Lesson p008

8 CONYERSATIONAL PORTUGUESE

cariocas) is quite distinctive. Farther south, as in S^o Paulo, and in the northem part of the country one notices further minor differences, but basically the language is the same in all these cases.

The Portuguese language as spoken in Portugal is fundamentaily the same language as is spoken in Brazil, but there are minor differences in syntax and significantly marked variations in pronunciation, intonation and rhythm. Syllables are cut shorter and at times slurred over, with finał vowels clipped sharply or practically dropped.

LESSON 3

4. PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

(Pronunciation Practice I)

The following groups of words will give you an idea of some of the regional differences in pronunciation and will also provide additional practice in Portuguese pronunciation and spelling. The first pronunciation is as in Sao Paulo, the second as in Rio de Janeiro, and the third as in Portugal.

CONSONANTS

1. d is pronounced morę forcefully in Rio de Janeiro and with some speakers approximates the j in just; this is especially true with d before e or i:

Sao Paulo Rio Portugal    -t ■

cidade    cidade    cidade    city

Bom dia.    Bom dia. Bom dia.    Good moming.

2. r is pronounced with the tongue forward, along the top of the mouth with the. tip near the base of the upper teeth (as in Spanish), with initial r and rr being morę forceful, with the tongue vibrating in this position. This pronunciation can be heard in S£o Paulo and in Portugal.

The carioca r is pronounced back in the mouth, the upper back part of the tongue against the roof of the mouth (similar to a French back r and somewhat like ch in German).

Sao Paulo	Rio	Portugal
caro	caro	caro	expensive
carro	carro	carro	car, cart
Rio	Rio	Rio	Rio
3. s between vowels is as		z in zeal,	or as s in rosę:
fasę	fasę	fasę	phase
s before	a voiced consonant (produced with a
vibration of the vocal cords, as b, d, ge, gi, j, l m, n, r, v, z) tends to be as z in azure, as Portuguese j:
mesmo	mesmo	mesmo	same
Lisboa	Lisboa	Lisboa	Lisbon

Finał s and s (and x) before a voiceless consonant (produced without a vibration of the vocal cords, as hard c and hard g,fp, qu, t) are pronounced as s in see in Sao Paulo and by some cariocas, and as sh in shine in Portugal and by some cariocas:

costas    costas    costas    coasts

prosperidade prosperidade prosperidade prosperity mdscas    móscas    moscas ® flies