Today, I came across a very interesting article in SunSentinel.com about the quality of the Spanish spoken in Florida. I agree with the article and I am concerned about the consequences.
As a Spaniard and educator who came to Florida four years ago, I have experienced first hand the deterioration of the Spanish language. One of the reasons may be the great influence English has over Spanish, specially in the U.S. Spanish speakers have become a little "lazy" when using the language correctly and continously introduce English words in their Spanish speech.
The term Spanglish, which refers to a blend of Spanish and English in the speech of people who speak parts of two languages, has become very popular. The consequences of its practice are very worrying and the issue must be addressed if we want the language to be respected and used correctly at home, in business, culture and politics.
Words like "parquear" (=to park), "actualmente" (= actually), "introducir" (=to introduce), "carpeta" (= carpet), "puchar" (= to push) are a few examples that show the destruction of the language.
Spanish is a very rich langauge. Let's use it, let's be original, let's not imitate!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mistakes everywhere...
The world is full of grammar mistakes...in any language.
Recently, a few middle school students in Spain came up with a brilliant idea:
They have created a blog where they post all the Spanish grammar mistakes they find anywhere. Anyone can participate and add content to the blog.
As an example, take a look at this movie cover from the film: "Eternal Sunshine" . It was translated into Spanish as "Olvídate de mí", but someone forgot that "mi" has an accent and it is spelled correctly "mí".
Recently, a few middle school students in Spain came up with a brilliant idea:
They have created a blog where they post all the Spanish grammar mistakes they find anywhere. Anyone can participate and add content to the blog.
As an example, take a look at this movie cover from the film: "Eternal Sunshine" . It was translated into Spanish as "Olvídate de mí", but someone forgot that "mi" has an accent and it is spelled correctly "mí".
Teachers, marketers and anyone who uses the language as a tool to teach, convince or influence people should be careful to use it carefully and correctly without overlooking any details. The content is as important as the way in which we communicate.
This student's initiative is a way to teach and encourage people to be more rigorous with the use of any language, since it is a treasure we should take care of instead of undermine or destroy.
Take a look at some of these mistakes:
http://ladiacritica.blogspot.com/
http://ladiacritica.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
New Grammar Rules in the Spanish Language
The new content of the “ Grammar Rules of the Spanish Language’, which is the most important source of reference for Spanish speakers, has been recently approved by the “Comisión Interacadémica de la Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española”
The new edition of the Spanish Grammar does not change the most important rules, but it does include interesting novelties such as:
-- The letter “y” is called now “ye”. In America they should stop calling the “b”, “b alta (tall b)” and the “v” “b baja (short b)”.
This new edition, which the Editorial Espasa will published this Christmas in all Spanish speaking countries. It is an extensive, well-reasoned, and explicit edition, that will be easy to read and understand by anyone with a high school education.
Some of the changes are:
-- Solo (adverb that means “only”) and the demonstrative pronouns (este, ese, esta, esa)will not have the accent anymore.
-- Words like “ Iraq”, “Qatar”, “Quórum” will be written with “K” or “c”, Irak, Catar and cuórum.
-- The prefix “ex” becomes part of the words: exmarido (ex-husband), “exministro (ex-minister), “exdirector” (ex-director).
The new edition of the Spanish Grammar does not change the most important rules, but it does include interesting novelties such as:
-- The letter “y” is called now “ye”. In America they should stop calling the “b”, “b alta (tall b)” and the “v” “b baja (short b)”.
This new edition, which the Editorial Espasa will published this Christmas in all Spanish speaking countries. It is an extensive, well-reasoned, and explicit edition, that will be easy to read and understand by anyone with a high school education.
Some of the changes are:
-- Solo (adverb that means “only”) and the demonstrative pronouns (este, ese, esta, esa)will not have the accent anymore.
-- Words like “ Iraq”, “Qatar”, “Quórum” will be written with “K” or “c”, Irak, Catar and cuórum.
-- The prefix “ex” becomes part of the words: exmarido (ex-husband), “exministro (ex-minister), “exdirector” (ex-director).
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
How many types of Spanish are there?
This is one of the most common questions Spanish learners ask me all the time. The answer requires some research:
Latin American Spanish
This is the dialect of urban mainland Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and the majority of Central and South American countries. While there are differences in how Spanish is spoken amongst people in these countries, Latin American Spanish is usually referred to as thus in order to differentiate between it and the Spanish spoken in Spain.
