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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Yura: Pronunciation Series Lesson 4 - Regional Pronunciation. Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the Pronunciation Series.
Iva: How is it going? Are you getting the hang of Bulgarian pronunciation? Starting to feel more confident?

Lesson focus
Yura: This time we’re going to go over some regional variations on pronunciation.
Iva: Up until now, you have learned that Bulgarian has a set number of consonants and vowels. Twenty consonants, six vowels, two semivowels and two compound sounds.
Yura: Right. But, we also want to remind our listeners that depending on where you go in Bulgaria, people might say things slightly different.
Iva: So, how are we going to cover this?
Yura: Well, we’re going to focus on two main regions: Sofia and Varna. Why? Because most of the tourists who go to Bulgaria visit these areas. Let’s start with Sofia.
Iva: Ok. So, in Sofia people speak in the Western dialect also known as Шопски “Shopski ”.
Yura: Yes. This region has some specific way of pronouncing words that is considered as harder compared to other regions.
Iva: That sounds just about right.
Yura: For example, some words containing the compound sound я can be pronounced with е instead.
Iva: Like прясно and пресно meaning „fresh”.
Yura: Can you repeat that one, please?
Iva: Прясно, пресно.
Yura: That’s right.
Iva: Still пресно is different from the official spoken language.
Yura: Well, you just have to remember it if you hear it. And, there is another dialect on the East, right?
Iva: Yes, there is one more. In the North-East Bulgaria named after the country’s largest sea port, Varna. The Варненски “Varnenski ” dialect.
Yura: Compared to the Sofia region dialect, it is a softer version. For example, some vowels can be changed in a specific way.
Iva: The word пейка might change in a way and sound like пйейка.
Yura: Note that this is not the official form and it is considered as incorrect pronunciation.
Iva: The official written Bulgarian is the same for the whole territory of the country.
Yura: In spoken Bulgarian, there are several regional variations which differ very slightly from each other, but you do not have to remember them. Just don’t be surprised when you hear such change. So, are there any more dialects?
Iva: Well, there is also the so called Пловдивски “Plovdivski” dialect in the city of Пловдив “Plovdiv” and the area around it which actually does not differ much from the dialects around the region of Varna and Black Sea.

Outro
Yura: I see. All right. Well, that ends our lesson on regional pronunciations.
Iva: Let us know if you have any questions at Bulgarianpod101.com.
Yura: See you next time.
Iva: See you.

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