is there a difference between speaking and writing in Spanish?

Question

Because I hear some Spanish speaker speak a lot of slang and improper grammar but in writing it looks different i am learning Spanish but not sure if I can speak how its written or what? im confused on which way is the best to learn Spanish

Answer 1

This is true of every language: English, Spanish, Swahili, you name it. People speak one way when they're with their friends, a different way when they're giving a presentation in school or the office; there are things that you say in writing but not speaking, and vice versa.

It's important to use the right style of language for the situation you're in. As an example of guys who don't know how to use slang when they should be using it, consider the TV show The Big Bang Theory. Those guys are scientists, and they don't know how to relax and talk to ordinary people. As an example of not knowing how to use written language, look at the question that you posted on this site: people are concluding that you're ignorant because you didn't use proper spelling and grammar.

So with Spanish, as with English, it's best to practice the style that you'll need in each situation. But you can learn them gradually. Grammar books will teach you something in the middle: the grammatically correct speech used by educated people in casual situations. Later you wan work on the more slangy stuff and the more formal stuff, as you encounter those situations.

Exactly. It is better to pick up a generic, fits-all version of the language and then go for the slangy ones. - Helado_eclectico, Sep 22, 2014

Good answer, Jdb. - annierats, Sep 22, 2014

Answer 2

The fact that you Wrote this question rather than Speaking it shows a couple very important differences - you can plan and edit writing, but it needs accurate spelling and grammar to be easily understood. Speaking plays off of the situation you are in - the context. Who you are talking to and what they have just said or done, and what you or others have just said or done makes a big difference in what you say and how or if it is understood as you intended it.

JDB1920 above gave a good explanation and used the context of what you had written to further the explanation. Rac1 gave you an excellent link. Those lessons were very helpful to me when I was in Costa Rica.

Buena suerta.

Answer 3

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