passar o cartÃ£o.

Spanish
Valdo: Esta fila estÃ¡ muy larga.
Michelle: Es verdad.  Vamos a pagar en el auto-servicio
Valdo: Â¿DÃ³nde queda la mÃ¡quina?
Michelle: EstÃ¡ allÃ¡ en la entrada.
Valdo: Â¿Sabes cÃ³mo se usa esa cossa aquÃ­?
Michelle: Claro, es fÃ¡cil.  Es sÃ³lo pasar la tarjeta.

English
Valdo: This line is really long.
Michelle: That's right.  Let's pay at the self-service machine.
Valdo: Where is the machine?
Michelle: Over there by the entrance.
Valdo: Do you know how to use this thing here?
Michelle: Of course, it's easy.  Just insert your card.

Lesson 5: Stressed and Unstressed /a/, Self-Checkout at the Supermarket

T&#xE1; Falado provides Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation lessons for speakers of Spanish.  Podcasts illustrate pronunciation differences between Spanish and Portuguese and present scenarios showing cultural differences between the U.S. and Brazil. T&#xE1; Falado is part of the Brazilpod project and is produced at the College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin. Website URL: http://coerll.utexas.edu/brazilpod/tafalado/

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asset title: Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped
filename: tafalado_gra_20.mp3
track number: 46/46
time: 11:03
size: 7.77 MB
bitrate: 96 kbps

Oh man, where did this word come from? After a whole series of lessons in pronunciation and grammar ... and now we learn a whole bunch of words where Spanish and Portuguese are totally different. If TÃ¡ Falado is supposed to show learners the similarities between these two languages, well, this lesson just won't do that. Today Michelle and Valdo give as words like embora, ainda, rapaz, jeito, cedo, and tomara. It is true that Spanish and Portuguese are similar in many ways. However, today we look at the words that are not similar at all.

Dialog

Portuguese
Michelle: Rapaz! VocÃª viu aquele cara na cadeira de rodas entrando no Ã´nibus hoje cedo? 
Valdo: Vi sim. Acho interessante esse jeito que os americanos tÃªm de lidar com as pessoas com necessidades especiais, adaptando as ruas e os Ã´nibus.
Michelle: Pois Ã©, aqui as poltronas se fecham e as portas dos Ã´nibus se abaixam pra acomodar as pessoas.
Valdo: Embora no Brasil os Ã´nibus nÃ£o tenham tantas adaptaÃ§Ãµes, ninguÃ©m pode reclamar porque o sistema de transporte pÃºblico Ã© bom.
Michelle: TÃ¡, mas deixa eu fazer uma fofoca que talvez vocÃª nÃ£o se lembre: no Brasil nÃ£o tem ar nos Ã´nibus, a gente tem que abrir as janelas pra ventilarse.
Valdo: Por outro lado, tem o calor humano. As pessoas podem atÃ© deitar umas em cima das outras de tÃ£o cheio que Ã s vezes os Ã´nibus ficam. TÃ¡ vendo... pra que melhorar?

Spanish
Michelle: Chico, Â¿viste tÃº aquella persona en la silla de ruedas que estaba entrando en el autobÃºs temprano esta maÃ±ana?
Valdo: SÃ­, lo vi.  Pienso que es interesante esta manera que tienen los norteamericanos de ayudar a las personas que tienen necesidades especiales, adaptando las calles y los autobuses.
Michelle: Pues, aquÃ­ las poltronas se cierran y las puertas de los autobuses se bajan para acomodar a las personas.
Valdo: A pesar de que en el Brasil los autobuses no tengan tantas adaptaciones, nadie va a reclamar por que el sistema de transporte pÃºblico es bueno.
Michelle: SÃ­, pero cuidado en no exagerar porque tal vez no te acuerdes pero en el Brasil no hay aire condicionado en los autobuses.  Hay que abrir las ventanas para ventilar.
Valdo: Por otro lado, existe un calor humano. Las personas pueden hasta descansar unas encima de las otras porque a veces los autobuses anda muy llenos.  Lo ves, Â¿para quÃ© mejorar?

English
Michelle: Man, did you see that guy in the wheel chair getting into the bus early this morning?
Valdo: I did see him.  I think it's interesting the way that Americans take care of people who have special needs, changing the streets and the busses.
Michelle: I know, here the seats close up and the doors of the bus can be lowered to accommodate the people.
Valdo: Although Brazil doesn't have busses that have such adaptations, nobody complains because the public transportation system is so good.
Michelle: Right, but don't go too far with these stories because maybe you have forgotten that the buses in Brazil don't have air conditioning, you've got to open the window to get some air.
Valdo: On the other hand, you've got human warmth.  People even end up lying on top of one another because the buses en up so full sometimes.  You see, what is there to improve?

Grammar Lesson 20: This Just Isn't Spanish, Adapting to Handicapped

asset title: Grammar Lesson 19: Present Perfect, Naming People
filename: tafalado_gra_19.mp3
track number: 45/46
time: 16:09
size: 11.36 MB
bitrate: 96 kbps

One of life's great mysteries is if a Brazilian marries someone from Venezuela, how do you figure out what their official name will be? We ought to be politicians because we spend the whole lesson talking about last names, middle names, and given names, but we never actually answer the question! In this lesson Michelle talks about what it has been like to explain her daughter's full name. Americans get a little confused. As to the grammar, we discuss the difference between phrases like 'have you been eating lately' and 'have you ever eaten before.'

Dialog

Portuguese
Valdo: O que vocÃª tem percebido de diferente nesses Ãºltimos tempos em relaÃ§Ã£o a gravidez e filhos aqui nos Estados Unidos?
Michelle: Eu tenho visto ultimamente que a questÃ£o dos nomes Ã© bem diferente do que no Brasil.
Valdo: VocÃª jÃ¡ teve problemas com isso alguma vez?
Michelle: JÃ¡ tive, sim. Eu tenho tido dificuldade recentemente em explicar para as pessoas aqui que minha filha tem dois sobrenomes.
Valdo: Eh, vocÃª tem que se acostumar com isso, porque aqui as pessoas sempre tÃªm usado o sistema de nome do meio e Ãºltimo nome em vez de sÃ³ sobrenomes.
Michelle: E Ã© isso que Ã© confuso aqui. Em todos os lugares que eu tenho ido nesses Ãºltimos meses as pessoas nÃ£o entendem que minha filha nÃ£o tem o segundo nome.

Spanish
Valdo: Â¿QuÃ© has notado de diferente en esos Ãºltimos tiempos en relaciÃ³n a la gravidez y los hijos acÃ¡ en los Estados Unidos?
Michelle: He notado Ãºltimamente que la cuestiÃ³n de nombres es muy diferente que en el Brasil.
Valdo: Â¿Has tenido problemas alguna vez con eso?
Michelle: SÃ­, Recientemente he tenido dificultades en explicarles a las otras personas que mi hija tiene dos apellidos.
Valdo: SÃ­, hay que acostumbrarte con eso, porque aquÃ­ las personas han usado el sistema de usar un segundo nombre y apellido en vez de dos apellidos.
Michelle: Es eso lo que me confunde aquÃ­.  En todos los lugares que he ido estos Ãºltimos meses, las personas no entienden que mi hija no tiene un segundo nombre.

English
Valdo: Have you been noticing anything different lately as related to pregnancy and having children here in the United States?
Michelle: Lately I've been noticing that the issue of names has been very different from in Brazil.
Valdo: Have you ever had any problems with this?
Michelle: Yes I have.  Lately I've had some problems in explaining to people here that my daughter has two last names.
Valdo: Yes, you need to get used to that, because here people have used the a system where they have a second name and a last name instead of two last names.
Michelle: That is exactly what confuses me here. In all the places I've gone during these last few months, people don't understand why my daughter doesn't have a second name.

