Spanish is becoming more common throughout the world. In this respect, it is second only to the Chinese. There is a large list of Hispanic countries that are scattered around the world. Among them are Spain itself, many states of Latin America and even Africa. Each of them has its own language features and dialects. Probably not everyone knows that Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country.
Some statistics
Spanish in Mexico is considered native to 125 million people, although more than 439 million speak it all over the world. In addition, it is the local dialect that is recognized as the most popular version of this language. This can be explained as follows: Mexicans account for approximately 29% of the total number of Hispanic people worldwide. Thus, Mexico can rightfully be called the most Spanish-speaking country in the world.
The local dialect is well understood both in Spain itself and throughout Central and South America. It is interesting that in the Latin regions of Los Angeles there are many bars and cafes in which the staff does not speak English at all, and dollars for beer are taken very reluctantly, preferring pesos. Note that such establishments are very popular there.
Official and not only
In some areas of this Hispanic country, Indian languages are still spoken. For example, in the southern part of Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca, a dialect of ancient zapotecs is widespread. But in the city of Taxco and not far from it, the Indians communicate in the language that the ancient Aztecs spoke. It is called Nahuatl. As for modern Spanish, official in Mexico, here we can mention the presence in it of a large number of words that the locals borrowed from their ancestors - the ancient Indians.
The same goes for English. The neighborhood with the United States could not but affect the speech of the inhabitants of Mexico. Every year, a large number of American tourists come to this Hispanic country. In addition, there are close economic ties between the two states. Of course, such a close neighborhood left its mark in the vocabulary of the Mexicans. There are many Anglicisms in it, which you will not find in dictionaries, but which prevail in the speech of the inhabitants of this largest Spanish-speaking country.
Where else do you speak Spanish?
There are a lot of Hispanic countries. Most people who speak this language live in Latin America. The inhabitants of Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic communicate on it. Spanish is also native to:
- Chileans
- Colombians
- Ecuadorians
- Salvadorans;
- Peruvians;
- Uruguayans
- residents of Venezuela, Guatemala.
Other countries with official Spanish include Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Paraguay.
Although this language is not recognized as official in the former British colony of Belize, a census conducted in 2000 nevertheless indicates that more than 52% of the local population speak Spanish very well.
Even in Africa there is a country where they communicate completely freely. It's about Guinea. Spanish is used here along with French, which is official. According to experts, approximately 89% of Guineans speak Spanish in everyday life.
Local tribal languages, including fang, bubi and aranez, made their adjustments to spoken language, as a result of which Spanish here resembles a kind of cocktail. In general, the pronunciation and grammatical constructions of equatorial Spanish are more similar to the Castilian dialect than to the Latin American one.