Learning Spanish

[QueBert]

I'm looking to learn Spanish, read the Rosetta Stone cd's are great. They offer 2 packages Latin America & Spain for spanish. I found the Spain one cheaper. But, I live in Southern Cali and figure the Latin America version will be more helpful, but is there that big a difference between the 2?

thanks

 

[RapidSnail]

I think the comparison is akin to American English versus British English.

 

[SVT Cobra]

No not really, some different pronounciations like Z as th instead of s, and the whole vosotros thing.

I would find one that covers both.

 

[sash1]

accent in Spain is different. Some different rules.

I'd suggest the NOT Spain one, because a lot of people hate the Spain accent. Although that's how I speak because that's how I learned.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I believe some of the verbs are different.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail
I think the comparison is akin to American English versus British English.

I can communicate with British people but the English they use is different in somne aspects. Since I know only some Spanish it would be better to get the Latin America one

thanks man

 

[RapidSnail]

My point is that if you can speak one "version," you should be able, for the most part, to understand and speak the other.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: sash1
accent in Spain is different. Some different rules.

I'd suggest the NOT Spain one, because a lot of people hate the Spain accent. Although that's how I speak because that's how I learned.

well I'm as white as they come, so regardless which I learn my accent is going to piss a lot of people off but you bring up a good point, I should learn what most people will accept. it's worth the extra 50 bucks to me.

 

[ngvepforever2]

Well, I went the opposite way...meaning that my first language was spanish and now I speak english. I'd recommend for you to first learn the real spanish (yes, with the one with the spanish accent), the spanish accent is not annoying and you will learn a purer spanish that way.

Regards

ng

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: sash1
accent in Spain is different. Some different rules.

I'd suggest the NOT Spain one, because a lot of people hate the Spain accent. Although that's how I speak because that's how I learned.

well I'm as white as they come, so regardless which I learn my accent is going to piss a lot of people off but you bring up a good point, I should learn what most people will accept. it's worth the extra 50 bucks to me.

It is, while I am fluent in both "accents" and learned the local slang, I prefer the latin american accent as it flows easier. And the lisp thing drives me nuts.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail
I think the comparison is akin to American English versus British English.

Yep. My wife is Hispanic and has a hard time understanding people from Spain. She says they have different pronunciations of words that makes them hard to follow.

 

[Nik]

Latin America? Hahahaha, wow.

Yes, MEXICAN Spanish is a fairly different dialect of those in Spain.

 

[miri]

I used to live in spain and they use vosotros and they use "va le" all the time which means ok

 

[magomago]

Try Latin America first! Both are fine if you get used to it....I can't understand Arabic dialects until I get a good week or so just to hang around the specific dialect and then I know what to do.

Alllthoughh
I've noticed people from Spain are almost racist towards the Latin American accent..."Don't try to speak that ****** to us it doesn't make sense" or "Keep that @@@!% away from our ears" is usually the response I got from any Spanish friends....I've heard the same from others (including a guy who lived in Spain for 5 years [dad was Spanish, mom was American] when he was a kid. He studied spanish again in highschool and when he went back to Spain everyone wanted him to get rid of the "dirty" accent and speak like a Spainard)

For what its worth

I studied the Latin American variety and enjoyed it very much! Beautiful language if you ask me

 

[2Xtreme21]

I know from experience that France French and Quebec French are quite different. I went up there this summer with a pretty good knowledge of France French and found it hard to communicate with a lot of the people I approached.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
Latin America? Hahahaha, wow.

Yes, MEXICAN Spanish is a fairly different dialect of those in Spain.

haha you talkin about Spanglish? I pick that up at work.

like "whats the difference between choose and choice?"

choose is what you wear on your feet.

Spanglish is fun

 

[Nik]

No, I'm not talking about Spanglish.

There are dialects of Spanish close to the Mexico/US border that those in central and south Mexico wouldn't understand. They've been secluded long enough that it's changed quite a bit.

 

[0roo0roo]

spanish spanish is probably more refined.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
No, I'm not talking about Spanglish.

There are dialects of Spanish close to the Mexico/US border that those in central and south Mexico wouldn't understand. They've been secluded long enough that it's changed quite a bit.

And? There are places in the deep south that would make most of us go "WTF." It happens with any language spread out over such a vast area.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
No, I'm not talking about Spanglish.

There are dialects of Spanish close to the Mexico/US border that those in central and south Mexico wouldn't understand. They've been secluded long enough that it's changed quite a bit.

But if I learn the Latin America dialect I should be able to pick up dialect the Mexicans speak? you're saying they won't understand the L.A one I'm ordering much. which sucks

 

[bolido2000]

I'm from Latin America and live in Socal. All the mexicans will understand whatever spanish suite you choose just fine. Some words are different (kind of like elevator-lift, parking structure-car park) but nothing major. It is true that its a little harder to understand the Spaniard (?) accent, but again...nothing major. Me thinks that they are charging 50 bucks more because of the illusion that spanish speaking people in the US won't understand if you learn the Spanish spanish. Simply not true.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: bolido2000
I'm from Latin America and live in Socal. All the mexicans will understand whatever spanish suite you choose just fine. Some words are different (kind of like elevator-lift, parking structure-car park) but nothing major. It is true that its a little harder to understand the Spaniard (?) accent, but again...nothing major. Me thinks that they are charging 50 bucks more because of the illusion that spanish speaking people in the US won't understand if you learn the Spanish spanish. Simply not true.

oh no, the softwares all retail for the same, I happened to find a dude selling the L.A. one for cheaper, I'm all for saving money. I like your response, makes sense. I'll learn the basic language and then I can start to get into the words here and there that differ

 

[IAteYourMother]

There's different kinds of Spanish, not just Mexican and Spanish Spanish