My post was about the regularity of written Spanish.
About spoken Spanish, there are zillion of accents. However, broadly speaking, Spanish accents can be divided in two groups: European (Spain) and Latin American. Thus, American TV shows are dubbed twice, a version for Spain and another for Latin America. AFAIK, many Latin American versions are dubbed in Mexico City or in Miami, either with Mexican actors or with actors who mimic Central Mexican accent.
I used to think that this Central Mexican accent was used because it's kind of "neuter" (if a neuter accent can exist). But maybe the reason are more of the economic sort. Indeed, Mexico is a big exporter of movies and soap-operas to other Spanish-speaking countries.
I don't know if that's influencing how other people speak. I should confess that I've never been outside North America.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GlenBarrington
Although, my it is my understanding that there is a significant difference in verbal usage. I recall reading a year or two ago, that Hispanic Television performers, world wide, have to learn to adopt a Mexican accent and speech patterns if they want to work regularly in Spanish Language Television. That it is even affecting how people speak on TV in Spain itself, not to mention Puerto Rico, South America, and South Florida.
From the Article, I gathered that the combination of Mexico being the most populous Hispanic country, being next to the USA, whose Mexican population now overwhelms the Puerto Rican and Cuban-American populations and creates a cultural power center that forces Mexican cultural and lingusitic norms on other production centers in order to sell content to the Mexican media conglomerates.
The article seemed to imply a sort of Mexican cultural imperialism, and it felt weird to this good ol' Anglo-American boy not to be pointed out as the bad guy. I had to read the New York Times just to get my bearings back!
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