Is it necessary to learn Spanish in order to live in the DR?

Luperon

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We all know anything worth hearing is said in the Queens English! True?


Let the games begin.
 
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La Profe_1

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Oct 15, 2003
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I can tell you that my life here is easier because I speak Spanish. If I have to make a telephone call, I don't have to worry if I will get someone who will understand me. When I was hospitalized, I could talk to the doctors and nurses and communicate my concerns and problems and understand their directions.

I could not cope at the office without speaking Spanish and I certainly could not interact with the officials I sometimes need to consult if I didn't have the ability to communicate with them.

My apartment is not in a gated community where only expats live. It would be most difficult to live here, among Dominicans, without the ability to talk to them.
 
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J D Sauser

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Is it necessary to speak English to live in the US, or Britain?
Well, the Brits had their ways of imposing other nations their language, so did the French... but these would seem gone by times.

I don't see the sense of wanting to LIVE in a country without WANTING to COMMUNICATE with it's people. To communicate, one would seem to have to be ABLE to communicate in the appropriate language.

Maybe it's easy for me to say, languages and even dialects and accents just seem to come flying to me, quite effortlessly. After all, I was born in a very small country (the size of the DR) which has 4 official languages and went to school in a city which was officially bi-lingual! We traveled a lot and during my childhood spend most our summer vacations in Spain. I later found out that I did NOT learn Spanish back then, but somehow I neither seem to remember that I had any communication issues as a kid in Spain.
When I moved to Ecuador, 17 years ago I could probably order water and make sure I would not go hungry. 6 months later I negotiated my residence all by myself, going from office to office in Quito.

If the offer was irresistible, I would not have an issue about moving to Riyadh or Kiew tomorrow, even though I only know ONE word in Arabic and none in Ukrainian. I know that in a few days, weeks and months I would boot up the new language "chip", and I would not want it any other way.

I see how much my life is easier HERE, even over expats' who have lived here longer but speak little or even only less Spanish than I do. It affects EVERY aspect of EVERYDAY L I F E .

I'd rather be blind than mute/deaf (although I am aware, that many would prefer for me to be just mute :D).

But, since the subject seems to be a followup to a recent other thread, I must admit, that most times, when one of these pickup trucks peddling bananas or what ever comes around the 'hood, blaring the hottest offer or political BS thru an overloaded distorting and abused metal speaker... I don't get much more than "gwaek, gwaek, gaweeeeek a gwaeo Pesoooooo!". But then, if I'd care, I'd be equipped to ask what the fuss was all about. The only one I really get is our daily 6 o'clock wake up "service": Aguacateeeeeeee, aguacateeeeee! I used to care little for avocados, now, I definitely HATE them. :)

Yo no hablar Spaniolish, is not a excuse... it's a confession of failure.

Short version? Yes, language, at least at the level to "get by" is a must! For survival, comfort, safety, enjoyment and RESPECT.

... J-D.
 

RonS

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It would be most difficult to live here, among Dominicans, without the ability to talk to them.

One would have thought this to be a no-brainer! Although I think I get by fairly well, I have a very limited facility with Spanish. However, when I make the decision to relocate, even on a part-time basis, I will have the intelligence and respect for the people to learn the language.
 
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jrhartley

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not quite that easy - especially with short term memory loss....I thought I would be able to learn more easily than I am
 

Africaida

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Frankly, I am amazed by the question.

I didn't think it would be possible to be living in any country without speaking its language. I don't even see it as a matter of respect, but common sense.

I guess I was wrong.
 
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Yes, to live in DR full time Spanish would be a must. You don't need to be 1000% fluent, but know enough to get around and conduct basic business transactions.
 

RonS

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not quite that easy - especially with short term memory loss....I thought I would be able to learn more easily than I am

You know jr, I really think that making the attempt and trying to communicate with Dominicans in the language they understand is important. Although my Dominican friends want to learn and converse with me in English, whether to demonstrate pride or whatever, they seem to delight in teaching me how to speak thier language. And I am the better for it.
 

Marianopolita

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The more you know the better life will be...

I have followed the two threads that spurned this new one and my take away based on what I read was that language was the core problem of the OP and then others issues surfaced as a result.

I think learning Spanish, or having some base knowledge to begin with and then progressing forward overtime (and the choice how to move forward) is a personal decision and one which would definitely have an impact on one's quality of life in the DR which includes- choice of friends, interaction with neighbours and the general public, business partners (if one is working), entertainment, medical needs, etc so essentially all facets of day to day living. If one does not have any knowledge Spanish- not even comprehension because speaking and understanding are definitely two different facets of language, then life in the DR is going to be hard for some. The reason why I say some is because I know many people who live in countries where they don't speak the local language and get by relatively well with few issues because they have found a way to get around their language problem in a general sense and specific to the DR this is not always easy to do.