The difference is similar to English as it is spoken in England vs the U.S.; U.S. English speakers can understand each other with little effort even though someone from the Midwest speaks very differently than a person from the Northeast or a person from the Southeast.
This Spanish was spoken in Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and was brought to the Americas by the early colonists.
Castilian
However, the Spanish of Madrid and of northern Spain, called Castilian, developed characteristics that never reached the New World. These include the pronunciation of "ci" and "ce" as "th." In Madrid, "gracias" (thank you) becomes "gratheas" (as opposed to "gras-see-as" in Latin America.)
Another difference is the use in of the word "vosotros" (you all, or you guys) as the informal form of "ustedes". Vosotros is only used in Spain.
Castilian sounds to Latin Americans much like British English sounds to U.S. residents.
Spanish from the Caribbean
The third major type of Spanish is spoken in the Caribbean, coastal areas of Latin America, and in some cases in southern Spain. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the accent in Seville, Cádiz, and other cities in Andalucia, in Southern Spain, began to change. Speakers began to drop the final "s" on words.
The settlers and traders of southern Spain took this dialect with them to the Caribbean and other coastal areas. Today Caribbean or "Lowland" Spanish is characterized by its relative informality, its rapid pace, and the dropping of "s" sounds, allowing people to talk more quickly.
Spaniards tend to be more language purists and are much more likely to be shocked at a lot of the "Spanglish" ("troque" for "truck", or "lonche" for "lunch") that has been developed in Latin America.
There are significant differences in vocabulary between regional varieties of Spanish, particularly within the domains food products, everyday objects, and clothes, and many Latin American varieties show considerable influence from Native American languages.
The language area where more differences can be found between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the one spoken in Latinamercia is the technical vocabulary.
In Latiamerican Spanish you can find words borrowed from English directly without translation. This does not happen in Spain, where every word has a translation into Spanish.
One clear example is the use of the word "e-mail" in Latinamerica instead of the translation “correo electrónico” which is used in Spain.
Despite the differences already explained, Spanish is only one language spoken by 417 million people in 21 countries. It is no surprise that there are variants based on geographical locations.
Latin American Spanish
This is the dialect of urban mainland Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and the majority of Central and South American countries. While there are differences in how Spanish is spoken amongst people in these countries, Latin American Spanish is usually referred to as thus in order to differentiate between it and the Spanish spoken in Spain.
The difference is similar to English as it is spoken in England vs the U.S.; U.S. English speakers can understand each other with little effort even though someone from the Midwest speaks very differently than a person from the Northeast or a person from the Southeast.
This Spanish was spoken in Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and was brought to the Americas by the early colonists.
Castilian
However, the Spanish of Madrid and of northern Spain, called Castilian, developed characteristics that never reached the New World. These include the pronunciation of "ci" and "ce" as "th." In Madrid, "gracias" (thank you) becomes "gratheas" (as opposed to "gras-see-as" in Latin America.)
Another difference is the use in of the word "vosotros" (you all, or you guys) as the informal form of "ustedes". Vosotros is only used in Spain.
Castilian sounds to Latin Americans much like British English sounds to U.S. residents.
Spanish from the Caribbean
The third major type of Spanish is spoken in the Caribbean, coastal areas of Latin America, and in some cases in southern Spain. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the accent in Seville, Cádiz, and other cities in Andalucia, in Southern Spain, began to change. Speakers began to drop the final "s" on words.
The settlers and traders of southern Spain took this dialect with them to the Caribbean and other coastal areas. Today Caribbean or "Lowland" Spanish is characterized by its relative informality, its rapid pace, and the dropping of "s" sounds, allowing people to talk more quickly.
Spaniards tend to be more language purists and are much more likely to be shocked at a lot of the "Spanglish" ("troque" for "truck", or "lonche" for "lunch") that has been developed in Latin America.
There are significant differences in vocabulary between regional varieties of Spanish, particularly within the domains food products, everyday objects, and clothes, and many Latin American varieties show considerable influence from Native American languages.
The language area where more differences can be found between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the one spoken in Latinamercia is the technical vocabulary.
In Latiamerican Spanish you can find words borrowed from English directly without translation. This does not happen in Spain, where every word has a translation into Spanish.
One clear example is the use of the word "e-mail" in Latinamerica instead of the translation “correo electrónico” which is used in Spain.
