Which is the best Spanish accent?

[Marianopolita]

Is colombianos then closer to that “Miami” Spanish I am talking about ?

Partially. Miami has a large Colombian community but Venezuelans have arrived in large numbers over the past decade and their accent is very similar to Colombia. You have to know them well to distinguish.
On Univision, Telemundo and CNN en español it’s a mix. You have Spanish journalists from quite a few countries but many are Colombian, Mexican, Argentinian (but for most part with a neutral accent except the ‘sh’ pronunciation) Cuban and Puerto Rican.

Miami Spanish is predominantly Cuban Spanish though and different when you go into certain neighbourhoods. For ex, Doral, a city in Miami is almost 100% Venezuelan.

 

[aarhus]

Yes you are correct. The US is the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world after Mexico and it is not even the official language. It has over 50 million speakers, more than Colombia now and definitely more than Spain.


Spanish in Miami is a pot popurrí but the dominant accent is Caribbean without a doubt.

It is one of my favourite cities to speak Spanish.

Here is a recent thread in the topic:

Miami Spanish

Miami is a city with a high percentage of Spanish speakers. Those who live(d) there, visit often or even just once will notice that it is a predominantly Spanish-speaking city but unique in its own right as well in terms of how it is spoken. Linguistic research has been done and is still being...

dr1.com

I will read this. Thanks

 

[Marianopolita]

US Spanish is becoming its own dialect, IMHO. Derived from Mexico but it has a lot of inputs.

I still had to go with Central America. I like the sing/song rhythm of the speaking which I'm sure is influenced by the native languages. I started learning the main Guatemalan mayan language. Interesting if you're into languages, but my daughters all rolled their eyes, so I guess the attraction isn't very universal.

Regarding Spanish becoming its own dialect in the US many linguists already say it is. It’s called el español de los EEUU but with many variations. Saying it derived from Mexico is only one brand known as chicano Spanish but the reality on the ground reveals a totally different dominance. Even though Mexicans make up the largest Spanish-speaking group the Spanish that is predominant on the news, sports, musical festivals etc is Caribbean Spanish especially on the East Coast USA.

 

[GringoRubio]

Miami Spanish is predominantly Cuban Spanish though and different when you go into certain neighbourhoods. For ex, Doral, a city in Miami is almost 100% Venezuelan.

True that. Up in fort Lauderdale, there are pockets of different nationalities that haven't mixed. Caribbean Spanish, hatians, Central Americans, and burgeoning population of Venezuelans.

 

[NanSanPedro]

True that. Up in fort Lauderdale, there are pockets of different nationalities that haven't mixed. Caribbean Spanish, hatians, Central Americans, and burgeoning population of Venezuelans.

Except that most Haitians don't speak Spanish.

 

[aarhus]

Except that most Haitians don't speak Spanish.

In South Florida there are also many Brazilians. I have been asked by Spanish speakers in Miami if I was Brazilian when I speak Spanish. And in the US am often asked if I am South African when I speak English.

 

[Marianopolita]

In South Florida there are also many Brazilians. I have been asked by Spanish speakers in Miami if I was Brazilian when I speak Spanish. And in the US am often asked if I am South African when I speak English.

If they ask if you are Brazilian that is because to the Spanish ear they are hearing something that is off not quite right but they can understand you. I can detect a Brazilian speaking Spanish in a heart beat because their phonetics are different but they pronounce words in Spanish as they would in Portuguese. I have heard only a few Brazilians that have not carried the Portuguese accent over to Spanish. Listen to the soccer player Dani Alves. It is quite impressive.

 

[Marianopolita]

Except that most Haitians don't speak Spanish.

In my experience, Haitians do not speak Spanish well at all. I give them credit for trying but my goodness it does not sound good. Those hard /d/ sounds are the worst.

 

[NanSanPedro]

In my experience, Haitians do not speak Spanish well at all. I give them credit for trying but my goodness it does not sound good. Those hard /d/ sounds are the worst.

It would be interesting for you to listen to my 17 year old. He has been speaking it for about 3 years now. He makes fun of his grandfather's Spanish a lot. Most of the Haitians I know here in Boca Chica speak Spanish and I can't tell the difference.

