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So that's why they hardly speak English in Spain!
It has always shocked me how little English people speak in Spain. Travel to big cities and generally you can communicate with the locals in English, but in Madrid (for example) you will be lucky to encounter a Madrileño to speak to in English. It's embarrassing how here you can't even order a coffee in English at Starbucks!I think one of the main reasons for its lack of English-speaking capabilities is the fact that Spain is the only country in the world (according to a recent article in the English version of El Pais published by the IHT) that dubs everything. Everything!
The article (which unfortunately isn't online) also says that Spain has 4,300 cinema screens, making it the country with the highest number of movie theaters per person in Europe. Although now there are a number of Version Original (VO) theaters in the country, they are visited mostly by tourists; Spaniards generally don't want to read subtitles. When asked, although Spaniards said they prefer to watch films in VO, only 4% of them actually go to cinemas to watch them in VO.
To make a comparison of sorts: I have a lot of Swedish friends, both here and in Sweden. What always surprised me was how well they speak English and how perfectly American their accents are. When I asked them, they all unanimously said it's because they have grown up watching English-language programs on television as nothing is dubbed. Sweden generally being a rich and cold country, most people have cable and I guess they stay in a lot!
Although English is taught in Spanish schools, it is not uncommon to find it being taught by teachers who can't really speak English, but they know the grammar. On that note, it's interesting to think that should Spain not have dubbed programs (initially done under the Franco regime), Spaniards would at least have had basic English communication skills.
The influence of media on the language capabilities of a country is quite fascinating, don't you think!?
Although English is taught in Spanish schools, it is not uncommon to find it being taught by teachers who can't really speak English, but they know the grammar. On that note, it's interesting to think that should Spain not have dubbed programs (initially done under the Franco regime), Spaniards would at least have had basic English communication skills.
The influence of media on the language capabilities of a country is quite fascinating, don't you think!?
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Europe, Spain
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mike Jul 3rd 2008 8:38AM
yeah, It's true. spanish is my mother tongue but i live in New york, so I am used to listen to every program in english. when i went to spain 3 years ago, they were showing on tv "the fresh prince of bel air" (that show with will smith) and the translation was so freaking corny; it actually made the characters of the show sound really stupid. at that moment, I realize how lucky i am to listen tv in english.
Nick M. Feb 23rd 2009 4:14AM
"how perfectly American their accents are.
Isn't that an oxymoron?"
Indeed, an oxymoron. The yanks have been butchering the Queen's English for years. The American accent burns hole in my ears. I'm 20 years old living in Barcelona and my flatmates all talk with these horrendous American accents, and they are from Italy, Portugal and Spain! It kills me to think that our fine language is being destroyed by these stupid Americans. Time for some proper English I say.
Eva Apr 5th 2009 4:27PM
Listen man, I lived in London more than 2 years and I have not met anyone who could speak other language than English (the mother tongue). So, first before you critize anything look at you!!!! I learnt English and Spanish, perhaps you can do a minimum effort, be grounded, and dont rely on your monther tongue and use your brain and learn some foreign lanaguage too. Europe is composed from more countries than GB only!! Your comments are very stupid in my view.
Kiara Oct 24th 2009 11:48AM
First of all, when you travel to a foreign country YOU should be the one that adapts to it. Who do you think you are? You go to Spain and expect the WHOLE COUNTRY to adapt to you?
I could say that I find it embarrassing how I can't order a coffee in Spanish or Italian in London or Chicago. When my spanish family (including grandparents) travel to an English speaking country, they take a pocket dictionary with them and try their best to make themselves understood, not just march in there speaking spanish and expect the waiters and clerks to understand them.
And as to why Scandinavian countries watch movies and tv shows in the original language? It's because no-one outside their country speaks their language and dubbing movies would be an unnecessary waste of money in proportion to how much they would make out of them, unlike in Spain, where you dub a movie and then distribute it all over south and central America, and even some American states like California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas or New Mexico, where most DVD's come with a spanish language version, and you can even have some TV channels in Spanish.
