English and
Spanish Prosodics
To examine the differences between Spanish and English prosody, we will look at a nursery rhyme from each of the languages. While it might be argued that nursery rhymes are a very constrained type of speech, we can also argue that they are the primary way in which many children learn the prosodics of their native language.
So that you can study the differences between English and Spanish prosodics, open the speech files below and record them into WaveSurfer. If you’d prefer, you can record yourself or a classmate reciting the Spanish and English rhymes. Be sure to ask a native speaker of each language to do the recording.
(also at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ninos/songsrhymes.html#chocolate)
Spanish English
Bate, bate, chocolate, Stir, stir, chocolate,
tu nariz de cacahuate. your nose is a peanut.
Uno, dos, tres, CHO! One, two, three, CHO!
Uno, dos, tres, CO! One, two, three, CO!
Uno, dos, tres, LA! One, two, three, LA!
Uno, dos, tres, TE! One, two, three, TE!
Chocolate, chocolate! Chocolate, chocolate!
Bate, bate, chocolate! Stir, stir, the chocolate!
Bate, bate, bate, bate, Stir, stir, stir, stir,
Bate, bate, CHOCOLATE! Stir, stir, CHOCOLATE!
Chocolate, chocolate,
chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
When you take a bite, you will
taste it’s delight.
Chocolate, chocolate,
chocolate, chocolate, chocolate