spanish language

[evolution]

I will be travelling to south america soon and would like to learn some latin american spanish first. I know that there are differences between this and european spanish. I would like to buy a book/audio combo to get started but the ones for south american spanish are really expensive and I'm broke! Would it be ok to buy the european spanish one instead?

[woodpam]

You would probably get by with European Spanish. Have you tried asking your local library if they have any CDs/Videos etc? Ours has complete linguaphone courses and they cost very little to borrow.

[gazzawazza]

I don't see why not, there are differences but you will still be understood. I go to spanish classes and my teacher is the best teacher you could wish for. Although she herself is mexican she teaches Castillian Spanish which is the "original" and usually points out any differences. These differences tend to be where a word is pronounced slightly differently in latin-america or they might use a different word altogether, but by and large I don't think you'll have any problems.

[Gef]

You could also try the excellent BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/languages/spanish/l
j/

[mikewith]

You'll certainly be understood speaking 'Spanish' Spanish but expect some wry smiles from people who believe that that 'old-fashioned' accent is really funny to listen to.

Also - it depends very much on where you're going. South America is huge, and the accents vary from region to region as well as country to country. Having travelled in Peru years ago, and picking up the language bit by bit as I went along, I was told subsequently that I had a Peruvian accent when I went to Spain. (Very flattering!)

But the strongest differences are in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, where they speak 'rioplatenense'... words, pronunciation and meanings change. i.e. 'Villa' is pronounced "Beezha"; 'usted' becomes "voze"etc etc... Don't worry, you'll be understood, and quickly work out what peple are saying to you.

Don't expect to speak or understand aword of Portuguese - but that mustn't stop you seeing Brazil.

If you're as broke as you say, this is probably a good time to be in S. America. Sadly, their economies are in real trouble.