Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect
The Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect is notorious for being very fast spoken. I have known of Spanish speakers from other Latin countries to struggle with understanding the Spanish spoken in the Dominican Republic largely because it is spoken so quickly.
Elements are Shared with the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect is what is known as multi-layered language. The Dominicans share some common elements of their Spanish with the rest of the Caribbean while keeping their own distinctive features for themselves. There is a wide variety of regional accents in the Dominican Republic. Experts have stated that the accents primarily derived from the Andalusian Spanish.
African Influences on the Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect
There is an African influence in the Spanish used in the Dominican Republic which contributed some of its own recognizable characteristics. A few numbers of words can be traced back to African Languages.
The Tainos in the Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect
Many ranges of words reflect the Tainos’ beliefs and lifestyle. Numerous places in the Dominican Republic date back to times before Columbus such as the Cibao Valley, Bonao, Mao, Macoris and Nagua. The legacy of the native Taino Indians who originally inhabited the Hispaniola island but are now extinct has left their influence upon many words which the Dominicans speak.
Use of English in the Dominican Republic
English is somewhat spoken in the Dominican Republic but it not the most popular language. Spanish is the official language but getting by with English has never been much problem for me, as an English speaker. Trying to speak Spanish is appreciated by the Dominicans but since their dialect is so difficult even for the native speakers of Spanish, if they respond, you’re gonna end up having hard time trying to decipher what they’re saying. They are very understanding though and will acknowledge and assist with every attempt to speak their tongue by people who don’t speak Spanish natively.
English Influence on Foods
Names of some of the local foods are adapted from English names which are not always obvious in first hearing them. “Greifru” is grapefruit and “cachu” is ketchup for example. If you analyze these words carefully, the influence of English language in naming of these items is obvious.
Spanish Influence
The Spanish influence primarily came from the Canary and Galicia islands which are regions in Spain. The immigrants who came over from Spain to the Dominican Republic brought their languages with them. A number of words can be defined as archaic in Spain but are still being utilized in the Dominican Republic dialect.
The Dominican Republic Spanish Dialect Summary
When foreigners state particular words, not all Dominicans will be aware of the meaning. Your challenge should be to learn which words are strictly Dominican and which ones are not. You will also need to know that not any Spanish can be spoken in the Dominican Republic therefore, brush up on your history lesson and try to embark on a different type of Spanish which will enable you to converse with the Dominicans.
You will find in your exploration of the Spanish dialect spoken in the Dominican Republic that you will find yourself more enriched for having experienced this venture. When visiting any country one should always try to speak their language. This is a seen as polite in virtually any country. If you are seen trying to speak to the Dominicans in their native dialect, they will more than happy to help you along. Although strictly sticking with English will likely get you what you need, it shows a great deal of respect if you at least try to speak their own language, regardless of how much you think you are screwing up.
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