Accent fun

[Chip]

As a non native Spanish speaker I thoroughly enjoy speaking Spanish, especially with people from different countries. In spite of only speaking Spanish for 8 years, I have become fairly adept at recognizing accents. For example the accents most reconizable are the Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spanish, Central American more or less in that order. I have less sucess distinguishing between some Colombian, Venezuelan and Cuban accents. While some Cuban and Venezuelan accents are quite noticeable, others seem to virtually indistinguishable to me from Domincan Spanish at times. The Colombian accents confuse me because it sometimed appears they have no accent, however, knowing that, I have been successful at guessing their origin too.

Anyway, tonight I was playing Xbox on line and was talking with a fellow and to me it appeared he had a distinctive Mexican accent, so much so that when he told me he was from Spain I said I didn't belive him. It turns out he was from the NE of Spain in Valencia. After chatting with him for a while a distinctive half lisp was readily recognizable not to mention other characteristics I have noticed from Spanish speakers from Spain. This is the first time I have ever been wrong about guessing that a Speaker was from Mexico and was thoroughly surprised. I was wondering if others have noticed similarities in the Spanish spoken there with Mexican Spanish.

Also, on a side note, the fellow thought I was Mexican, haha. Guess he doesn't get around too much. He actually is 20 and is getting ready to join the Army as he said the economy is horrible and there are no jobs and food is very expensive, sounds like the DR, huh?