 

[aarhus]

If they ask if you are Brazilian that is because to the Spanish ear they are hearing something that is off not quite right but they can understand you. I can detect a Brazilian speaking Spanish in a heart beat because their phonetics are different but they pronounce words in Spanish as they would in Portuguese. I have heard only a few Brazilians that have not carried the Portuguese accent over to Spanish. Listen to the soccer player Dani Alves. It is quite impressive.

I took it as a huge compliment. If I sounded like a Brazilian speaking Spanish. Sounding like a South African when I speak English less so lol

 

[aarhus]

In my experience, Haitians do not speak Spanish well at all. I give them credit for trying but my goodness it does not sound good. Those hard /d/ sounds are the worst.

Then again sometimes you meet Haitians who speak Creole, French, Spanish and English. All quite well supposedly

 

[Marianopolita]

It would be interesting for you to listen to my 17 year old. He has been speaking it for about 3 years now. He makes fun of his grandfather's Spanish a lot. Most of the Haitians I know here in Boca Chica speak Spanish and I can't tell the difference.

Do you consider yourself one who has a trained ear to tell the difference? In the DR and other places where I have heard Haitians speak it is the same. It sounds very weird and non Spanish rhythm and cadence just to name a few points. Also mispronunciation of words. The stress is on the wrong syllable.

 

[Marianopolita]

Then again sometimes you meet Haitians who speak Creole, French, Spanish and English. All quite well supposedly

I would like to hear the Spanish but yes English and French very good. Muy chévere.

 

[NoHaceCalor]

As a linguist, I would say that this question/poll doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[NanSanPedro]

Do you consider yourself one who has a trained ear to tell the difference? In the DR and other places where I have heard Haitians speak it is the same. It sounds very weird and non Spanish rhythm and cadence just to name a few points. Also mispronunciation of words. The stress is on the wrong syllable.

No, I have a tin ear for that. I can't tell the difference yet.

 

[Marianopolita]

As a linguist, I would say that this question/poll doesn't make any sense at all.

Okay, your opinion and you are certainly entitled. You do not have to participate. I ask that you let the thread continue without interruption.

 

[NoHaceCalor]

Okay, your opinion and you are certainly entitled. You do not have to participate. I ask that you let the thread continue without interruption.

1. I did not state that I was giving anything else other than my opinion. 2. I have done nothing to interrupt this thread --- I see that it i still going on.

 

[bob saunders]

Well my wife is Dominican but even many Dominicans say she doesnt sound like a Dominican and is often asked if she is from Colombia because she speaks like them. I believe it is because she speaks clearly and less rapidly than most Dominicans and doesn't drop letters. She also went to a private catholic school where all the nuns were from Mexico and Colombia. I have visited most Spanish speaking countries except Bolivia and Venezuela, although I know many Venezuelans. My favorite accent is from Madrid perhaps because of the sensual voice of Penelope Cruz , also like the accent of Argentinian Gabriela Sabatini. As far as Haitians, many are born in the DR or have lived here since they were little children and have attended school for years in Spanish so speak the same as Dominicans. We have around 20 Haitian students in our school and they all speak Spanish.

 

[GringoRubio]

Then again sometimes you meet Haitians who speak Creole, French, Spanish and English. All quite well supposedly

Substitute Italian for English and you have my girlfriend. Apparently, the Hatian revolution only ushered in another aristocracy. She's a bit different having lived in abject poverty to obscene wealth. Like most Hatians, she has a love hate relationship going on with Haiti.

 

[bob saunders]

Well my wife is Dominican but even many Dominicans say she doesnt sound like a Dominican and is often asked if she is from Colombia because she speaks like them. I believe it is because she speaks clearly and less rapidly than most Dominicans and doesn't drop letters. She also went to a private catholic school where all the nuns were from Mexico and Colombia. I have visited most Spanish speaking countries except Bolivia and Venezuela, although I know many Venezuelans. My favorite accent is from Madrid perhaps because of the sensual voice of Penelope Cruz , also like the accent of Argentinian Gabriela Sabatini. As far as Haitians, many are born in the DR or have lived here since they were little children and have attended school for years in Spanish so speak the same as Dominicans. We have around 20 Haitian students in our school and they all speak Spanish.