Author:
I'm looking at learning the Catalan language and some of you might already know the IPA chart and how it really helps for you phonetically properly pronouncing a sound in your new language.
The problem I'm looking at specifically is the Catalan "a" vowel, most of this is because those of you who know the IPA know that a letter is linked to a specific sound. Bottom line, the issue here is I'm seeing conflicting positions on the vowel chart for the "a"(not sure if this is the proper IPA designation for it, just using it as a placeholder).
If anyone here actually knows Catalan, could you tell me if it's front, mid, or back(if it's in the back, whether rounded or un-rounded too).
p.s. Before anyone says so based on my previous posts I AM looking at learning least one if not more Indigenous languages; however, based upon some author's assessments on the Catalonian region I also really want to learn this language and given it's a level 1 language by the Foreign Service Institute in difficulty of learning I'd like to try it out. I'm looking at trying to learn language through the "Fluent Forever" model. I know some Japanese and Korean as well(would like fluency here as well); however, I would like to try this model on a language from scratch that I know nothing about and see how well it works for me. The FSI has no road map for the native languages so I can't compare(sadly Basque is another not listed which I want to learn as well).
Oh and I also posted this because I will be posting a new story shortly in the SRU universe which I hope all of you like, especially certain niche gamers like me. ;-) You might really like it light.
Comments
Catalan
Catalan has pretty much the same vowels as Italian; the a is a low-front lax accented vowel similar to the General American pronunciation of the a in father or the o in not. Roughly, since those two words vary in pronunciation even across the broad band of North America from mid-state New York to California. :) Unlike Spanish, Catalan reduces many vowels in unaccented syllables to the schwa sound, a colorless mid-central lax vowel like the a in American pronunciation of unaccustomed.
Don't take me for a final authority on this. I'm basing my opinion on reading I've done, I don't speak Catalan. I did use Catalan for the model of the Remice language in my story Bian, just as I used Old Norse as the model for Bloddish but I'm not an expert.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
It helps because...
Like I said, I was noticing on a Catalan IPA chart under Wiki it was shown as mid, open and rounded which would make it "ɐ" in IPA. Telling me that clarifies that the IPA chart for Catalan was WRONG in that respect which, while I know Wiki has faults I wouldn't think this would be one. -_-
Now I know your description matches "a" which matches IPA inscriptions of Catalan words on the same Wiki strangely enough.
HOW the same Wiki entry can have two conflicting understandings of the same IPA vowel I can't understand.
Bad editing
The a phoneme in Catalan is unrounded; in fact, I don't know of a low front rounded vowel in any Romance language. It's just a mistake. Low front rounded vowels are pretty rare in any language since it isn't an easy lip motion to make with the mouth wide and the tongue forward. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.