The great LAm vs Sp pronunciation debate

There has been a huge amount of discussion on the forum, in reviews on iTunes and Podcast Alley and in emails we receive about whether we should be concentrating on LAm or Spain-Spanish pronunciation in the podcasts. Let me explain:

• In the initial episodes we concentrated on Spanish pronunciation. I felt there was no point in confusing people early on with multiple ways to pronounce words.

• Later on, from episode 5 or 6 onwards I started to include the LAm pronunciation of pretty much every word where there was a major difference.

• From day 1 where there are words or phrases which just aren't used in Latin American countries, I've always tried to include the alternative, eg. zumo (Sp) vs jugo (LAm), tienda (Sp) vs carpa (LAm)

However, we're getting quite a few emails about the fact that as we move into unit 4, any intelligent listener will be able to work out that if I say a word which has a "z" or "ce/ci" sound and pronunce it "th" then you can easily learn it with the "s" pronunciation if you're going to be in a Latin American country, and with the "th" pronunciation if you're going to be in Spain. "It's not rocket science", as one listener pointed out!

I am definitely not going to "give up" my Spain-Spanish pronunciation which comes naturally to me having lived in Spain. This would be the equivalent of putting on an American accent for all the English I speak in the podcast, and we all know how bad my American accent is!

The bottom line is that I don't want to alienate listeners. I will continue to give LAm words where the words are different. Absolutely. That's very important. However, do you really need me to say both pronunciations now? Have we reached a stage where you can work that out for yourselves?

As ever, I very much appreciate feedback on this. Please let me know what you think by posting a comment here.

Comments

[goll]

¡Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con usted!

[Ann Machell (Mamo)]

Moving into unit 4, for those of us who have gotten this far, beginning with you and Kara from the early podasts, we've "got it" regarding the Spain Spanish vs the LAm Spanish. We can figure it out. Be true to yourself and go with your gut. I'm much more likely to encounter LAm speakers than Spaniards here in the US, but I think your Spain-ish accent is one of the things that makes your podcast unique and interesting, especially after listening to real Spanish conversations in Lesson 30.

[marion liden]

Having lived in Texas & Arizona for a very long while, I have only been exposed to Mexican Spanish, perhaps even known as Spanglish. My sons, however, have had several years of Spanish in school from instructors from Argentina, Venezuela, & Mexico and from them I know that different words are pronounced different ways in the various countries. There are quirks in all of these dialects just as there are quirks in our American regions. I even have Spanish textbooks that give different pronunciations for various words. I think it's fun to hear the Spanish pronunciations & the Latin American pronunciations and to be aware that there are local variations in usage. I think your're doing a great job. I even enjoy your Scottish English. It keeps my ears tuned up.

[David]

There are differences in dialects in all languages and you will be able to please everyone. I work for a Spanish Bank and encounter Spanish and Latin American nationals they understand each other just as I understand your Scottish accent. I think that I can work out the obvious pronounciation differences but in cases such as zumo and Jugo you should explain the difference

[Ann]

To make a long story short, I am able to understand a large variety of people who are speaking English as a second language. Once in a while I need to hear a word over again or have it spelled out. Very often it is such a simple word we get a good laugh out of my misunderstanding.

I have been taking spanish for many many years. My experience with speaking Spanish is mostly with LAm Spanish speakers.

99% of the time I understand the Sp. spoken on CBS. I appreciate the use of the LAm spanish as there are times I commpletely miss the Sp. word as one I know in LAm. This gives me more practice in listening to both LAm and Sp. accents. I find this very useful in my work as a teacher.

I also have enjoyed hearing the Scottish accent. My sister and I have been practicing that too as we listen to CBS. So keep the multiple languages going on. It is good for our world to hear a variety of ways people speak.

[Brenda Oig]

I feel the same as most of the people who've commented. I don't need the explanation for the accent any longer, I can figure it out for myself, especially when I see the word. The only thing I think you should keep is the explanation if a word is only used in Spain or in LAm countries. That is helpful, but at this point, I think you should just go with the Spanish accent and keep it simple. :)

[James]

I'll be the contrarian and suggest continuing to point out the "s" versus "th" pronunciation from time to time - maybe not every single time it applies, but it would help keep me on track to hear it occasionally.

[layfog@gmail.com]

I actually wondered from the beginning why we didn't just explain the difference and then move on and, by the way, I find your accent to be a big "PLUS!" Makes the podcasts even more interesting and I appreciated the sarcasm expressed over those complaints!

