Introduction
Today you will discover how to express the time in Catalan with ease and precision. This article offers you techniques and practical advice to master the art of telling the time in Catalan clearly and effectively.
Dismantling a Myth
First of all, it is important to dispel the myth that there is only one correct way to tell the time in Catalan. The Essential Grammar of the Catalan Language of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (GEIEC) classifies the expression of time in three reading systems: bell tower, clock and international. Next, the uses and characteristics of each type are detailed.
Bell system
The bell system, or quarters, is widely used in most of north-western and central Catalan. This system uses the quarter of an hour as the basic fraction and requires the use of the name ‘quarter’ preceded by a cardinal numeral. In addition, the various ways of expressing quarters and minutes in this system are explained.
Clock System
The watch system, or stockings, is common in other areas of the Catalan language domain. This system uses half an hour as the base fraction and requires the use of the expression ‘half’ along with the hour. The different ways of expressing hours and minutes in this system are detailed.
International system
The international, or digital, system is used in transport schedules, programs and activities. This system has technical and specialized uses and involves the numerical indication of hours and minutes. Concrete examples of using this system are provided.
conclusion
In summary, this article has provided a detailed view of the different systems of reading the time in Catalan. With this knowledge, the aim is to facilitate the understanding and appropriate use of time expressions in Catalan. We hope that this information will be useful to all those who wish to communicate accurately in this language.
