Spain: Influence on Hispanic Countires

When people think of Spain, what do they usually think of? Its capital Barcelona? Maybe the famous soccer team Real Madrid. Well, some people may think like I do and forget a great influence Spain had on the western world. Spain conquered over what is now central America and south America and taught Spanish to the natives. When I think of modern day Spain, I forget that they have the biggest contribution to Latin countries today and even the United States.

Separated by the Atlantic Ocean, Latin America still practices the Spanish culture and has evolved from its influence (Presilla1). All the Latin countries from Mexico all the way down to Argentina, still speak Spanish. As I meet new people with a Latin background, there are differences in the language. My father is Mexican and the words that he uses are different than my friend who is Puerto Rican. Spain Spanish phrases are very different then the Spanish used in the Americas. While searching the web for the differences in wording I found on www.humanities.uci.edu unique terms. For example:







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English                                                Spain Spanish                                    Hispanic Spanish

Do you have money?	¿Tienes Pasta?	¿Tienes Dinero?
Party	Movida	Fiesta
Girl/Chick	Tia	Nena/Chica

 The difference of these words are weird to me because the words used in Spain are used differently in the Americas. "The differences between the Spanish of Spain and the Spanish of Latin America are something like the differences between British English and American English" (Erichson1). For example: Pasta is just a dish people eat, movida is to move or dance and tia is aunt. I find it interesting that the word choice are different. It is fascinating that all 19 countries derived from one single European country  and have grown into their own unique culture. It is as if Spain planted seeds across Latin America and watched it grow into its own fruit. As the Latin American Countries starting becoming their own, there is a lot of mixed feeling about their motherland Spain.

While doing further research, I asked a few of my friends about their opinions on Spain.

Emily: " I think Spain is beautiful, it's like the mother of all the Spanish countries and i don't think Spain is better than any of the other speaking Spanish countries because all Hispanic have a uniqueness that defines them."

Nelson: " I never really think about Spain, no one talks about them anymore and I have never met a Spaniard before. I have people from different Hispanic countries and Spain isn't really doing anything."

 Pru: " Spain is nothing now, yeah they're cool but who talks about them anymore? All they did for us was give us the language. Us Hispanics have more pride in our own country then they do. I'm a proud Mexican and have never thought they were better then us."

 I remember meeting this Spaniard guy in my Health class and he boasted Spain. He told me " I am the Real Spanish, I'm from Spain." I was offended by the comment because he was boasting Spain. He previously told me, he does not speak Spanish nor was he born there, so I was confused about the topic. If I am half Hispanic and can speak more then him, then he should not boast.

I have never understood the hierarchy of Spanish cultures but it is as if Spain is the mother duck and the Hispanic countries are her ducklings growing into their own. Spain has had a great impact on many countries and is beautiful in its own way. All Hispanic countries have their own culture and beauty. Spain has been the biggest contributor to Hispanic countries and will forever be its motherland.




References

 ." Slang Terms (Spain). Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Spain and Latin America | Worlds of Flavor Spain." Spain and Latin America | Worlds of Flavor Spain. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Varieties of Spanish." About.com Spanish Language. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.


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