European / Latin American Spanish: Ejemplos...

Question

I have a new Spanish tutor from Spain. When she speaks Spanish it's clear that she's definitely from Spain. For example, she definitely says 'THEE-OO-DAD' for 'ciudad'. This week I was trying to tell her about my experiences of European Spanish and Latin American Spanish (I find the spoken form of the latter slightly easier to understand). I'm not sure she understood/believed me. So, I've decided to try a little exercise to illustrate some of the differences I've encountered so far.

Please let me know if you agree that the differences between the two passages accurately reflect some of the differences between European & LA Spanish. I appreciate some of the vocab might be regional (e.g. 'rentar', being Mexican) & some of the pronunciation too (e.g. 'AY-SHA' for 'ella'). However, I've just tried to make them as different as I could.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, for example if I've got it the wrong way around (maybe 'baño' is more European than 'aseos'; I'm not sure).

Also, if you can think of any other ejemplos that I could throw in here, please let me know.

Mil gracias

Europa

He alquilado un coche así que puedo conducir en la ciudad (THEE-OO-DAD). Es muy útil. Por ejemplo (EKH-EMPLO), esta mañana he dicho a mi vecina, 'Señorita, puedo llevarle al restaurante hoy'. Ella (AY-YA) quiere ir allí todos los días para la comida. Es simpática, pero no la conozco muy bien. Pero, supongo que voy a usar mi coche más con mis niños. Son pequeños y les gusta ir a lugares nuevos. 'Venid en el coche, niños, nos vamos ahora'. Pero, siempre cuando conduzco, uno de ellos necesita los aseos.

América Latina

Renté un carro así que puedo manejar en la ciudad (SEE-OO-DAD). Es muy útil. Por ejemplo (E-HEMPLO), esta mañana dije a mi vecina, 'Señorita, puedo llevarla al restaurante hoy'. Ella (AY-SHA) quiere ir allí todos los días para el almuerzo. Es simpática, pero no la conozco muy bien. Pero, supongo que voy a usar mi carro más con mis niños. Son pequeños y les gusta ir a lugares nuevos. 'Vengan en el carro, niños, nos vamos ahora'. Pero, siempre cuando manejo, uno de ellos necesita ir al baño.

Actually you are asking about Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Mexico right? because in LA you will find thousands of nuances & combinations - Pablo064, Apr 24, 2015

I'm more interested in the commonality of differences that distinguish LA, as a whole, from European Spanish... - Faldaesque, Apr 24, 2015

Answer 1

Falda:

To begin with Ella = eh -jah

That's more representative

if you want an Argentinian accent for that it would be eh-sha

I think that in your head the difficulty lies in the way that is easier for you to represent the sounds for you to read (easily) and imitate.

Am I correct?

Falda: I'd like to talk to you over Skype about this very thing, it is easier to talk than to write, for me.

Just let me know, whether you have the time and or are willing. Thanks

See my edit, please - chileno, Apr 26, 2015

Answer 2

Thanks, but no, I don't think that is the difficulty for me. When I began learning Spanish I wanted to try for a European accent, but I've wound up using audio courses based mainly on Latin American pronunciation (Michel Thomas & Pimsleur), hence I'm more accustomed to hearing these sounds.

To be honest, I don't think it does have much to do with reading since most of my learning has been through audio.

For example, if I watch a film in Spanish, if it's European I'm lucky if I understand 5%, but if it's LA I can get about 20%. I was rewatching some Breaking Bad the other day, including scenes with Mexican Spanish & reckon I got about 50% of it.

Gus Fring doesn't count he only speaks by heart lol - Pablo064, Apr 24, 2015

It's funny anyway, I laughed when he spoke - Pablo064, Apr 24, 2015

I think he's supposed to be Chileno... ;-) - Faldaesque, Apr 24, 2015

That's what I was saying. You have to develope your listening skills, but when you read it becomes difficult and do not know 1) if you sound correct 2 if it is LA or Spain sound.... right? - chileno, Apr 26, 2015

Answer 3

Falda, I do enjoy your sharing your thoughts on your learning process. It is enlightening for us beginners. I do know that Pimsleur also offers a European Spanish course, though I believe it only goes to 3 levels. I wonder, has anyone else on the site used the European Pimsleur Spanish course? (I'm tempted to get a few just to hear the difference.)

As for my two past trips to Spain, I found the TH sound more prevalent in pronouncing S, but not all the time - maybe 75% of the time. I also found that the LL was pronounced SH or JH about half the time.

Answer 4

In Spain, they might say:

Es simpática, pero no le conozco muy bien.

In LA

Es simpática, pero no la conozco muy bien

In Europe, they say aseos; in LA, baños, sanitarios or tocadores.

In Europe, they say: almuerzo, in LA almuerzo o desayuno.

I had understood LO/LA are universal for direct object equivants for him/her, althouugh the Leismo makes a difference in the direct forms for you (LO/LA in Lat.Am. -v- Le in Spain)... ;-) - Faldaesque, Apr 24, 2015

Answer 5

Worth another round , a good learning tool.