[layfog@gmail.com]

I actually wondered from the beginning why we didn't just explain the difference and then move on and, by the way, I find your accent to be a big "PLUS!" Makes the podcasts even more interesting and I appreciated the sarcasm expressed over those complaints!

[linda]

Please continue to provide both LAm and Spanish pronunciation. Other people might be geniuses but I'm not. I need as much hand-holding as possible, so point out the differences.

[linda]

Please continue to provide both LAm and Spanish pronunciation. Other people might be geniuses but I'm not. I need as much hand-holding as possible, so point out the differences.

[Judith]

Soy de los Estados Unidos, donde tenemos el español mejicano. Me gusta oír pronunication latinoamericano cuando usted habla rápido. No es necesario para cada palabra. ¡Gracias!

[Benjamin]

I whole heartedly agree with your decision to use Spain Spanish rather than Latin American Spanish. If you were to teach English, whilst American English may be prevalent in a lot of places, international "the Queen's English" is typically what is taught worldwide, with differences in spelling added as a side note (e.g. color, colour).

[Petra]

Like most people here, I think the explanation of different words is very helpful, but different pronounciations of the 'th' and 'c'- type are certainly not necessary. I learned british English in school in Germany and now live in the US, and is it a problem to even listen to Scottish? No! I love your podcast, thanks!

[Sam]

From my personal point of view, I would like you to just use the 'Spain' pronounciation. Those of us who have been following Coffee Break Spanish from the beginning MUST be aware of the differences in pronounciation by now, or they are probably not very serious about learning anyway!

I find the Latin American pronounciation confusing for a learner. I download the episodes to my mobile and listen to them on the bus, on my way to work, so I can't be reading the words at the same time as hearing them being spoken. If we take the word 'necesitar' for instance. If we hear it pronounced with an 's' sound (latin American), how do I visualize the spelling (assuming it's a new word that I don't know how to spell)? It could be spelt with an 'S' or a 'C', but if the word is pronounced with the 'th' sound I can immediately visualize the correct spelling (it can't be spelt with a 'Z' because I have never come across a 'ze' combination in spanish, that is why the word 'vez' is pluarlized to 'veces' rather than 'vezes').

So, in summary, please keep pronouncing Spanish with the 'Spain' pronounciation, y muchas gracias por el podcast. Lo disfruto mucho!

[Dmytro]

Yeah, people are right in that everyone now understands what Sp/LAm differences are, just like everyone understands -o = masculine, -a = feminine, -s = plural.

[david]

Personally, I appreciate the mainland Spanish that Mark uses, as I've only been exposed to Latin American varieties throughout my education...

The above comments are pretty complete, but I thought I might add the following for the benefit of new speakers: the Spain vs Latin America pronunciation is good to know, but realize that whomever you talk to in either place may not always "follow the rules".

Every country has their own colloquialisms -- Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia -- these are all considered "Latin America", but could each deserve their own podcast!

So, instead of focusing on "which spanish you are learning", my advice would be to just focus on "tuning your ear" -- you never know who you'll be speaking with!

Thanks Mark and Kara, I love the podcast!

David from Hawaii

[Cara Lee]

I prefer not to have LAM as it takes up a lot of the time in the short time available in a podcast. Overall, we could be learning twice as much.

[Vangeli]

I sure wish there was a Mexico-Spanish only type site where those in the United States could learn Mexican - as the people from Latin America are pretty much all over the United States and we want to learn Mexican in order to speak with them. Apparently there are millions and millions of legal ones here, but millions more of illegal ones... and if we try to learn Mexican we can interact with those of this language better. It is unfortuante that there is not a site online dedicated as free or low fee like your site where Americans can learn Mexican properly.

I know your site is dedicated to an International Audience, but how great it would be if you had a Mexican Coffee Break Spanish section - just for those learning Mexican. Most people in the USA don't travel to Spain except occassionaly for vacation, but we interact with Mexicans and LAm people on a daily basis.

Thanks for considering this interesting prospect of a Mexican section to your great coffee break. We would certianly enjoy hearing the words properly in the Latin American language instead of the Spain language.

[learn spanish]

i have been living in Mexico for 18 years and although I am used to the Mexican pronunciation, there are many diferent accents throughout the country. I work with many people from all over Latin America and it is interesting. Not only accents are diferent but vocabulary also. One time when I was in Spain, I asked for a torta which is a sandwich down here and almost got punched in the face over there. Torta sounds like the word for a punch in Spain.
I did survive the trip though. =)