How many "varieties" of Spanish are there?
How many different versions of Spanish are there. There seems to be a "european" and "latin american", but how different are they? There is also Castilian, Catalan, Basque, and more. Is there a basic underlying language, with slight global variation, or are they significantly different? I'm open to opinion, and thank all contributors in advance.
3 Answers
Catalán, Basque, Gallego, Valenciano, and so forth are separate languages. Similar to Spanish, yes, sort of. Not Basque. But diffent languages.
All "Spanish" languages are really Catillian - Castellano. That is the official tongue of Spain and many other countries, including most of Latin America. Technically Castellano is one single language, and its "purity" and correctness is preserved by the rulings of the Real Academia de la Lengua Española, which receives feedback and updates from its members all over the world.
There are, however, countless regional variations. More than there are countries that speak Spanish, since different regions within a country also have their own particular variations.
It is exactly the same situation with English. Can you tell how many different variations of English there are?
HI Fontanero, welcome to the forum
Please have a look at this thread, thanks.
Hope you don't mind if I make a plug for the language of the Val D'Aran, one of the world's smallest splinter group languages. Sadly I can't now remember what it's official name is but it's different. For a sample try the link below to the local council's site. Not only is it fascinating as a langage but also for its historical roots. It is one of the very few remaining links to the ancient language of Southern France, the Langue d'Oc which was brutally destroyed back in about the 17th century. France is just down the hill from Vielha, the principal (only) town.
http://conselharan.org/
