Geography is Key to Spanish Language Differences

The Spanish language differences around the world are far more numerous than one might expect. Latin American Spanish, for example, has differences in both accent and vocabulary compared to Central American Spanish as well as the Spanish spoken in Spain.

The type of Spanish language spoken from one country to another is astounding. For example, a plethora of different Spanish language accents can be found within the borders of Spain alone – and that’s just one country! Not surprisingly, the diversity offered by the Spanish language can become truly overwhelming when factoring in the different types of Central American, Caribbean and Latin American Spanish.

Spanish Differences Around the World

Location plays a major role in determining differences in Spanish vocabulary and accent. Amazon Spanish, for example, includes words related to Amazon-specific flora and fauna that are not found in other types of Spanish.

The influence of other languages present in the geographic area where a certain type of Spanish is spoken can also create differences. For example, Andean Spanish, spoken around the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, exhibits influences of now-extinct languages indigenous to the area, like Quechua. This is seen in its use of adopted words, such as “alpaca.”

In some cases, words adopted by one type of Spanish may spread throughout the different types of Spanish in the world and eventually become a part of the standard global Spanish lexicon. The Mexican Spanish “petate” (“mat”), adapted from the indigenous Nahuatl “petlatl,” is now commonly used in both European and Latin American Spanish.

Dealing with the Diversity of the Spanish Language

The variety exhibited by Spanish isn’t so surprising when considering the massive global span of the language. From Spain to the Caribbean to South America, Spanish can be found all over the world – and its presence is growing steadily. In the United States, for example, Spanish has become increasingly important and has even melded with English to create a special Spanish-influenced English dialect known as chicano.

As the number of Spanish speakers in the world continues to grow, it’s likely that Spanish language differences will increase. While the diversity of the Spanish language should be celebrated, this trait has also created concerns about the preservation and purity of the language. In order to prevent the Spanish language from being lost in a sea of diversity, the Real Academia Española, or Royal Spanish Academy, recently released a new Spanish grammar designed to unify Spanish differences around the world.

Linguistic Diversity Makes Spanish Translation Tricky

The multitude of Spanish language differences can make translation and interpretation in the Spanish language especially precarious. It’s essential to consider the target audience of a translation – will it be for Spanish speakers in Peru or Puerto Rico, Buenos Aires or Bogota?

Accredited Language Services offers translation and interpreting services in more than 150 languages and can find language professionals with the background to translate for any Spanish-speaking audience. Using a linguist who is familiar with the type of Spanish utilized by the target audience will ensure the best-quality translation.