Spanish people don't tend to learn a foreing language too well because 1. they can understand all of the other romance languages (to a greater or lesser degree) which are the languages spoken in the countries all around Spain, 2. there is about 425 million people that speak spanish (and 510 million english speakers). 3. There is far more countries that have spanish as their official language than english-speaking ones and 4. Why would you learn English if you're not planning on travelling to an english-speaking country? If you're travelling to France, you learn basic French, if you're travelling to Italy, you learn basic Italian, etc. And this is valid not only for Europe but also for Asian countries. I'm not saying learn chinese before you go on a two week vacation to China, but take a dictionary and take the time to learn how to say please and thank you and "where is...?" and hello and goodbye.
With this post the only thing you've achieved is to make yourself look like one of those dumb americans who travel the world demanding that everyone bend over backwards for them and get outraged when restaurants dont want to put ketchup on their pasta.
And to all of you out there - keep this in mind: when people in other countries speak english to you THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR because you're too lazy or stupid to learn how to say "I'll have the spaghetti bolognese please" in another language. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGED TO SPEAK ENGLISH TO YOU.
Alex Engel Dec 9th 2007 3:54PM
Wow. The "big cities" you might find someone that speaks English. And then you use Madrid as an example of where you won't.
Madrid is the CAPITAL and the BIGGEST city. That's an embarrassing error there.
Abha Dec 9th 2007 2:14PM
Reaper: I've traveled a lot around Western Europe and in most big cities they can speak English, although they may choose not to. In Madrid, they just can't!
Alex: In fact that was my point -- Madrid is an exception to those big cities where English language communication is not a problem. Being the capital and the biggest, it's quite surprising at how little English is spoken here.
Alex Engel Dec 9th 2007 3:56PM
It's unclear from how that's worded that that's what you meant.
Also, is it necessary for everyone to speak English? As far as I know, French tourists here don't expect most people to make an effort to speak French (or Spanish tourists for that matter).
David Lee Dec 9th 2007 9:29PM
Abha, when you're in Spain, you should be ordering that coffee in Spanish. It's not their obligation to speak to you in English.
Nick Hawkins Dec 9th 2007 10:44PM
Abha, stick to writing about travel and avoid commentary. You're not very good at it and only serve to make you look like a fool.
Leif Dec 10th 2007 7:50AM
In my experience, not only do the Spanish generally not bother to learn English (or French, Italian or Portuguese, languages you'd assume they'd encounter regularly), but they often get curt and flustered if YOU don't speak perfect Spanish. I've had the girl at the coffee shop pass me over and help someone else when I didn't use the proper term for an apple tart (In my decaffeinated haze I used the Italian word, which is what happens when you try to learn TOO MANY Latin languages).
Virtually everyone I met in Rome spoke passable English. I've been there five times.
Berliners, like most Germans under the age of 45, speak reasonable English. They often just don't feel like it.
The same used to be true for the French, but in the past few years I found this to be changing. Even in perennially rude capital Paris, people can often say enough to get through a transaction or at least are more patient when communications break down to pantomiming. They deserve more credit.
And guys, please, leave the petty name calling over at usenet. There's plenty of ways to disagree without resorting to schoolyard tactics.
Justin Glow Dec 10th 2007 11:35AM
I agree. Pretty much everywhere I've traveled -- big cities or not, east or west, finding decent English speakers is hardly a problem. I haven't been to Spain, though, so I can't comment on that.
Oddsocks Dec 10th 2007 11:49AM
"how perfectly American their accents are."
Isn't that an oxymoron?
Eva Dec 10th 2007 4:55PM
"It's embarrassing how here you can't even order a coffee in English at Starbucks!"
Embarassing for the Spanish-speaking employee, or embarassing for the tourist who can't even order a coffee in Spanish?
