Multiple Spanish languages, how can I tell?

Question

I choose the best place to put this, but maybe I should be putting it in travel?

Anyway, the problem I have is this. I am learning Spanish from a bunch of sources at one time. I listen to the radio, I watch Spanish cartoons and soap operas on TV, and I speak to a lot of Spanish people at work,

I work in a pool hall and the area is very Spanish, but what kind? See some are from El Salvador, some are from Mexico and so on. What I want to know is there any way to tell where a person is from (Spanish wise) without asking? For example, will the El Salvadorians use one word for what's up, while Mexicans might use another?

This isn't at all about the race so much as I'm very confused as to whether I'm learning more than one Spanish lol.

Answer 1

You are learning the same Spanish; however, the slang and idiomatic phrases may very well be different. And yes, many times these phrases are indiginous to their own countries. Once you reach a certain level of proficiency, you'll be able to place many people by their accents. For the moment, I would encourage all your contacts to use a common usage of the language in order to avoid confusion.

It sounds like you are doing everything right during your Spanish language acquisition!

¡Saludos!

Thanks, and as good advice as that is I have to talk to all of them, lol. They're my customers. Though they're really friendly and easy going about my mistakes so it's good. - lillyrose, May 2, 2010

Answer 2

Hi Lilly, welcome to the forum

Have a look at this thread, it explains the differences very well.

Answer 3

For the most part, everything is the same from Spanish-speaking country to Spanish-speaking country. Sometimes, there are different words for something depending on where you go. For example, there are 3 different words for swimming pool (piscina, alberca and pileta). When you use the words depends on the country. The major difference is the way Spanish is spoken in Spain. In Spain, 'z'. 'ci' and 'ce' are pronounced as 'th'.Spain also has the 'vosotros' (you- familiar, plural) form of verbs.("Vosotros" is only used in Spain!). But, since you are in the U.S., I don't think you will run into many people from Spain.

As to the type of Spanish... there is only one with different variations from country to country.