The DR is a Spanish-speaking country and I have observed that some people may be surprised by that or expect some level of English (and I use English as an example because it's the most common universal language and lingua franca). Even in the tourists areas I don't find the English to be that good or prevalent so in essence to be able to speak Spanish even some basic knowledge would be helpful if one is planning to move there to live semi-permanently or permanently. Depending on your spouse or significant other is very limiting.

Now whether Spanish it is easy to learn is a whole different issue because I have heard many say 'I can't learn Spanish because it's too hard or it just does not work for me' are some common excuses I often hear. As well, age is definitely a factor if the person is unilingual and has never studied another language prior to attempting Spanish. These are all definitely factors but when it comes to measuring your comfort of living and potential enjoyment, you will have to start somewhere.

Spanish at least has a similar alphabet to English with a few additional letters, so it would not be like learning characters like in Chinese and Japanese. Although English is not a romance language, it's has many linguistic and lexical influences from the romance languages that can definitely help in the learning process. As well, if the person is realistic about learning the language, stage by stage and starts the proper way, and in my opinion the proper way is with a text book and some formal instruction, one can get a nice positive start in Spanish and move forward. Some people prefer full immersion which is good but in my opinion, that's putting the cart before the horse because although one will start to understand the language and eventually speak over time, there are still many gaps in their own understanding which is okay for some and not for others depending on how competent in Spanish that person wants to be.

Language knowledge is important in the grand scheme of things and I will always promote proper learning and then a lot will fall into place. Learning a language is easy for some and not for others but you can go at your own pace. I also believe it depends on what language one chooses to learn and in my opinion Spanish is one that many can learn successfully to a certain degree. Not all languages are of interest to me and I do believe some are harder- phonetically and grammatically than others and as a result that would definitely impact my choice of where to live.

Therefore, language should be taken into consideration if one decides to live in the DR (or any country where the language is not one s/he speaks or of which has some base knowledge)


~MP.
 
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jrhartley

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loads of people in the uk dont speak english either- I used to go to a gym where virtually everyone only spoke Polish.
So if we send everyone home from the North Coast that doesnt speak Spanish the place would be rather deserted
 

AlterEgo

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I think a lot depends upon where you live in DR. If you're surrounded by ex-pats the need/desire to learn Spanish dwindles a bit. If you live surrounded by Dominicans [I don't know a lot of them who speak English fluently] it's a different story. Of course, either way you have to deal with businesses and so it would behoove you to speak Spanish.

That being said, and referring to the Dominicans in WH who never learn English, my Italian grandparents never really learned English while living in NY for many, many decades. They understood it though. My paternal grandmother lived in Brooklyn until she was 90+, in an Italian neighborhood where she had many, many friends who she conversed with entirely in Italian. No difference that I can see from today's Dominicans in US cities. Of course, the US makes a lot of language concessions for non-English speakers that the DR does not offer.

My husband's sister has been in the US over 20 years, is a US citizen, and cannot carry on a conversation in English. In the US, Americans get very annoyed when people can't speak English, but then they travel around the world and get annoyed when the people in the countries they visit can't speak English. They/we also tend to categorize those living in the US who don't speak English as somehow lacking - plus it leaves them open to be taken advantage of. I REFUSE to be the gringa who can't speak Spanish - or worse, not understand it. You would not believe the things I've heard because Dominicans assume I can't understand them.

A long, winded post to say that "YES, I think you should, and need to, learn and understand Spanish if you're going to live in DR".

AE
 

J D Sauser

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...
So if we send everyone home from the North Coast that doesnt speak Spanish the place would be rather deserted

While, unless I overlooked it, nobody is suggesting sending the linguistically challenged or resistant "home" just yet, sadly yes, you would probably be right... the place would seem somewhat deserted. Even some locals would probably have to relocate for having lost their "clientele".
But that can't be meant as an excuse or justification, now can it?

I can't imagine you being one of those who'd would argue that after all "we" bring money here, "they" wouldn't have half the income, comfort and economy if it wasn't for so many foreigners spending their retirement here, so "they" might as well do the right thing, and learn English, or German, or Italian or now Russian...

___________________________

loads of people in the uk dont speak english either- I used to go to a gym where virtually everyone only spoke Polish.
How did that make you feel, JR? Did you like it? Did you approve of it, would you like more of it? Did you think highly of you new Polish neighbors?


I think that "back home" where ever that may be for each of "us", and obviously that is not only restricted to Miami, NY, England or as I previously alluded to, "New Deli", the general sentiment of the local population there usually tends to be one of feeling "invaded" and eventually mutual disrespect and contempt because of the lack of an apparent desire to adapt (learning the language being the most obvious first major step). Others may choose to limit to think little of the new immigrants or just feel sorry for them, being apparently unable to only assimilate the language.

... J-D.
 
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Chirimoya

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Thanks for starting this thread, Luperon.

You can add me to the "no-brainer" list (somehow that doesn't sound quite right). :)

It's not surprising to find expats who don't learn Spanish when they live in an expat/tourist community, socialising with other expats and English-speaking Dominicans, but it is unusual for an expat living in a completely Dominican environment.

