Fonetica and Psalm 1

Last week, we were tested on the pronunciation and intonation of our reading of Psalm 1. Believe it or not, it took days to get it even close to sounding like accurate espanol! I scanned a copy of my notes so that you can see what we've been doing. We were also tested on a list of words that are difficult to pronounce (for English speakers). The way they run their words together is very much like English, but the accents in words are almost musical in their rhythm--very unlike English. This is what we learn in fonetica--pronunciation, intonation, the rise and fall of one's voice in asking questions and in making statements, which words are accented--verbs, not titles, not the masculine or feminine identifiers, which syllables get 1 1/2 beats as opposed to 1 beat, how to tell which words get a tilde (the little accent mark). At test-time in this class, we are called in individually with only our professor to demonstrate what we have learned. It's a little unnerving. : )

Anyway, I am so thankful that we are able to study and learn in a Christian institution. Although we speak two different languages, we are united there in our passion for the words of the Bible. And I love Psalm 1. And I made a 99!