The letters "b" and "v"

[Chip00]

I'm a little confused about the names and pronunciation of the letters "b" and "v" here in the DR.

The online dictionary says that the letter "b" is pronounced(in Spanish) "ve" while the "v" is pronounced "va". However, here in the DR they call "b" b larga and "v" b corta.

What's the deal?

 

[2LeftFeet]

From my understanding they are pronounced the same. I don't understand why you would have 2 letters in an alphabet that sound EXACTLY the same but I am assuming at one point in the history of the language they didn't.

I pronounce them the same.

Go figure!!!

 

[Chip00]

From my understanding they are pronounced the same. I don't understand why you would have 2 letters in an alphabet that sound EXACTLY the same but I am assuming at one point in the history of the language they didn't.

I pronounce them the same.

Go figure!!!

Yes, Dominicans here typically pronounce both the same - thus that is why they call one b larga and the other b corta - I should of made that clear in the original post - sorry.

 

[2LeftFeet]

Just to clarify-- I believe that they are pronounce the same EVERYWHERE in Spanish speaking countries.

I don't know the names. I will ask tomorrow if those names are only used in the DR.

Aprendo espanol. Mi ensenadora es de Argentina. Voy a preguntar.

The B/V fascinates me.

 

[mkohn]

b larga is b because it's written taller
v corta is v because it's written shorter
that's the long and short of it.
:cheeky:
mkohn

 

[Capt. Rob57]

Speaking Spanish

The Dominicans speak a lazy form of Spanish for example they pronounce voy as boy. Also they cut off the a's and o's. For example como ta. instead of como estar. Also when they say the # 8 it is socho. Not ocho and it should have las in front of it because all numbers are feminine. It took me quite awhile to re-learn my Spanish and stillI have problems understand some of them. Many of them speak con media lengua.

 

[Kyle]

like vivir and beber....

 

[2LeftFeet]

Capt-- my understanding is It is pronounced as BOY but written as voy. That's why there is so much confusion with the language. Both letters make the same sound. You have to know what letter to write.

The same with j and g. They make the same sound --depending on what vowel follows it. Tarjeta/Targeta. The word is tarJeta. If you don't have constant reminders of the correct spelling there lies the confusion.

 

[2LeftFeet]

Kyle if I may help--- I have been corrected on those words--- I guess living and drinking can be considered the same at times --maybe this will help

bee beer---vivir

Bay beer--beber

 

[Kyle]

yes thanks...i was always saying bee bida(bebida)--drink and de donde bee bay (vive). was i saying where do you drink backwards? :laugh:

b's and v's are my worse...

 

[Chip00]

Kyle if I may help--- I have been corrected on those words--- I guess living and drinking can be considered the same at times --maybe this will help

bee beer---vivir

Bay beer--beber

FYI - I think many Domicans can distiguish the slight difference betwwen the v in vivir and b in beber. As far as the pronunciation it should be:

"vee veer" and "be (as in bet) bear"

 

[2LeftFeet]

I'm heading off to class so I'll get the low down!

 

[M.A.R.]

Just to clarify-- I believe that they are pronounce the same EVERYWHERE in Spanish speaking countries.

I don't know the names. I will ask tomorrow if those names are only used in the DR.

Aprendo espanol. Mi ensenadora es de Argentina. Voy a preguntar.

The B/V fascinates me.

noooooo please get your facts straight, I know in other latin countries you could hear the difference between the V and B, but most Dominicans MOST not all, don't make a difference when using these letters.

 

[arturo]

You are making Spanish appear more complicated to English speakers than it really is

Capt-- my understanding is It is pronounced as BOY but written as voy. That's why there is so much confusion with the language. Both letters make the same sound. You have to know what letter to write.

The same with j and g. They make the same sound --depending on what vowel follows it. Tarjeta/Targeta. The word is tarJeta. If you don't have constant reminders of the correct spelling there lies the confusion.

All this confusion and energy over this issue is exaggerated. Here is why:

In English, most people pronounce these two words the same or at least very closely, in spite of "two different letters representing the same sound"

1. gene (as in genetics)

2. jean (as in Levis)

See what I mean? There are several other examples from various languages. My point is that all the people expressing confusion in this thread already have more language skills than they realize.

 

[Kyle]

FYI - I think many Domicans can distiguish the slight difference betwwen the v in vivir and b in beber. As far as the pronunciation it should be:

"vee veer" and "be (as in bet) bear"

thanks Chip..i need to get my espanol up to speed for my debut in Santiago in May...:laugh:

first trip to STI..

 

[nikke]

Bs and Vs are easier to handle when you put it in perspective. I think it's only a concern when you are writing if you want to spell correctly. If you are not doing a lot of writing then you will be fine.

 

[Norma Rosa]

I'm a little confused about the names and pronunciation of the letters "b" and "v" here in the DR.

The online dictionary says that the letter "b" is pronounced(in Spanish) "ve" while the "v" is pronounced "va". However, here in the DR they call "b" b larga and "v" b corta.

What's the deal?

Chipo, it is not a Dominican thing. Both letters have the same phonetic value. They MUST be pronounced the same way: /b/.
It is considered an overcorrection to say "v"

Here to help you,
Norma

 

[Chip00]

Chipo, it is not a Dominican thing. Both letters have the same phonetic value. They MUST be pronounced the same way: /b/.
It is considered an overcorrection to say "v"

Here to help you,
Norma

Thanks - I knew I could count on you!

 

[Norma Rosa]

The Dominicans speak a lazy form of Spanish for example they pronounce voy as boy. Also they cut off the a's and o's. For example como ta. instead of como estar. Also when they say the # 8 it is socho. Not ocho and it should have las in front of it because all numbers are feminine. It took me quite awhile to re-learn my Spanish and stillI have problems understand some of them. Many of them speak con media lengua.

Capt., for most speakers of any language, the tendency is towards finding easiness in pronunciation. American English is "lazier" than Brittish English.
Dominicans are correct when they say in such words as burro or vaca.
(Please read what I explained to Chipo above.) Furthermore, it is not the "o" or "a" which is cut off. Letter "s" is aspirated: "?C?mo eht??" or ?C?mo e'ta" and even "?C?mo t??" this is commun to many parts of the Spanish-speaking world. (I believe Leslie has a thread on this.)

?You heard "socho" and not "ocho"?
If you heard "socho" it was most probably within a context such like this:
Telling time: "Son las ocho." What you heard was a linking of the final consonant "s" with vowel "o" which produces "Son lasocho."

In order to avoid estacatos (I am using the Spanish word), languages tend to link, to blend a final sound with the beginning sound of the next word. American English blends much more than Brittish English. Spanish blends even more than American English.

Numbers:
You cannot use always "la, las" when you are using numbers. When telling time, yes. But look here:

?D?nde est?n los ocho d?lares que te prest??

Los tres l?pices son amarillos.


Norma
A Dominican dedicated to help

 

[2LeftFeet]

So Norma the B and the V are the same sound -- have I understood you correctly?