This discussion will inevitably raise the issue of Dominicans in the US who never learn English - like a friend who has been there for most of his adult life and can just about order a meal in a restaurant in English. A lot like most non-Spanish-speaking expats in the DR, he can function well enough without the local language. He lives and works in a Dominican-York bubble and that's how he's survived without learning English. His Dominican wife and his NY-born and raised kids speak perfect English.

Personally I can't take much credit for my Spanish - I had a head start. But I would like to think that if I moved to a country with a totally new language, one of the first priorities for me would be to learn the language. I can't imagine functioning here without Spanish. I would miss out on a great deal and feel completely isolated.
 

Lambada

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We arrived, aged just under 50, with no Spanish and spent the first year in an extended game of charades, miming what we couldn't convey verbally. On reflection probably no bad thing, because people certainly remember you for it.........;)

We're a lot better now but certainly not fluent. Never having had a formal lesson my grammar is atrocious, but I'm understood. I still have problems with the slang here, particularly the evolving slang ( a new word a week it seems ). And I'm lost trying to understand toothless people who have had too many Presidentes.............:cheeky:

jr, don't berate yourself. We all know how hard you're trying to learn. Don't worry about being 'correct' at this stage, just go for it. Works wonders for the self confidence :).

If you have no Spanish at all, you miss out on how much fun people are here - the sense of humour, the political jokes. Even if you choose to live in an English speaking enclave, what a loss!

And how do you involve yourself in the community without at least some Spanish? How do you participate in, for example, Junta de Vecinos meetings? And if you are a couple and only one of you has the language, that can put a very interesting dynamic onto the relationship.......;) not to mention events like the death of one partner, the termination of the relationship etc.
 

tflea

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No Spanish is like having a ham and cheese sandwich but hold the ham and cheese. You can still survive it but it sure is bland I would think.
 

Africaida

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Call me la jefa de los no-brainers

If you have visited Miami or Washington Heights you will find many people that don't speak English but they live in the US. And there are certainly posters such as SantiagoDR who don't know Spanish on DR1, but Don has an excuse that his advanced years have decreased his ability to learn a new language and that can certainly be true.

For the rest of us that can learn, it is an insult to the country and its people and a huge disadvantage for you not to speak the local language of your adopted country.

Windeguy I didn't mean to criticize specific posters as I don't know them.

I do know Washington Heights aka Quisqueya Heights ;) As a matter of fact, I used to live there and this is the reason why I speak Spanish today. I figured if I was to live among Dominicans I had to improve my Spanish skills. And, this is exactly what I did-Granted, I already knew the basics and my first language being French, it is probably easier for me.

It made my life easier and opened many many doors: I can count the number of times I have been invited to DR, to dominican family functions, etc.....and Yeah, during my broke college days, I could work to my corner Bodega and get anything on credit, lol. To this day, my children even get Christmas gifts from my "Dominican extended family" . :cheeky:

I am talking about NYC, so yes, the DR is a no-brainer.

PS: I know plenty of Dominican with little to no English skills but, in their defense, NYC is close to being bilingual, so it is much more doable here.
 

granca

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I have empathy for j r hartley, I at 73 find it very difficult to expand my Spanish vocabulary, although my grammar is improving, and I have to use circumlocutions sometimes. I wanted to buy some wood preserving paint yesterday but wasn't at all sure if "preservativo" could also be used in this sense. So I said " pintura por madera afuera che lo aiuda de durar mucho tempo" I was a little surprised to learn the the word used is "impregnar". Just one little correction to an earlier poster, English grammar is indeed romance language based even if our vocabulary frequently has three different words for the same thing. However I do not go along with the ever growing habit of having so many documents also available in alternative languages. Some brave Member of Parliament some time ago tried to bring a bill through Parliament stopping such translated documents but it was "not allowed" bearing in mind that it was the votes of many thousands of these non english speaking state supported immigrants who had helped keep the labour party in power. Spanish is the state language of the R.D. so at the very least the effort should be made to learn their language. I note, very sadly, that the U.S. is moving the same way as the U.K. with so much becoming translated into spanish. Your country became great through the hard work of multilingual immigrants, including learning english.
 

Marianopolita

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Spanish at least has a similar alphabet to English with a few
additional letters, so it would not be like learning characters like in Chinese and Japanese. Although English is not a romance language, it has many linguistic and lexical influences from the romance languages that can definitely help in the learning process.

~MP.

... Just one little correction to an earlier poster, English grammar is indeed romance language based even if our vocabulary frequently has three different words for the same thing....


Granca,

I pointed out my statement and yours.

When I say romance language meaning a descendant of Latin. Since when is English considered a descendant of Latin?

I mentioned that a lot of vocabulary comes from Latin (so we agree there) but it is not considered in the family of romance languages to my knowledge- ever.



~MP.
 

Lambada

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I think English is generally considered to be a Germanic language, all to do with the tortuous history of where the Jutes, Angles, Saxons & Celts settled. But I don't know that that is germane to this thread.........:cheeky: