The Language Warehouse Spanish Basic Course -
Phonology Unit 10
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Part 1. Practice
1. Repeat these words accurately.
a. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
b. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
c. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
2. Now, listen and write these words in the blanks.
Check your spelling after each one.
(carta) a. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(parte) b. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(corte) c. ( ) ( ): ____________________
3. Repeat these words accurately.
a. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
b. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
c. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
4. Now, listen and write these words in the blanks.
Check your spelling after each one.
(tarde) a. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(barde) b. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(cordero) c. ( ) ( ): ____________________
5. Repeat these words accurately.
a. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
b. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
c. ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
6. Now, listen and write these words in the blanks.
Check your spelling after each one.
(padre) a. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(madre) b. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(cuadro) c. ( ) ( ): ____________________
7. Try to make these contrasts accurately.
a. (a) X (a) X (b) X (b) X
b. (a) X (a) X (b) X (b) X
c. (a) X (a) X (b) X (b) X
8. Now, listen and write these words in the blanks.
The second of each pair contains -rr-.
(pero) a. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(perro) ( ) ( ): ____________________
(caro) b. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(carro) ( ) ( ): ____________________
(para) c. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(parra) ( ) ( ): ____________________
9. Notice that the second word in each of the
following pairs begins with the sound similar
to -rr-. Listen and repeat.
a. (a) X (a) X (b) X (b) X
b. (a) X (a) X (b) X (b) X
10. When this -rr- sound is at the beginning of a
word, it is written as a single -r-. Listen
and write, and check each one.
a. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(ropa)
b. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(rata)
c. ( ) ( ): ____________________
(rico)
Part 2. New Material.
11. Listen to the way this word is pronounced.
basto: ( ) ( )
12. Listen to this one.
vasto: ( ) ( )
13. Here are the last two words again. Do they
sound different?
(basto) (vasto) (basto) (vasto)
(no)
14. A difference in the pronunciation between 'b'
and 'v' began to disappear early in the history
of the Iberian Peninsula, as evidenced in the
early hispano-romantic inscriptions. Today,
practically all speakers of Spanish pronounce
them as one and the same sound. A few speakers
may at times make a difference, but these are
very much in the minority. In the opinion of
the leading Spanish phonetician, T. Navarro
Tomás (p. 92, Manual de pronunciación española,
6a. edición; Madrid 1953) to make a distinction
between 'b' and 'v' is not in any fashion a
requirement of Spanish pronunciation.
15. Read these words in accordance with the pronunciation
adopted for this text, and check your pronunciation.
a. basta: . . . . . . ( ) ( )
b. vasto: . . . . . . ( ) ( )
c. vaca: . . . . . . ( ) ( )
d. verde: . . . . . . ( ) ( )
e. busque: . . . . . ( ) ( )
f. vende: . . . . . . ( ) ( )
g. vino: . . . . . . ( ) ( )
16. Listen to 'b' in these words:
sabe: ( ) ( )
sabor: ( ) ( )
17. Now, listen to the 'v' in these words:
pavor: ( ) ( )
lave: ( ) ( )
18. Here they are in pairs. Notice that there is
no difference between the 'b' and the 'v'.
a. (sabe) (lave)
b. (sabor) (pavor)
19. The sound represented by 'b' or 'v' is heard
by 'English-speaking ears' as approximately
the sound of English 'v'.
This explains why the capital of Cuba is spelled
'Havana' even though it is spelled in Spanish 'Habana'.
20. The sound for 'b' or 'v' that we represent as
'b' or 'v' in our text occurs after any vowel.
lava = 'lava'
cabo = 'cabo'
21. Write these words using the writing principles
used in this text.
lave : ____________________
cabo : ____________________
Diva : ____________________
llave: ____________________
vino : ____________________
(lava, cabo, Diva, llave, vino)
22. Does this represent our text's writing system?
'la vaca'
(yes)
23. Does this represent our writing system?
'de vino'
(no)
24. Write this phrase using our system.
de vino: ____________________
(de vino)
25. As in the case of 'd', 'b' and 'v' become 'b'
and 'v' after an 's' or 'r'. Thus:
las + veces = las veces
dar + voces = dar voces
26. According to our system, is this right?
'las bocas'
(yes)
27. Is this one right according to our system?
'los veranos'
(no)
28. Write this according to our system.
los veranos: ____________________
(los veranos)
29. Listen how the 's' before v or b tends to 'buzz'
a little, just as it did before 'd'.
las bocas: ( ) ( )
las veces: ( ) ( )
30. The 'd' is pronounced 'd', as you know, after a
vowel, after 's', and after 'r'. That is, the
'd' becomes 'd' after the same kind of things
that make 'b' or 'v' become 'b' or 'v'.
cada = 'cada' tarde = 'tarde'
lava = 'lava' larva = 'larva'
cabo = 'cabo' árbol = 'árbol'
desde = 'desde'
desvelo = 'desvelo'
asbesto = 'asbesto'
31. The 'b' or 'v' become 'b' or 'v' after one more
letter: 'l'. Thus,
Melba = 'Melba'
32. Is this one right or wrong?
selva = 'selva'
(right)
33. Is this one right or wrong?
al ver = 'al ver'
(wrong)
34. Write this one correctly.
al ver: ____________________
(al ver)
35. Now let us shift our attention to another matter.
( ) ( ) ( )
36. This is what the wozd looks like: 'hoy'.
37. Now look at the word while you are listening
to it, then repeat where shown.
(hoy) (hoy) (hoy) X (hoy) X
38. Do you hear an 'h' sound?
(no)
39. The Spanish letter 'h' does not represent any
sound. It is commonly referred to as 'silent'.
For the time being, we will remind you that
the 'h' is not pronounced by bolding and italicizing
it, like this: h
40. Here is a familiar word. Listen and repeat where shown.
( ) ( ) ( ) X ( ) X
41. This is how the word is written using our system:
'hola'.
42. Write this word, using our system.
'hola': ____________________
(hola)
43. Here's another familiar word. Listen and repeat where shown.
( ) ( ) X ( ) X
44. In print this word looks like this: 'hasta'.
However; we are going to write it like this:
(hasta) __________________________
45. Read this word aloud, then check your rendition
with the voice on the tape.
'hilo': . . . . .( ) ( )
46. Now, once again, here is the new word from the present
dialog. Read it aloud, then check with the tape.
'hoy': . . . . . . ( ) ( )
Part 3. The Written Accent Mark. (Cont'd)
47. You know this word. Is it written correctly?
'aquí'
(yes)
48. Listen and then decide if this word has been written correctly.
( ) ( ): papa
(wrong)
49. Listen, and then write this word.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(papá)
50. Listen, and then decide if this word is written correctly.
( ) ( ): mesa
(right)
51. Is this one written correctly?
( ) ( ): lata
(right)
52. Is this one right?
( ) ( ): tápa
(wrong)
53. Re-write this word correctly.
'tápa': ____________________
(tapa)
54. Is this one right?
( ) ( ): péso
(wrong)
55. Re-write this word correctly.
'péso': ____________________
(peso)
56. Is this one right?
( ) ( ): mavesa
(right)
57. Listen, and write this word correctly.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(masa)
58. Listen, and write this word correctly.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(case)
59. Is this statement apparently right or apparently wrong?
'Words ending in a vowel, and which are loudest on the last
part, should have a written accent mark on that last vowel.'
(right)
60. Is this statement apparently right or apparently wrong?
'If you are reading a word that has been correctly written,
and it ends in a vowel and there is no accent mark, you
should pronounce the second-last syllable the loudest.'
(right)
61. Of course, all words don't end in a vowel. A great number
end in a consonant. Listen to these; they are all written
correctly, that is, these do not need an accent mark.
papel: ( ) ( )
costar: ( ) ( )
usted: ( ) ( )
señor: ( ) ( )
profesor: ( ) ( )
62. Does this word need an accent mark?
(no) ( ) ( )
63. Does this one?
(no) ( ) ( )
64. Is this word written correctly?
( ) ( ): sacár
(no)
65. Re-write it correctly.
'sacár': ____________________
(sacar)
66. Is this word written correctly?
( ) ( ): necedad
(yes)
67. Listen to this word, and write it correctly.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(canal)
68. Listen to this one, and write it correctly.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(altar)
69. Listen to this one, and write it correctly.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(está)
70. Listen to this one, and write it correctly.
( ) ( ): ____________________
(tapa)
71. Next you will examine some verbs which resemble
their English counterparts. This resemblance
will more than likely make you mispronounce them.
One of these verbs is the 'idea of defending'.
( ) ( ) ( )
72. Listen to the right and wrong pronunciation.
(R) (W) (R) (W)
73. This is what it looks like; repeat it.
defender: ( )X ( )X ( )X
74. Which is the right pronunciation, 1 or 2?
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(2)
75. Here is another verb. It is the 'idea of selling'.
(Notice its resemblance to English 'vending' as in
'vending machines'.)
vender: ( )X ( )X ( )X
76. Listen to the wrong and right pronunciation:
(W) (R) (W) (R)
77. Which is the right one?
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(2)
78. The 'idea of offering' is ofrecer. Here it is
pronounced by syllables. Imitate this slow
pronunciation exactly as you hear it.
o-fre-cer: ( )X ( )X
79. Now imitate it at normal speed. Make an effort
to keep the middle syllable right.
'ofrecer': ( )X ( )X ( )X
80. The 'idea of permitting' is permitir. Imitate
it exactly as you hear it.
per-mi-tir: ( )X ( )X ( )X
81. Now, normal speed. Be careful with the middle syllable.
'permitir': ( )X ( )X ( )X
82. Here are the last two; one is the 'idea of deciding'
and the other the 'idea of receiving'.
de-ci-dir: ( )X ( )X ( )X
re-ci-bir: ( )X ( )X ( )X
83. Now, at normal speed. Watch that middle syllable.
'decidir': ( )X ( )X ( )X
'recibir': ( )X ( )X ( )X
84. Finally, here are all of them.
'defender': ( )X ( )X ( )X
'vender': ( )X ( >X ( )X
'ofrecer': ( )X ( )X ( )X
'permitir': ( )X ( )X ( )X
'decidir': ( )X ( )X ( )X
'recibir': ( )X ( )X ( )X
85. (You have now learned about 60% of the principles of
accenting words. The subject will be concluded
in the next Unit.)
86. In the last Unit you were exposed briefly to the
use of yo, 'I', and nosotros, 'we'. Which is
the loudest syllable to nosotros?
no so tros
3 2 1
(2)
87. What is the meaning of Estoy aquí?
a. I'm here.
b. I'm here (but Bill isn't).
(I'm here.)
88. What is the meaning of Yo estoy aquí?
a. I'm here.
b. I'M here (but Bill isn't).
(I'M here.)
89. What is the meaning of Nosotros lo-terminamos.
a. We finished it.
b. WE finished it (but they didn't).
(WE finished it.)
90. What is the meaning of Lo-terminamos?
a. We finished it.
b. WE finished it.
(We finished it.)
91. Apparently, the use of yo or nosotros in a sentence
conveys the notion of _____________________.
(emphasis)
92. The absence of yo or nosotros is the normal type
of statement having no ____________________.
(emphasis)
93. Therefore, if you were to use yo and nosotros
as often as you do when speaking English, you
would give the impression to the Spanish speaker
that you speak too often with undue ________________________.
(emphasis)
94. The presence of usted or ustedes in a sentence
is not entirely the same as with yo or nosotros.
The absence of usted or ustedes, of course, is
the normal type of statement having ________ emphasis.
(no)
95. The presence of usted or ustedes, however, may
or may ________ convey emphasis.
(not)
96. The presence or absence of words like 'he' or
'she' (to be learned later) and of 'they' (also
to be learned later) are like yo and nosotros.
Spanish 'he' or 'she' does convey some ____________________.
(emphasis)
97. (Summary): Words like 'I', 'we', 'he', etc.
are called 'subject pronouns'. These words
exist in Spanish, of course, but when a Spanish
person uses a _____________________ pronoun in a
sentence, more than likely he is conveying _________________.
(subject;
emphasis)
UNIT 10 ANSWER KEY
Part 1. Practice
1. a. carta ... (3)
b. parte ... (3)
c. corte ... (3)
2. a. carta (2)
b. parte (2)
c. corte (2)
3. a. tarde ... (3)
b. borde ... (3)
c. cordero ... (3)
4. a. tarde (2)
b. borde (2)
c. cordero (2)
5. a. padre ... (3)
b. madre ... (3)
c. cuadro ... (3)
6. a. padre (2)
b. madre (2)
c. cuadro (2)
7. a. pero ... (2) perro ... (2)
b. caro ... (2) carro ... (2)
c. para (2) parra (2)
8. a. pero (2) perro (2)
b. caro (2) carro (2)
c. para (2) parra (2)
9. a. perro ... (2) rata ... (2)
b. parra ... (2) ropa ... (2)
10. a. ropa (2)
b. rata (2)
c. rico (2)
Part 2. New Material
11. basto (2)
12. (Use b-) vasto (2)
13. basto/vasto (2)
14. (No voice)
15. a. ... basta (2)
b. ... vasto (2)
c. ... vaca (2)
d. ... verde (2)
e. ... busque (2)
f. ... verde (2)
g. ... vino (2)
16. sabe (2) sabor (2)
17. pavor (2) lave (2)
18. a. sabe/lave
b. sabor/pavor
19. - 28. (No voice)
29. las bocas (2) las veces (2)
30. (No voice)
31. - 34. (No voice)
35. hoy (3)
36. (No voice)
37. hoy (2) hoy ... (2)
38. - 39. (No voice)
40. hola (1) hola ... (2)
41. (No voice)
42. (No voice)
43. hasta (1) hasta ... (2)
44. (No voice)
45. ... hilo (2)
46. ... hoy (2)
Part 3. The Written Accent
47. (No voice)
48. papá (2)
49. papá (2)
50. mesa (2)
51. lata (2)
52. tapa (2)
53. (No voice)
54. peso (2)
55. (No voice)
56. mavesa (2)
57. masa (2)
58. casé (2)
59. - 60. (No voice)
61. papel (2)
costar (2)
usted (2)
señor (2)
profesor (2)
62. marfil (2)
63. pastel (2)
64. sacar (2)
65. (No voice)
66. necedad (2)
67. canal (2)
68. altar (2)
69. está (2)
70. tapa (2)
71. defender (3)
72. defender/defuhnder (2)
73. defender ... (3)
74. 1. defuhnder/ 2. defender (2)
75. vender ... (3)
76. vuhnder/vender (2)
77. 1. vuhnder/ 2. vender (2)
78. o-fre-cer ... (2)
79. ofrecer ... (3)
80. per-mi-tir ... (3)
81. permitir ... (3)
82. de-ci-dir ... (2)
re-ci-bir ... (3)
83. decidir ... (3) recibir ... (3)
84. defender ... (3)
vender ... (3)
ofrecer ... (3)
permitir ... (3)
decidir ... (3)
recibir ... (3)
END OF UNIT 10