Stranguage

One of the more surprising benefits of studying a second language is how much one learns about their first. Languages are rife with little nuggets of idiosyncrasy that go unnoticed by native speakers. It is a strange feeling to discover new details about terrain so familiar (like noticing a freckle on the back of your hand), especially when the freshly ascertained attributes are so simple, so otherwise obvious.

One example:

In Spanish, all O's are pronounced like that in "ode" or "no." However, to really hit the Spanish enunciation, it helps to keep the lips themselves in a round O shape. (In the first day of class, we formed the thumb and finger into a ring and stuck them over our mouths. It works pretty well, but should be avoided in daily conversation.)

What's the difference? How is the typical American "no" any different than a madrileño's? Well, unbeknownst to me, Anglophones pronounce the hard O as a dipthong. (Basically, two vowel sounds in a row.) How can two vowel's find room in a space as small as "no"? Well, if you don't believe me, say the word slowly, draaaaaaaaaaging it out, like in a cheesy film: noooooooooooo.

You'll notice two steps: an open mouth noooo followed by a pursing of the lips (as if about to kiss) that forms an "ü" sound (as in "loop".) It's two pieces - no & u. No, u.

Spanophones eschew the u. More accurately, they begin within the puckered lips position and don't leave it.

Aren't you glad to, er, . . . know?