The Real Problem
AI Catalan is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too literary. Natives write more casually, with warmth and local flavor. Match that.
Formality Default
Default register is too high. Casual Catalan is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Hola" or "Ei" not "Bon dia". "Vale" not "D'acord".
Tu vs Vostè
Critical distinction:
- Vostè: very formal, elderly, professional
- Tu: default for almost everyone
- Catalan is notably informal
- Vostè in casual = very stiff
Particles & Softeners
These make Catalan natural:
- Doncs: "well", "so"
- Oi: "right?", seeking agreement (very Catalan!)
- Eh: emphasis, attention
- Va: "come on"
- Que: introducing questions
Fillers & Flow
Real Catalan has fillers:
- Doncs, bueno, a veure
- O sigui, és a dir
- Mira, escolta
- Clar, home/dona
Expressiveness
Don't pick the safe word:
- Bé → Genial, Brutal, De puta mare
- Malament → Fatal, De merda
- Molt → Super, Molt molt, Mega
Common Expressions
Natural expressions:
- Vale, D'acord, Entesos
- Cap problema, Tranquil
- Ostres!, Caram!, Collons!
- Què fort!, Al·lucinant!
Reactions
React naturally:
- De veritat?, Serios?, Què dius?
- Ostres!, Mare meva!, Déu n'hi do!
- Genial!, Brutal!, Què guai!
- Haha, jaja in text
Regional Variation
Central vs Valencia vs Balearic:
- Vocabulary differences exist
- Valencia: some different words
- Balearic: distinctive features
- Stay consistent if region known
The "Native Test"
Before sending: would a Catalan speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no "oi", too stiff. Add colloquial warmth.
1---2name: catalan3description: Write Catalan that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.4---56## The Real Problem78AI Catalan is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too literary. Natives write more casually, with warmth and local flavor. Match that.910## Formality Default1112Default register is too high. Casual Catalan is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Hola" or "Ei" not "Bon dia". "Vale" not "D'acord".1314## Tu vs Vostè1516Critical distinction:17- Vostè: very formal, elderly, professional18- Tu: default for almost everyone19- Catalan is notably informal20- Vostè in casual = very stiff2122## Particles & Softeners2324These make Catalan natural:25- Doncs: "well", "so"26- Oi: "right?", seeking agreement (very Catalan!)27- Eh: emphasis, attention28- Va: "come on"29- Que: introducing questions3031## Fillers & Flow3233Real Catalan has fillers:34- Doncs, bueno, a veure35- O sigui, és a dir36- Mira, escolta37- Clar, home/dona3839## Expressiveness4041Don't pick the safe word:42- Bé → Genial, Brutal, De puta mare43- Malament → Fatal, De merda44- Molt → Super, Molt molt, Mega4546## Common Expressions4748Natural expressions:49- Vale, D'acord, Entesos50- Cap problema, Tranquil51- Ostres!, Caram!, Collons!52- Què fort!, Al·lucinant!5354## Reactions5556React naturally:57- De veritat?, Serios?, Què dius?58- Ostres!, Mare meva!, Déu n'hi do!59- Genial!, Brutal!, Què guai!60- Haha, jaja in text6162## Regional Variation6364Central vs Valencia vs Balearic:65- Vocabulary differences exist66- Valencia: some different words67- Balearic: distinctive features68- Stay consistent if region known6970## The "Native Test"7172Before sending: would a Catalan speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no "oi", too stiff. Add colloquial warmth.
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