Grammar Lesson 19: Present Perfect, Naming People

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 Ã´nibus.
Valdo: Pois Ã©, aqui nos Estados Unidos tem lugares especÃ­ficos nos Ã´nibus pra carregar bicicletas.
Michelle: Eh, e sobram motivos aqui para as pessoas levarem suas bicicletas na frente dos Ã´nibus e irem sentadas.
Valdo: Ã 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 Ã´nibus.
Valdo: Puxa, falta sÃ³ esse serviÃ§o para o transporte pÃºblico no Brasil ficar Ã³timo.

Spanish
Michelle: Yo creo que es interesante que existen personas que ponen su bicicleta en frente de los autobuses.
Valdo: SÃ­, aquÃ­ en los Estados Unidos hay lugares especÃ­ficos en los autobuses para llevar bicicletas
Michelle: SÃ­ y eso les dÃ¡ el incentivo a las personas aquÃ­ para que lleven su bicicleta en frente del autobÃºs 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: AdemÃ¡s, siempre surge algo imprevisto que hace que se prefiera el confort del aire condicionado del autobÃºs.
Valdo: Caramba, nos falta ese servicio para el transporte pÃºblico 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.

Grammar Lesson 18: Word Order, Buses and Services

asset title: Grammar Lesson 17: TambÃ©m x TambÃ©m nÃ£o, Online Activities
filename: tafalado_gra_17.mp3
track number: 43/46
time: 9:44
size: 6.85 MB
bitrate: 96 kbps

Spanish speakers who are used to saying tampoco will now have to learn how to say tambÃ©m nÃ£o in Portuguese. It just sounds cute somehow. Culturally, Michelle and Valdo talk about all the things that are offered online in the United States, much more than in Brazil.  In this lesson we also mention the sensitive subject of toll roads in Austin, Texas.  We are still getting used to the idea, so forgive us if we're a little touchy about it.  It may be common in other places, but we still don't like it, even if you can make payments online!

Dialog

Portuguese
Valdo: Esse fim de semana eu tive que renovar os livros que eu tomei emprestado da biblioteca.
Michelle: Que coincidÃªncia, eu renovei os meus tambÃ©m. Ainda bem que aqui a gente pode fazer isso online.
Valdo: Ã verdade! Aqui nos Estados Unidos as pessoas usam a Internet tambÃ©m pra pagar contas, comprar coisas, pedir filmes, fazer lista de presentes ...
Michelle: Mas infelizmente nÃ£o consegui fazer minha matrÃ­cula para o prÃ³ximo semestre porque o sistema estava fora do ar.
Valdo: Que interessante, eu tambÃ©m nÃ£o consegui. A hora que eu tentei estava fora do ar tambÃ©m.
Michelle: Pois Ã©, e eu tambÃ©m nÃ£o pude pagar o pedÃ¡gio online. Vou ver se faÃ§o isso hoje Ã  noite.

Spanish
Valdo: Este fin de semana yo tuve que renovar algunos libros que tomÃ© emprestado de la biblioteca.
Michelle: QuÃ© coincidencia, yo tambiÃ©n renovÃ© los mÃ­os.  Que bueno que aquÃ­ se pueda hacer eso online.
Valdo: Es verdad!  AquÃ­ en los Estados Unidos las personas usan el Internet tambiÃ©n para pagar las cuentas, comprar cosas, pedir pelÃ­culas, hacer listas de regalos ...
Michelle: Pero infelizmente no pude hacer la matrÃ­cula para el prÃ³ximo semestre porque el sistema no estaba funcionando.
Valdo: QuÃ© interesante, yo tampoco lo conseguÃ­.  Cuando intentÃ© el sistema tampoco funcionaba.
Michelle: Pues, yo tampoco pude pagar el peeaje online, veremos si lo consigo esta noche.

