Learn the Spain: Castilian Accent

(76.6MB, 77 minutes)  2011 Edition

This download includes a written examination for learning a Spanish Castilian accent, and the following sound files featuring Accent Help coach Jim Johnson:

Play Audio Sample:

1. Introduction to Sound Placement, Intonation and Helpful Hints for speaking with a Spanish accent (9:34)
2. Consonant sound changes for learning a Castilian accent (17:32)
3. Vowel sound changes for speaking with a Castilian accent (8:27)
4. changes to Diphthongs for learning a Spanish accent (1:51)
5. Pronunciation of Words and Phrases in a Castilian Spanish accent (1:35)
6. Wrap up to learning Castilian Spanish accents (2:18)
7. Male from Valencia Spain reading (1:35)
8. + his conversation (9:36)
9. Male from Bilbao Spain reading (1:15)
10. + his conversation (1:25)
11. Female from Madrid Spain reading (1:11)
12. + her conversation (6:41)
13. Female from Madrid Spain reading (1:41)
14. + her conversation (3:56)
15. Male from Santander Cantabria Spain reading (1:33)
16. + his conversation (7:24)

Spanish accents of Spain have variations largely due to changes in the dialect of Spanish the people speak, and the variation in languages, too.  Spain is divided into a number of autonomous provinces that relate to language and cultural differences.  The major ethnic/language divisions of Spain include the Galicians, in the northwest with heavy influence from Portuguese; the Basques, in northeast Spain and southwest France; the Catalans, in the far northeast; and the Castilians, largely throughout the middle of the country. Castilian influence is perhaps the most widespread in Spain, and carries all the way to the southern coast.  Spanish (Castellano or Español) is the national language and is spoken by almost all Spaniards, but the afore-mentioned areas have their own regional languages or dialects as well.

Whatever accent you're working on, it's a good idea to get our FREE guide to learning accents and dialects - it will help you to get started with some basic terms and ideas for learning accents. (It's also included with this download.)

Though these sound files have been remastered to reduce background noise, most of these recordings are made "in the field" so you will hear such things as birds, cars or other people in the background.  A transcription of the conversations is included to help you follow along.   This download also contains four versions of the written materials:  A printer-friendly pdf, a pdf that is in a larger format for use on a portable reading device, and both mobi and epub editions for other portable readers.