Barcelona Travel Forum

Hi everybody!
I´m a studying Business Administration in Barcelona this semester and so far I have really enjoyed my time here. As I´ve began to make friends with other international students(some from Poland, China, France and Mexico), we have all concluded that we have actually had a difficult time understanding the public transportation signs, city flyers, and other turist information because most of it is only writen in Catalan. We find it hard to understand why this information
(for example the metro signs) is not translated into other languages or at least have it available to help those persons that don´t spead Catalan and are barely learning Spanish! We wanted to get a group of students to propose this idea to the City Hall of Barcelona, as we think that the city would benefit from this investment.

I want to know what your opinion is and what has been your experience with this!

That was not my experience on visits to Barcelona where, although Catalan is of course the language of Catalonia, I found that Spanish is widely used and spoken.
We did have with us a small Catalan-Spanish-English Conversation Guide
(Editions de la Magrana Padua, 83 - Barcelona 080006) Interestingly it is written by Kalman Faluba and Karoly Morvay - lecturers in Catalan and Spanish at the University of Budapest.

You might find this article of interest _

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/catalan.htm

When you come to Barcelona, you are also coming to Catalunya, an autonmous region with a rich heritage. When I visit any autonomous region in the area recognized as Spain I treasure, respect, and feel indescribable joy to be able to partake in this heritage. Please above all, realize in no way am I trying to be rude in the next sentence, but if this is an issue I would suggest you take a course in Catalan, or just buy a dictionary.

Making such a request would show extreme arrogance and will not be welcome. As other poster mentioned, which supports my experience, at no time did I ever feel I could not find something due to lack of signs. Barcelona is one of the most navigable cities I have visited.

Hi:
I am from Barcelona. My native language is Spanish but I have made Catalan my first language and the one I use in daily converstation.

If you learn a bit of our history, you will see how a miracle it is that a language spoken by about 8 million people in 4 different states (parts of Spain, Andorra, a small part ofFrance and one town in Sardinia, Italy) is still alive despite all the century-long and brutal attempts to make Catalan disappear.

We are proud of keeping Catalan alive and of the fact that at least in Catalonia it is now an official language. And that does not deter us from speaking fluent Spanish and other languages. For example, I can speak English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese, but my main language is Catalan and I will always defend it.

The "language issues" are is a very sensible issue here in Catalonia, and as said above, this kind of request may be taken as arrogant and yet another "dismissal" of the Catalan language

It may be difficult to understand by someone whose mother language has never been forbidden and tried to make it disappear. But, why signals should be written in a different language than the one that's from the place? I doubt anyone would even think on requesting, lets' say, the City Council of Paris to have the signals written in a different language of French, because most visitors don't speak it.

If Catalonia was an independent country, I doubt anyone would be surprised on having their own language used on signaling and daily life.

This language issue is the same here in Wales where I live. Centuries ago it was forbidden by the to use Welsh in the law courts, effectively depriving Welsh language speakers of access to the justice system.
It took until 1942 for some relaxation in this rule and another 51 years before the Welsh language was given equal status with English -- in the Public Sector.

This is not the impression I have of signs in Barcelona. I haven't been there since 2002, but have lived there off and on since 1981. It seems to me that the last time I noticed, most signs that were of interest to tourists or "visitors" were in English or at least had internationally-recognized pictographs to indicate what they were. I believe that most of the information in public transport vehicles and stations is in both Spanish (Castellano) and Catalan and sometimes English. My impression was the the city was attempting (at least) to put most information in English to aid visitors.

I didn't really see it to be a problem. On the other hand, the short answer would be: "you are in Catalunya, get used to it." But that would be rude and we know, of course, that most Catalans are quite polite.

Finally an interesting subject to discuss. I was getting bored with all questions about looking for a hotel near the Rambla or ManU fans looking desperately for tickets for the match against Barça.

yes it's an interesting, and difficult, topic

Of course, I can't really imagine how difficult may be to move around for someone who does not speak Catalan. But I never heard any of my visitor colleagues or friends complaining about it. All this signs in the airport are in 3 languages (Catalan, Spanish, English)... I wish I had find signs in English in quite a few airports I've been. Once in a certain place, honestly I never expected to find any signal or indication in other language that the one from the place... if there was something in English, it was a bonus.

