Pls note that there are people who emigrated from other Spanish regions 40 years ago and are unable to say "bona nit" instead of "buenas noches", which is a shame.
All Catalan-native speakers nowadays, also old people or in villages, can also speak fluent Spanish. Some will refuse to speak Spanish with the people described in the paragraph above (I don't do it but I understand it), but everybody will turn to Spanish if you are a foreign visitor and if you can speak some Spanish.
If you speak Spanish but say a Catalan sentence at the end like "moltes gràcies, adéu", you will win 10.000 extra points. Most tourists are absolutely unaware that what Catalonia is and that we have a different identiy, culture and language.
People on Barcelona won't care if you speak in Spanish.
But they would be very thankful if you try learning catalan.
English is not spoken in Spain.. I'd say a 10% can speak it (or even less)
1. You're not putting too much thought into this. I am from Barcelona, I've lived in the UK since I was about 6. Most people in the metropolis of Barcelona won't mind if you speak to them in Castillian. However, the further out you get, to me rural places and especially the older generations may find it insulting that you are using Castillian rather than Catalan. My advice would be not to worry about it too much, just enjoy.
Speak to them in English od spanish as very few of them will understand catalan Spanish as it is mainly spoke in the South of Spain and Balearic's, most of the Spanish people speak fluent English. On recent visits to the area I found there is a high amount of asian/african and Moroccan workers so English is the best to speak as they mainly understand you.
Going with spanish will be better, i live in alicante in the valencian community, but most of the spanish people here don,t talk valencian, they speak castellano which is typical spanish, also a spanish person like the majority of people from all countrys appreciate the fact that you have tried to learn there national language when you visit.
hope this helps
You're putting way too thought into this! They're not going to care as much as you seem to!
Hola a todos/a tothom!
I am going to Barcelona next weekend for the first time, however i wanted to ask something. I am well aware of the differences between Spain/Catalunya etc. i know all about that issue, but what i wanted to ask is, will the people in Barcelona find me rude or become rude with me if i speak to them in Spanish and not Catalan??
I have conversational level of Spanish, but my Catalan is basic and i know simple greetings only.
So what i'm saying is, should i attempt to speak to them in Spanish or go with English as i have heard that Catalan people would prefer to talk badly in English than to speak Spanish and not Catalan?
