So true... As a Spanish, I still remember the fist Argentinian movies that I saw, I always needed around 15 minutes into the movie to fully get used to their accent.
And then you have my brother who learned Spanish in Andalucia and Chile (on top of his native French accent!). He's been asked often where he learned it.
100% how I feel! Having learnt Spanish in Madrid I felt fairly confident in communicating in Argentina. My first experience there was stopping at a bus station that was experiencing a black out, and a guy asked for my orange peel for his mate. The combination of his bizarre accent and request (at least to me) totally threw me off for a good while.
Haha sorry, I just re-read that and realise I didn't make it particularly clear. He wanted to add it to his flask of herbal tea (called Mate, pronounced Maté I think...). Don't know whether that new information makes you less or more curious now! :)
I'm a native English speaker and I sometimes have trouble with really pronounced accents. Add regional slang and sometimes it's like "I'm pretty sure that was supposed to be English, but I have no idea what you just said."
There is a "saying" in Germany - ein sächselnder Schwabe in Bayern - putting together the 3 most ununderstandable dialects to mean something like "he just does not get understood".
When I was in Japanese class (near saxony) there was a Schwabe. When he first said something you could hear the gears in all people's heads coming to a stop. The Japanese teacher needed 2 seconds, then she got what he said. She was probably the only one in the room. We got used to him but the first week was strange.
This is so true... I was at a party a couple months ago hanging out with some Chileans speaking French. One of them said something in Spanish and I responded without thinking, and he said "Oh you speak Spanish too? Let's just speak Spanish then!" I understood maybe 10% of what was going on. Then one of my friends, who's from Mexico, walked up and asked what was going on. I swear the Chileans switched languages. Suddenly they were speaking comprehensibly and I understood 95% of the conversation (and actually took part in it). Then my Mexican friend went to get a drink, and just like that, the Chileans switched back and I was lost. I secretly think they don't really speak Spanish down there...
Too many local words, and all of them too fast. (Chilean here). When speaking with people from other countries, we slow down and stop using the local slang. I understand how that seems like a different language.
tell me about it dude. maybe this can help? :D https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Diferencias_de_vocabulario_est%C3%A1ndar_entre_pa%C3%ADses_hispanohablantes
I remember when I was working on my Spanish listening comprehension, I watched this Chilean movie called El Club, and aside from being a terrible movie, I only understand about 10% of what was being said.
Really discouraged me, but I didn't know the reputation Chilean accents have at the time...
My wife and I watched a Scottish film recently and I had to assure her that yes, her English is excellent, and no, I didn't understand anything they were saying either.
Every single word in the spanish language is slang for "genitals" somewhere in south america, and it's always a random different one. I've heard many stories of such confusions
So true... As a Spanish, I still remember the fist Argentinian movies that I saw, I always needed around 15 minutes into the movie to fully get used to their accent.
ReplyDeleteYup, or even within Spain - I'm currently working here, and as a Spanish learner, Andalucian is an accent that makes no sense to me at all...
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Andalucians drop their "s" at the end of words makes it really hard for me to understand what they're saying.
DeleteAnd then you have my brother who learned Spanish in Andalucia and Chile (on top of his native French accent!). He's been asked often where he learned it.
Delete100% how I feel! Having learnt Spanish in Madrid I felt fairly confident in communicating in Argentina. My first experience there was stopping at a bus station that was experiencing a black out, and a guy asked for my orange peel for his mate. The combination of his bizarre accent and request (at least to me) totally threw me off for a good while.
ReplyDeleteI'm just curious... why on earth did he ask for an orange peel?
DeleteHaha sorry, I just re-read that and realise I didn't make it particularly clear. He wanted to add it to his flask of herbal tea (called Mate, pronounced Maté I think...). Don't know whether that new information makes you less or more curious now! :)
DeleteOn the opposite side, I (spaniard) still have trouble understanding Australians and New Zealanders.
ReplyDeleteI'm a native English speaker and I sometimes have trouble with really pronounced accents.
DeleteAdd regional slang and sometimes it's like "I'm pretty sure that was supposed to be English, but I have no idea what you just said."
There is a "saying" in Germany - ein sächselnder Schwabe in Bayern - putting together the 3 most ununderstandable dialects to mean something like "he just does not get understood".
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Japanese class (near saxony) there was a Schwabe. When he first said something you could hear the gears in all people's heads coming to a stop.
The Japanese teacher needed 2 seconds, then she got what he said. She was probably the only one in the room.
We got used to him but the first week was strange.
This comic is wrong, an Argentinian and a Chilean wouldn't be able to understand each other lol
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's not true.
DeleteDude, it's a joke.
DeleteI'm argentinian and I'd know lmao.
This is so true... I was at a party a couple months ago hanging out with some Chileans speaking French. One of them said something in Spanish and I responded without thinking, and he said "Oh you speak Spanish too? Let's just speak Spanish then!" I understood maybe 10% of what was going on. Then one of my friends, who's from Mexico, walked up and asked what was going on. I swear the Chileans switched languages. Suddenly they were speaking comprehensibly and I understood 95% of the conversation (and actually took part in it). Then my Mexican friend went to get a drink, and just like that, the Chileans switched back and I was lost. I secretly think they don't really speak Spanish down there...
ReplyDeleteToo many local words, and all of them too fast. (Chilean here). When speaking with people from other countries, we slow down and stop using the local slang. I understand how that seems like a different language.
Deletetell me about it dude. maybe this can help? :D https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anexo:Diferencias_de_vocabulario_est%C3%A1ndar_entre_pa%C3%ADses_hispanohablantes
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was working on my Spanish listening comprehension, I watched this Chilean movie called El Club, and aside from being a terrible movie, I only understand about 10% of what was being said.
ReplyDeleteReally discouraged me, but I didn't know the reputation Chilean accents have at the time...
My wife and I watched a Scottish film recently and I had to assure her that yes, her English is excellent, and no, I didn't understand anything they were saying either.
DeleteEvery single word in the spanish language is slang for "genitals" somewhere in south america, and it's always a random different one. I've heard many stories of such confusions
ReplyDelete