Despite the differences already explained, Spanish is only one language spoken by 417 million people in 21 countries. It is no surprise that there are variants based on geographical locations.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Spanish, in numbers
According to the report: "Spanish: alive language" ('El español: una lengua viva') that has been published today, Spanish, is the official language in 21 countries and is spoken by more than 450 million people. It is the second mother tongue language in the world based on amount of speakers, the second language used in international communications and third in the Internet.
- In 2030, 7,5% of world will speak Spanish.
- In 2050 the U.S. will be the first Spanish speaking country in the world.
- 14 million students are learning Spanish as a second language.
- Outside Spain, more than 30 million european citizens speak Spanish.
- Spanish in one of the five official languages most frequently used within international institutions.
- Being able to speak Spanish increases 290% bilateral transactions among Spanish speaking countries.
- In 2030, 7,5% of world will speak Spanish.
- In 2050 the U.S. will be the first Spanish speaking country in the world.
- 14 million students are learning Spanish as a second language.
- Outside Spain, more than 30 million european citizens speak Spanish.
- Spanish in one of the five official languages most frequently used within international institutions.
- Being able to speak Spanish increases 290% bilateral transactions among Spanish speaking countries.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Hispanic-Owned Businesses Growing in the US
According to a new report released by the Census Bureau, Hispanic-owned businesses now comprise one of the fastest-growing segments the U.S. economy. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of businesses owned by Hispanics grew by 31 percent, reaching 1.6 million in 2002 and generating more thab $200 billion in revenue.
These numbers demonstrate the fact that Hispanics don't only come to the US to take jobs. They also create them. The majority of these businesses are small, self-employed operations. There are also sizable numbers of Hispanic-owned firms in the fields of health care, retail trade and transportation, according to Census figures.
Many of these businesses are growing in unexpected places. While most are still in California, Texas, Florida and New York, the states where Hispanic-owned firms are growing at the fastest rate, after New York, are Rhode Island and Georgia, followed by Nevada and South Carolina.
Latinos are also responding to globalization. It transforms not only their communities in the US but also redefines their relationships with their countries of origin.
For more insightful research about the Hispanic community on topics such as economics, health and education visit the Thomas Rivera Institue at: http://www.trpi.org/update/research.html
These numbers demonstrate the fact that Hispanics don't only come to the US to take jobs. They also create them. The majority of these businesses are small, self-employed operations. There are also sizable numbers of Hispanic-owned firms in the fields of health care, retail trade and transportation, according to Census figures.
Many of these businesses are growing in unexpected places. While most are still in California, Texas, Florida and New York, the states where Hispanic-owned firms are growing at the fastest rate, after New York, are Rhode Island and Georgia, followed by Nevada and South Carolina.
Latinos are also responding to globalization. It transforms not only their communities in the US but also redefines their relationships with their countries of origin.
For more insightful research about the Hispanic community on topics such as economics, health and education visit the Thomas Rivera Institue at: http://www.trpi.org/update/research.html
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Why learn Spanish?
With the number of Spanish speakers growing every year, businesses and individuals should consider adding Spanish to their range of skills. Latino population in Florida represents 21% and it is stimated to grow steadily.
Here are some interesting facts:
1. Approximately 500 million people speak Spanish in the world.
2. Spanish is the first language spoken by approximately 350 million people in 21 countries.
3. Spanish is the second language used as international vehicle of communication. It is widely used in business transactions, which can get you ahead of the game when doing business with Spanish speaking countries.
4.According to www.census.gov, 41.3 million is the estimated Hispanic population in the US, which constitutes the largest minority group in the country. By 2050, they project this number to be 102.6 million, which will then represent 24% of the total US population.
5. Latinamerican countries are experiencing an important economic growth and they are becoming key business partners.
Here are some interesting facts:
1. Approximately 500 million people speak Spanish in the world.
2. Spanish is the first language spoken by approximately 350 million people in 21 countries.
3. Spanish is the second language used as international vehicle of communication. It is widely used in business transactions, which can get you ahead of the game when doing business with Spanish speaking countries.
4.According to www.census.gov, 41.3 million is the estimated Hispanic population in the US, which constitutes the largest minority group in the country. By 2050, they project this number to be 102.6 million, which will then represent 24% of the total US population.
5. Latinamerican countries are experiencing an important economic growth and they are becoming key business partners.
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