I did notice that almost no one seemed to speak much English in Spain, but I noticed the same thing in Italy. France I'm not sure about, I have the impression people don't speak as much English (or refuse to) but never really found out since I am fluent so no need to
ask.
I lived with kind of a mini-EU in the UK, and all my Western European friends, while they all spoke good English (obviously since they were studying in England), were in agreement that they resented the idea that English was a requirement, and felt that more people should make an effort to learn German/Spanish/French - which is true. (Although I
then asked them if they would learn Thai to go to Thailand.... or speak to Thais in English? It is a bit of a double-standard on Western Europeans' part... they just want people to learn THEIR languages.)
Anyway, my point is, I think there is a broader cultural attitude or tradition at work here beyond the dubbing/VO question. Not sure why the Scandinavians (and some Northern Europeans) don't fall in with it
as well... I guess it's an imperfect theory. Ah well.
DriverG Dec 12th 2007 9:09AM
While I disagree with the premise that Spain is any worse than much of continental Europe in this regard - especially compared to Italy - if it's true, it's not about the movies, it's about Franco. During his regime he oppressed pretty much everything that wasn't Castillian and, while he's been gone for 30 years now, it takes a while for the culture to readjust.
That said if you go to the Basque Country or Catalonia you'll find the youth speak English better than some kids in the USA. And they probably speak Castillian and either Basque or Catalan as well. This being a direct reaction to that period of oppression.
ABrady21 Dec 15th 2007 4:58PM
It's true that in Madrid it's very hard to communicate with anyone in English. I speak basic American school-taught Spanish (more Mexican/Central American Spanish). I was barely able to get by in Madrid because Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish are so different, but I had a great time having to learn what was going on around me in a different language.
It's true that we expect people to speak English when they visit America, then we expect people to speak English when we visit their countries. I see a double-standard here. I have been lucky that I had translators when I visited other countries, so my stays were much easier.
joel Dec 23rd 2007 10:01PM
I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE STOOD UP FOR THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE . WE HAVE COMPRMISED OURSELVES TO THE LIMIT OT ACCOMADATE THE FORIEGN NATIONLS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN SAY GOD BLESS YOU OR MERRY CHRISTMAS ANYMORE . HURRAY FOR THAT MAN TO ME HE IS AN AMERICAN HEROE AND NEEDS A MEDAL OR THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR STNDING UP FOR HIS COUNTRY!!!!!!
Jerry Grooms Dec 24th 2007 7:49AM
This is my first comment via computer to an article or issue. Some countries require immigrants to learn the national language to acquire citizenship, we don't even require illegal immigrants to learn our language and still offer them our welfare and medical. I am not opposed to citizens from other countries who wish to relocate to our country but I think they should go about it in the proper way. I think those who do enter legally are insulted when we offer considerations to the illegals.
Jim Dec 23rd 2007 7:33PM
Many people of the years have worked very hard to learn English.... They are proud to had done so. I am am proud for them. But I am tired of people wanting the easy way out of everything not just the english complaint. No other country bends over backwards to help people come into this country. You leave your countries for a better life. Then you want to change USA to be like what you left. If you dont like whats here stay where you were. Conform to this country and find out how good it is to belong. I support the man who says order in English. he worked for it good for him.
Elmo Dec 23rd 2007 8:21PM
The signs are offensive. In America, if you want to make the sale, you make it as easy as possible for the customer to make the purchase. Americans speak many languages and as such it is my privilege and yours to use whatever language you want. If I really want to make the purchase, I will use whatever language is necessary. In this particular instance where the restaurant requires the use of English, I would probably order in another language and make the point that they just lost a customer.
Diane Dec 23rd 2007 7:49PM
I loved the sign. Wish more people Would display it! If they live here they should learn the language. I used my charge card at the store the other day. The machine had two words, both in spanish. I ask the clerk, "Am I in Mexico?" I think alot of people are tired of ..............Press 1 for Spanish. It's time these people learn our language!!!!