ArticlesReader.com Menu
Newest Articles
Most Viewed Articles
ArticlesReader.com RSS
Submit Article
Login
Signup
Search the articles

Articles Main Categories
Advice
Animals
Automobiles
Business
Career
Communications
Computer Programming
Computers
Entertainment
Environment
Family
Fashion
Finance
Food
Health & Medical
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet Business
Internet Marketing
Legal
Leisure & Recreation
Marketing
Other
Politics
Reference & Education
Religion
Self Improvement
Sports
Technology & Science
Travel
Writing
Subscribe
Receive alert message from us when new articles submitted to our site for free.

Enter your name

Enter your email

Syndicate

















Related Products
Home::Reference & Education

Which Spanish Do You Speak?

Author : Silvia Lopez-Cepero

Like English, Spanish is a truly global language, but its usage
varies from country to country. This doesn't mean that a
Spaniard wouldn't understand a Mexican, or vice versa. But it is
true that communication may be more difficult, not so much
because of grammar, but more due to wide variations in
vocabulary. Spanish grammar does vary significantly across
borders regarding the use of tense and aspect, but somehow
communication remains fluid. Vocabulary is a different issue.
You can surmise what a Spanish speaker means if you know the
lexicon, no matter what tense that person uses. However, if you
don't know the lexicon, you will be left with aching gaps in
your comprehension.

When learning the Spanish language, it is very important that
you are aware of its international variants. Most people might
choose to follow one variant, but it is even better to study
them all - insofar as the Global Village continues to grow. The
demand now is to be open to linguistic divergence, not only in
terms of pronunciation, but also regarding vocabulary and
grammar, and even for common usage rules. Whether it's a
Colombian, a Mexican or a Castilian (Spain) accent, for
instance, it is worthwhile for Spanish language learners to
distinguish important differences between them. Learners should
focus on one version and develop their Spanish based on that
variant; but I recommend that at least they learn differences
between Latin American and Castilian Spanish. If you're a
learner, this approach will make your Spanish much more
complete, and you'll be secure in the knowledge that you can
adapt to local conditions.

It will also help you avoid embarrassing situations: Imagine
that a foreigner asks an American for a rubber. The foreigner's
English is of the British variety, so of course that person is
asking for an eraser, but think of the American's reaction when
the meaning of that word is a slang term for 'condom' in the
USA. Likewise, if you can use Spanish contextually, it will
sound great to local native ears. For example, it would be odd
to hear carro or plata in Spain when referring to
car and money, which a Spaniard would usually call coche
and dinero. This is partly because we use those words for
different items; carro, for instance, is a wagon, so it
sounds somewhat funny. If you are in Mexico, the opposite will
probably happen. If you talk about carro and
plata, that would be perfectly normal, and you won't be
pointed out as a foreigner.

It may not be a problem to make yourself understood in most
occasions, but Spanish grammar remains important because it
might lead to miscomprehension too. For example, a Latin
American would say something like Estamos felices que
vosotros/ustedes van a venir
; a Spaniard would use a
completely different construction to express the same idea:
Nos alegramos de que vayáis a venir. If you are familiar
with both variants, you'll be able to understand, you'll be able
to modify your Spanish to facilitate communication, and moreover
you'll be acknowledged as a skilled communicator.

[Users are faithfully requested to preserve the HTML coding in
this article, especially the hyperlinks in the Author Bio. This
text in brackets should of course be omitted.]

Spam emails More free articles

Related articles


  1. Intelligence Issues in Children
  2. The Process of Learning in Children
  3. Memory and Attention in Children
  4. Non-Traditional Learning, Online Degrees
  5. Getting Your Online Degree
  6. How To Get An Online Degree
  7. Learn Online and Get An Online Degree
  8. Limitations Of Distance Learning
  9. Picking A Good Online Degree Program
  10. Positives Of Distance Learning
  11. Signs of an Online Degree Scam
  12. Successful distance learning
  13. The ABC's Of Distance Learning
  14. The Birth Of Distance Learning
  15. The Growth Of Distance Learning
  16. The Many Freedoms Of Distance Learning
  17. Mobile learning - an alternative worth considering
  18. Student Launches Website to quit university
  19. Earning Your Associate's Degree Online
  20. Pepsin, What Is It?
  21. Funding A College Education: Where To Start
  22. Non-Traditional College Education
  23. Tips To Follow Before You Make An Online Student Credit Card Application
  24. Fight the Exam Stress
  25. Emotional Development and Self Esteem in Children
More related feeds
Do You Need to Speak Spanish to be able to communicate in Mexico ...
Now, everyone I know who visits Mexico, Spanish or anywhere else in Latin America - can speak like a expat that lives in Mexico. It’s that easy. The electronic pdf will fit on pocket devices to help you communicate on the spot with ...

Yo No Hablo Espanol
People who want to learn English, or say they do, need to also take the advice of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He once made the comment that you won’t learn English nearly as well if you spend all your free-time watching Spanish television ...

How to Learn Spanish Quickly
You will NOT learn Spanish quick doing it this way. So, how do you know when you are ready to move on to the next lesson? Easy! When you can speak all the sentences and vocabulary taught in the lesson with fluency and ease. ...

How To Learn Spanish?
If you love traveling and wish to go to Spain for your vacation, it is better to learn to speak Spanish to enjoy your vacation. Learning a new language is no more a tough task, as there are a number of online courses that can be found ...

Rosetta Stone Version 3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 & 2 Set ...
Like a child learning how to talk, you have to keep at it, but if you do (you can skip a day here and there) you'll find you really do pick up on the language. I've been using both the Spanish and the Japanese courses for three weeks ...

Sleeping Through It All
Oh well, what do I know. It’sa comic strip. Nonsense, right? Here’sa little something we can pass along to our public servants. “You tell on yourself by the friends you seek, By the very manner in which you speak, By the way you employ ...

An Open Letter to Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma
No, honestly. You do not deserve to speak any of the languages spoken by intelligent and decent American citizens. Not english, or spanish, or any of the romance languages, for those are all spoken by citizens loyal and patriotic. ...

Feature on Inoke
They teach you a little bit, and then you do your thing.” (HA). About how he eventually became fluent in Spanish, Inoke said: “I learned how to read and write in Spanish. Imagine, you’re out there two years. That’s all you speak. ...

American living abroad? You can vote.
They give various tips, including the comment that may reassure some of you: Voting only in federal elections only cannot be used to affect the determination of federal or state tax liability. Please spread the word on this. ...

hohum.
Is it "gay" for men to carry messenger bags? - No. I know of some who can do it. Can you speak any other languages? - English and Filipino lang, bro. Is it sexy when people speak Spanish? - Uh, Dio? haha. Are you happy it's finally over ...

 


 

© 2007 articlesreader.com - All Rights Reserved