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[Japo]

That's the question, b and β are different realizations of the same letter, that is we consider them the same sound and don't distinguish words by them. w (sounds just like u, except that w is followed by another vowel in the same syllable) is even more different from v than English w in what and b in bat. I think Russians and Dutch people tend to mix up English w and v and most can't quite pronounce either completely well, but in Spanish there's even no v, v is pronounced b. Also vowels can be realized short or long and it's the same word, unlike in English for example bitch and beach.

In Spanish there are fewer functional different sounds than letters in the Latin alphabet, and there aren't two that are not very clearly distinguishable. Even if there can be variations that language scientists classify as different, we consider close ones the same letter, and most Spanish speakers aren't conscious of the difference. There are only five vowels--long or short are the same; English in comparison has dozens of different vocalic sounds, that may be the only different between two unrelated words.

[Smiling Spectre]

Originally Posted by Japo

There are only five vowels--long or short are the same; English in comparison has dozens of different vocalic sounds, that may be the only different between two unrelated words.

Well, English was the only familiar example for me, so I taken it. It not means that I am comparing English and Spanish - only that both languages are foreign for me, and similarly have sounds that I cannot recognize - as I never heard them.

w (sounds just like u, except that w is followed by another vowel in the same syllable) is even more different from v than English w in what and b in bat. I think Russians and Dutch people tend to mix up English w and v and most can't quite pronounce either completely well, but in Spanish there's even no v, v is pronounced b.

Err... So what's the difference between w and u then? %) And what about aforementioned "beta" sound? Isn't it v?

[Japo]

If you ask a Spanish speaker the difference between u and w, we'll say no difference. Language scientists classify them differently because w is u when preceding another vowel in the same syllable, thus a "semivowel". Whatever their reasons, the momentary sound is or can be the same.

beta is just b when it happens to be pronounced in between vowels instead of at the start of a word or sentence. Again we make no difference and most Spanish speakers won't realize, it's just that when you're speaking fast you don't stop to shut your lips to make a b. But whether you do, for emphasis or by chance, or not, it's considered the same letter.

There are 23 letters in the Latin alphabet. B and V are the same, as well as C and K (used in foreign words only) or Z depending on what follows. QU is the same as K. H is completely mute (not aspired), so no sound. Spanish has the extra sounds Ñ and CH (tsh), both perfectly distinguishable from any other letter; also LL, but nowadays Spaniards have merged it with the semivowel Y because it was too close so it was no good for us (the same reason why we got rid of aspired H centuries ago).

That means Spanish has only 21 phonems (whatever scientists say about w and beta), and none of them is close to any other. That's why it's so easy to understand. You never need to ask other people to spell a new word, even if you're just learning, whereas in English even native speakers need to do it for any unknown word such as unusual person's names.

Greek happens to have almost exactly the same phonetic system as Spanish, and Basque does too for reason of kinship, despite being completely unrelated philologically.

[Smiling Spectre]

Originally Posted by Japo

That means Spanish has only 21 phonems (whatever scientists say about w and beta), and none of them is close to any other. That's why it's so easy to understand.

Ah. Good for you then. And thank you for the explanation.

I wished that Russian would be so simply. While it's generally follow "you can read exactly letters that you see" in most cases, it's not always true. And totally wrong in reverse - we usually write words as they originated, not as they _pronounced_. Belarus, being very close to Russian, more consistent with that.