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I Can Speak Spanish

Before I started learning Spanish, I noticed on the internet that people who would type in Spanish would convey laughing as "jajajaja." Although I knew that was supposed to be laughter, I thought it was strange because that was before I learned the J is silent in Spanish. It always had me thinking "Is that how people laugh in Spanish, by going (not silent J's) 'jajajaja'?" 😆

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CharlieZ · 70-79, M

The J is Not silent in Spanish, my friend.
It haves a relativelly soft but audible characteristic sound.

May be you confuses it with the H. The silent leter when begining a word in Spanish (or most of times).

What happens is that, in ancient Spanish, J and H were almost the same "letter" for some uses.
As a family of letters of related sound.
Like X and J, in Mexico that sounds Mejico.
Like H and F, in "Hermosa" that used to be "Fermosa" (of Formosa, Taiwán), or in "Hierro" (whith the silent H) that used to be "Fierrro".

And yes, we laugh Jajaja!

Carver · 31-35, F

@CharlieZ That's how I know it, anyway. Different with other dialects, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

CharlieZ · 70-79, M

@Carver You are probably right about dialects.
But, please, tell me in which local Spanish you find the J to be silent and in which words.
Not in Spain (as standard Spanish), not in Argentina, my country, and the near ones, not in the countries of South America I´ve been at.
But, of course, there is a lot I have to learn.

Carver · 31-35, F

@CharlieZ The Spanish I've learned is a Mexican dialect. I keep forgetting Spanish is different in nearly every region of the world. Another thing that gets me is the use of "tu" to say "you" when nearly every other dialect uses "vos" instead.

CharlieZ · 70-79, M

@Carver Yes, Mexico haves a peculiar use of Spanish.
As is also true for my country in other ways.

In fact, almost all local dialects of Spanish uses "Tu" as "You".

The only place where the "Vos" is used is Argentina, my Country.
There is an historical / cultural and even social reason behind it.
If you are interestested, I´ll tell you about.

Carver · 31-35, F

@CharlieZ That's okay, I already know a bit about voseo. Spanish is a pretty interesting language. I still have a lot more to learn about it myself. :)

CharlieZ · 70-79, M

@Carver Anyhow, the Vos was coined when, by Independence anti feudal times, people called each other with the majestatic plural Vos (Vosotros), to remark they felt equals and to reject aristocratic distinctions, made illegal by 1813.