Not the same Spanish

Since I was kid, I knew there were different Spanish accents. However, it wasn’t until I got to talk to another Spanish speaker that I realize how different our dialects are. The first thing that I learned, and it completely changed my world, is that I don’t have a “neutral accent” –fortunately- and that my dialect is not the “right one.” This is a commonly held belief throughout Latin America. I would dare to say there’s a silent war going on to prove what the right way to speak Spanish is.

My second learning is that, when it comes to Spanish, the only similarity is the Castilian roots. Many things change depending on the country: speed, expressions, slang, pronunciation and so on. There are differences, yes, but we can easily understand each other -although sometimes it gets confusing and I do need to ask for a translation, or provide one.

There is such a thing as a “neutral Spanish,” but, in my opinion, it's a terrible attempt to reach to the majority of Spanish speakers. Neutral Spanish doesn’t sound like the way we naturally speak; it sounds overly rehearsed and even fake. If you are marketing a product in Latin America, you really need to tailor your message and speak our language. Otherwise, you won’t connect with the audience.

For us, the only “acceptable” neutral Spanish is the one that’s used in some TV shows (novelas), but even this is changing. We are really embracing TV shows in their Spanish dialect, like in the case of narco novelas. Sometimes it’s preferable in that way, because you get to learn and laugh at the accent –not in a negative way.

Living in a multicultural country like Canada has enriched my understanding of the Latin culture. I enjoy listening to other Spanish speakers and I have fun trying to guess where they come from –similar to English, you can tell people’s nationalities by their accent. Sharing with other Latinos is a fun experience: we try to learn, we imitate our accents and we make fun of each other.

Some facts…

• Spanish is the language of 19 Latin countries; therefore, there are at least 19 different Spanish dialects.
• There are over 320 million native Spanish speakers.
• Spanish is ranked as one of the top three most spoken languages worldwide.
• The Spanish spoken in Spain is called Castilian and it sounds to us like the British English sounds to North Americans.
• The main difference is the “s” sound, which in Spain is pronounced as "th." In Spain, "gracias" (thank you) becomes "gratheas" (as opposed to "gras-see-as" in Latin America.)
• The Spanish taught to English speakers is closer to this dialect; therefore, communicating with native speakers from Latin America can be challenging.
• Spanish dialects use the same written standard. 

Remember, variety is the spice of life -en la variedad está el gusto!

The Latino face of the Super Bowl 50

Super Bowl Half Time Show

This week’s post came to me while watching the Super Bowl 50 Half Time Show. I heard that a great Venezuelan musician and conductor was going to be part of it, but it wasn’t until I saw him that the question hit me: how did he get there? So, I started doing my research.

I must say it: this post is close to my heart. I had to grab the opportunity to write about Venezuelan talent making a positive difference outside my home country; writing good things about my country.

Let’s get to it… Of course, I know who he is. I even had the pleasure to see him conduct the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela when he was just starting his path to success. The question remains, how did he get to the Super Bowl Half Time Show next to Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars? The answer is “El Sistema.” Let me walk you through it.

Leaving all the controversy aside, Gustavo Dudamel has become a world renowned musician and conductor. He conducted the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) and he is leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others, but he wouldn’t have gotten there if it wasn’t for El Sistema -as we know it in Venezuela- or the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras.

YOLA's rehearsal

This is a music program created in Venezuela in 1975 by Jose Antonio Abreu. This program managed to attract over half a million kids from different communities and change their life for the better. Dudamel is one of them, and the Simon Bolivar Orchestra is one of its best products. The program has touched the life of kids, as early as age two, and transformed them into great musicians, while getting them out of poverty.

Despite some criticism and backlash, the system’s success has been replicated in many countries, the United States being one. The YOLA is one of its best examples. The program, inspired by el Sistema and led by Dudamel, provides free instruments and music training to kids from underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles. YOLA’sperformance and Dudamel’s conducting are a huge hit for causes like this, and for the positive efforts of Latinos abroad.

That’s what we like to call Talento de Exportacion.

It's Carnival season!

While up North we freeze, down in the South of the continent is Carnival season! So, here are a few survival tips to navigate this celebration successfully…

How to survive Carnivals (in Latin America)?

1. Pick your costume or a nice swimsuit: in some countries of Central and South America, February can be one of the warmest months of the year. This is the time to dress-up in fantasy costumes and take the streets, or get into your swimsuit and head to the beach.
2. Be prepared to dance: no matter how good of a dancer you are, just be ready for it. I never learned to dance Samba –carnival’s anthem-, but I was always prepared to hide or run away from it. 
3. Be prepared to drink, a lot: Carnival is meant to be a wild celebration; you should surrender to the “pleasures of the flesh” during those 4-5 days before the beginning of the Lent. Good enough reason to party and drink!
4. Enjoy the entertainment: Carnivals are celebrated throughout Latin America. You’ll see all the main streets of all main cities and towns beautifully decorated. In some cases, like Brazil, it takes almost a year to put everything together. No matter where you are, you’ll see colourful floats, parades and costumed dancers taking public streets.

   

   Barranquilla's Carnivals, Colombia

5. Practice your Portuguese: I can’t write this post without mentioning Rio de Janeiro, the Carnival world capital, and worthy of its world record. This is the 5-day celebration we all aim for, and the best example of what it means to us. It all sums to samba, costumes and magnificent floats. No matter where you celebrate Carnival in Latin America you’ll hear and you’ll want to sign samba –you can start practicing with the word “caipirinha”. 

Here is a short demonstration...

Bienvenid@s to my Latin blog!

I’m part of the fourth largest ethnic group immigrating to Canada: the Latin community. We are a growing minority not very well noted, but with a strong voice. Latinos started to come to Canada in the 70s for different reasons, mostly political, and we haven’t stopped since. Now, we form a community of nearly 1 million people primarily concentrated in the city of Toronto.

But, who are Latinos exactly? It refers to Spanish speakers from Latin America –not Spain- including Brazil... and this blog is meant to talk about our culture, our needs, our wants and our story as immigrants. We are not the largest force in the country, but we still matter. That’s why this blog is not only intended for the Latino community, it is also meant to show and educate others about our culture.

So, why talk about this minority? Because I felt the urgent need to create a space where I can get in contact with my roots. I want to offer a friendly site where we can recreate our experience as immigrants, laugh about it and learn from others. Because no matter how long ago we left our countries, being Latino is still part of our identity and it defines us everywhere we go.

Here we won’t only talk about food, music or family. NO! I’ll try to talk about different topics, like why we leave our countries, what moves us to immigrate and how it's like to arrive to a new country. Truth be told, I'm not the expert when it comes to this topic. In fact, I'm still learning... every single day is a new opportunity for it! My only intention is to share part of my experience and hear from others. 

I already have a list of possible topics and ideas in mind, but there’s always room for new ones. That’s why I encourage every reader to comment –no matter what your nationality is. You can ask questions or make suggestions for future postings! I’ll be more than glad to share your story and respond to your question.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.