English
Valdo: This weekend I had to renew some books that I borrowed from the library.
Michelle: What a coincidence, I renewed my books too.  It's a good thing that here you can do that online.
Valdo: It's true!  Here in the United States people also use the Internet to pay bills, buy things, order movies, make gift lists ...
Michelle: But unfortunately I couldn't register for next semester's classes because the system wasn't working.
Valdo: How interesting, I couldn't do it either.  When I tried things weren't working either.
Michelle: Yea, I couldn't pay the toll  either, we'll see if I can do it tonight.

asset title: Grammar Lesson 16: Placement of Indirect Pronouns, Greeting Friends
filename: tafalado_gra_16.mp3
track number: 42/46
time: 12:33
size: 8.82 MB
bitrate: 96 kbps

In this lesson, Michelle claims that most people give women one kiss on the cheek when greeting and when saying goodbye. Valdo thinks that it is more common to give two kisses, one on each cheek.  And there are even places where a third kiss is given.  How difficult can it get?  As to grammar, years ago Orlando was once caught saying, in Spanish, MarÃ­a quiere me ayudar.  To his surprise he found out that Spanish speakers are not supposed to put the indirect pronoun 'me' between the verbs.  So, for you who are learning Portuguese, you get to learn the opposite: in Portuguese the pronoun goes between the auxiliary and main verb.  There is no problem in saying, Maria quer me ajudar.

Dialog

Portuguese
Michelle: Quando alguÃ©m vai nos apresentar a outra pessoa aqui nos Estados Unidos, o que acontece?
Valdo: Aqui, mesmo que as pessoas queiram te beijar nÃ£o Ã© o costume. O mÃ¡ximo que elas vÃ£o fazer Ã© te estender a mÃ£o.
Michelle: Pois Ã©, no Brasil as pessoas sÃ£o mais informais. Elas jÃ¡ vÃ£o nos beijando e abraÃ§ando logo de cara.
Valdo: EntÃ£o, e Ã© atÃ© engraÃ§ado Ã s vezes porque elas vÃªm me dar um beijo e eu estou acostumado com dois.
Michelle: Ã verdade! E dependendo da regiÃ£o do Brasil Ã© atÃ© trÃªs. Pra vocÃª ver que quando os americanos vÃªm nos cumprimentar, a gente sempre espera algo mais informal.
Valdo: Nem espere! Aqui nos Estados Unidos as pessoas sÃ£o bem mais formais do que no Brasil, muitas vezes elas nem vÃ£o te tocar e jÃ¡ estÃ£o dizendo: desculpa, com licenÃ§a, por favor, sinto muito ...

Spanish
Michelle: Cuando alguien nos va a presentar a otra persona aquÃ­ en los Estados Unidos, Â¿quÃ© sucede?
Valdo: AquÃ­, aunque las personas quieran besarte, eso no es la costumbre.  Lo mÃ¡ximo que van a hacer es extenderte la mano.
Michelle: Pues, en el Brasil las personas son mÃ¡s informales.  Eloas andan besÃ¡ndonos y abrazÃ¡ndonos desde luego.
Valdo: SÃ­, y es un poco chistoso a veces porque ellos vienen a darme un beso y estoy acostumbrado a recibir dos.
Michelle: Es verdad. Y dependiendo de la regiÃ³n en el Brasil hay hasta tres.  VerÃ¡s que cuando los americanos vienen a saludarnos, nosotros siempre esperamos algo mÃ¡s informal.
Valdo: Ni lo esperes! AquÃ­ en los Estados Unidos las personas son mucho mÃ¡s formales que en el Brasil, muchas veces ni siquiera te tocan y luego ya estÃ¡n diciendo: perdona, con permiso, por favor, siento mucho ...

English
Michelle: When someone wants to introduce us to another person here in the United States, how is that done?
Valdo: Here, even if the people want to give you a kiss, that's not the custom.  The most they will do is to hold out their hand to you.
Michelle: You're right, in Brazil people are more informal.  Everyone is kissing and hugging each other right away.
Valdo: Yea, and it's kind of funny sometimes because they come to give me a kiss and I'm used to getting two.
Michelle: That's true.  And depending on the region in Brasil you can even have three.  So you see that when Americans greet us, we're always expecting something more informal.
Valdo: Don't wait for that!  Here in the United States people are much more formal than in Brazil, many times they barely even touch you and they are already saying: sorry, excuse me, please, I'm sorry ...

Lesson 5: Stressed and Unstressed /a/, Self-Checkout at the Supermarket

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