Regarding metro signs... I think I don't really understand what you what to be "translated". I.e. if I'm going from Clot to Urquinaona... I've to check these names on the map (I hope you don't expect the names of streets/squares/monuments to be translated.... this would really awake some nasty ghosts!!) Words as "Sortida" are not so difficult to learn, and there is a pictogram besides it. As far I remember, all relevant info is written in both Catalan and Spanish (and some in English) What else you need? Sorry, I don't get it

Have you seen the French film "l'Auberge Espagnole"? If you get the chance to see it, you'll understand! Most travel books (eg Rough Guide) include useful English/Catalan phrases, etc.

However, if you're living there and working there why aren't you learning the language too? (I found lots of commonality with French, surprisingly!). I thought the idea of studying in a foreign country was to learn about the country/locale itself, including the language, but maybe I'm old-fashioned?

It's hard for me to believe a MBA student can come out with such a "light" reasoning.

I'm sorry fellows, but I honestly doubt this post is serious.

If it is, I'm really concerned about the quality of managerial (and foreign language) skills provided by some schools in Barcelona.

from my experience with some colleagues from here and from abroad... sometimes I've my doubts about the skills that people with a degree are "supposed" to have

I avoid talking about "managerial skills" - I have had some very good managers, but seeing what goes on in some places is laughable!
and I'll leave it at that before I sound rude, but here's a thought.

How about going back to all these international locations, and requesting that they post signs in Catalan in their streets? So taking it from the OP, this is Poland, China, France and Mexico. Perhaps they could "discuss" this question next time they consider the idea.

Whenever I return home from Catalunya, I am always embarrassed by the UK’s lack of signage, even in English in some cases. I have never found any problem finding my way around Barcelona. My biggest problem to date was finding a decent Catalan translator and now thanks to Ranger, I have a good few more bookmarks to keep me going. At last to read the Diari de Tarragona in English.

I think the post writers idea of a campaign is an outrage, being Scottish, I can empathise with the Catalonians and the Welsh and every other oppressed region of the world. The area is steeped in a rich history, the right to speak Catalan was won with the blood of thousands of men, women and children and as a mere visitor to your shores, I will be proud to carry on the language, whether I actually get a canya or end up with a size 4 left footed flip-flop is down to my pronunciation, not the hard worked barman.

Anyhow, I’m off in search for a Catalan – English – Catalan application for my mobile phone.

Moltes Gracies.

Well, maybe the original post was a wind up - at least the subject has had an airing!
For anyone interested in the book I mentioned it was originally published in 1991. Our copy is the 1998 edition.

As verano2008 has not given any details about him/herself the problem could be one of many people from English speaking countries who in first place expect the rest of the world to speak English and put up English signs and menus etc.

The claim that all tourist information is written in Catalan only is ridiculous. The flyers I have seen had always been in at least four languages and more, including English. I am totally surprised that such a comment comes up.

What I have noticed on several occasions is that Barcelona has become much more Catalan since my first visit in 1979, meaning: It appears Catalan at first glimpse. Then the signage was mostly Spanish. And you are right, it is good that the people show their pride in their heritage and language, and save it from extinction.

I think it is not really difficult to understand Catalan signs if you speak Spanish (and French), once you get into all those x x x ;-) If you do not understand or speak Spanish it does not matter if the signs are in Spanish or Catalan. I wonder how such people get around in countries like China and Korea and Thailand. Why should Barcelona get Spanish (or even English!) to get some ignorant international students !!!! around more easily? If this is our elite of tomorrow, where will the world once end up?

verano2008, I would like you to elaborate what is your problem with the metro signs, and what you exactly would like to have "translated" and to which language(s)

Yesterday I took the metro (I'm not using it much lately) and I was paying extra attention to the signaling there. MOST of the information in the cars and stations was in Catalan, Spanish and English. Metro maps, timetables, safety information, fines in case you get caught without tickets.... Only a specific information about a service disruption was "only" in Catalan AND Spanish (not English, shame...). The only word I found "not translated" was "Sortida" to indicate the exits, but there was the usual "exit" pictograph (door with an arrow) and the name of the street where every exit leads to (so I guess any person with a half-functioning brain can deduct what it means)

So, please, let us know what else you will like to be translated, or what you find confusing..... or admit your example of the metro signs was not a good one.

I don't really expect you coming back indeed. It would be polite to acknowledge replies even if these are not what you expected. You're asking the same in Trip Advisor now.... and not replying either. Probably you're just a troll...