Answers
Jul 30, 2012 - 09:14 PM
Oh, I actually see that there was a post about this sometime last year. So, it can be pronounced either way???? How is it specifically pronounced in Costa Rica (especially the Guanacaste area)?
Jul 31, 2012 - 12:29 AM
In that specific region I do not know, but I do know that in Spain and other places where Castilian Spanish (or the more "proper" spanish) is used you would hear it pronounced 'eh-jah'. Try Googling "Castilian Spanish" and you will see the pronunciation differences! Hope that helps.
Jul 31, 2012 - 09:00 AM
I haven't heard any one from Spain pronounce it eh-jah, there used to be a distinction between LL and Y in Spain where the LL was pronounced like the s in pleasure, but not any more. I know for sure that Bogotá and possibly the rest of Colombia pronounces it eh-jah, but that is probably of little use to this question!
Jul 31, 2012 - 03:58 PM
My first Spanish teacher was from Puerto Rico, where, she explained, it's routine for "ll" to be pronounced like the English J. So, in her class, "ella" was pronounced "eh-jah." In Central America, "ll" is pronounced like the English (semiconsonant) "y", so "ella" becomes "eh-yah."
Jul 31, 2012 - 09:39 PM
Thanks, that is actually insightful :)