Wishing all who are celebrating this Christmas holiday a very merry day. May Santa bring you everything you wish for and more!
Today we say Merry Christmas in various languages:
Going to the post office in foreign places is almost as common as going to the airport these days. Chances are (if you’re like me) everyone you know back home will be begging for a piece of your exotic vacation package and the best (or least) you can do is send them a post card. I don’t know what it is about foreign postage that gets people all wild up? Anyhow, to make your journey into a post office in Spain, where let’s say they only speak Catalan, I’ve provided you with this Catalan jewel.
Today’s word is a Catalan word used in Spain:
franqueig – postage
Resources on the web are many for Catalan. Check out Ominglot first for history and a fantastic list of links to keep you chugging along in your studies. Some of the best in my own opinion include this Intercat site which has a University conversation guide with audio, a section titled ” 30 Tips Catalan in Catalonia,” and other additional tools. BBC has a short summary about Catalan and a few helpful phrases.
Word around town is it’s Mother’s Day and since we here at Gadling love mom’s worldwide I figured I’d provide you with a number of ways to wish your own mum the happiest of days. The New York Public Library online has a list of greetings and expressions for several holidays so use it today and then prepare for Father’s day just around the corner. Here’s a just few from their list:
And again, Happy Mummies day to all the mummies of the world!!!!
Here’s a pretty cool event to pencil in this summer if
you’re anywhere in or around Sonoma this July. Gloria Ferrer Winery will celebrate 20 years of making world-class
sparkling and still wines during their Catalan
Festival. Featuring food, wine, entertainment, music, and dancing with a whole lot of Catalan flavor visitors can
get small taste of Spanish culture during the two day bash. Specific details for the July 22-23, 2006 event are still
in planning stages, but if last year’s festival sounds mouth-watering enough go ahead and get your tickets now. It’ll be a great place to
practice your Catalan to be used later on in the big trip to Spain.
Today’s word is a Catalan word used in Spain:
Em dic… – My name is…
You would think this would be pretty similar to the "mi llamo…" used in Spanish to provide another with
your name, but it’s quite different. So now you know. Practice, practice at the wine festival or anywhere for that
matter, then take it to the Spanish streets on a summer night for the full effect. Just remember not to spill your
wine.
Resources on the web are many for Catalan. Check out Ominglot first for history and a fantastic list of links to keep
you chugging along in your studies. Some of the best in my own opinion include this Intercat site which has a University conversation guide with
audio, a section titled " 30 Tips Catalan
in Catalonia," and other additional tools. BBC has a short summary about
Catalan and a few helpful phrases.
Past Catalan words: sisplau