How 'Good at Spanish' are Native Speakers?
Here's another question. After considerable time and effort, I find that I can understand about 90% of what's said in 'Spanish dubbed Hollywood Films'. (Inception in Spanish, for example.)
But I notice that when Hollywood films are dubbed, they're usually dubbed in a 'Castellano' (The Spanish from Spain...I'm not sure if the terminology is right) accent - it's really clear and it's not that difficult to understand.
And when I watch Spanish movies from Spain (like Volver a Nacer), I understand about 80%, I guess. I think this is due to the many slangs and abbreviations used in everyday conversation.
But then I watched some movies the other day... 'Juan and the Dead' (Cuba) and 'Stefan vs. Kramer' (Chile), and I was shocked because I couldn't understand more than 20% of what was being said. I mean, I knew that the accents were different, but I didn't think it would be that big!
So my question. How big is the discrepancy between accents for 'native speakers'? Can people from Spain understand Chilean movies without scratching their heads? Can Argentinians normally watch regular 'peninsula Spanish' TV without straining their ears?
6 Answers
It can be very big, even between regions of the same country. Spanish-speaking countries tend to be centralised and the dialect of the capital cities tend to be national "standard" to a certain extent, but not much in reality, and none of those "standards" is more important than the others.
If a movie is made by someone from and is in set in one country, then it is likely they will use their local dialectal variety or verieties in it, and since slang-y speech is very localised, then the Spanish may find themselves flabbergasted after realising the one language can be so different from itself. But since not everything people say is slang, then communication is perfectly possible between verieties; after some blushes and quick digging for more understandable vocabulary.
How good are English speakers. Think about all the people you have ever encountered speaking English and about the wide range of abilities of that group. You will find that same wide range in Spanish speakers.
Well, I find the opposite, I really struggle with Pedro Almodóvar films and with tele-novelas made in Spain.. Especially if they are from Andalucía. However I've seen a a film from Peru, 'Contracorriente', it was the most clear Spanish I've ever heard. In fact I now have a secret dream to visit this lovely fishing-village where people spek so nicely ( it couldn't be that they were actors, could it? NO, I'm sure there is a real fishing village where everybody speaks clearly..) An Argentinian film ' Amor perros' proved unintelligble, and so violent I never got to the end.. I often find I have to watch things twice. Sad but true. The news are always easier because
a. Newspeakers are selected for speaking clearly
b. there are helpful pictures of disasters
c. the news are the same in all languages.
And, just think about English. Watch Billy Elliot, the film, and if not from Northern England,it may prove a bit hard.. My mother ( in Sweden) who speaks good English send me back a video I sent her as a present. She said she couldn't unerstand a word.. And I thought she would love the film!
Hmm... first, the Spanish-Castilian issue.
Castellano is the name of the language, Spain has three more co-official languages, but the constitution of Spain states that Castellano if the official language of Spain. So, to me, to speak of Spanish does not say exactly speak of Castellano, as a person not knowing the Spanish constitution might be thinking of any of the 4 co-official languages.
If anything, Spanish and Castellano are the same.
Now to address your second question or doubts.
I would like you asking exactly with the same words you used, except now you have to change the word Spanish for English and any Spanish speaking country mentioned change it to any English speaking country.
And........ your question was?
As a non-native, yet capable Englsish speaker, I would just like to say that I find the difference between, say, mid-west US speech and fast London speech just as challenging, its just I've had years of practice with the English language.
I sometimes still don't understand my very Devon Farmer neighbour, but, as I know what he's talking about ( the weather, the fact that the hoggets are not making money and the stirks have worms..) I understand, without understanding, if you see what I mean.
In my experience, I can understand most Spanish speakers from Perú and northern México, but am at a loss when I hear someone from Cuba, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico or Argentina. It just depends on the speaker.
As far as English goes, I can barely make out heavy Scottish or Irish accents, or the "Cockney" English. Sorry, Ray, but I also get lost with a real Outback accent as well.
People always express their regional identity with their language. It just takes being around it for a while.
