Why is the Spanish used in the Dominican press so much...

[Chip]

... different than the spoken Spanish and even different than other countries?

I have long found the Spanish used in the Dominican press to be somewhat difficult; mostly usage of vocubulary not present in use in everyday Spanish. However, recently, I have started to realize that few if any people even talk like this here. Furthermore, from comparison to other LA Spanish news sources the Dominican "style" really stands out as somewhat odd in this respect. Is this just an idiosyncracy maybe due to a desire to appear really educated or because of a type of literary tradition here in the DR?

[donP]

Originally Posted by Chip

... different than the spoken Spanish and even different than other countries?

The average Dominican has a very limited vocabulary ('¿Como se llama ese vaina?'), pronuncation is sloppy and people do not make an effort to speak proper Spanish when communicating with foreigners.

The 'Spanish' used in local newspapers ist often not only difficult but simply wrong. Words are misspelled, used in false connotations and grammar is lousy.
Those journalists most likely get their jobs like anyone else here in certain positions...

[Chip]

I know this topic concerning the Dominican press had been somewhat discussed before but it is hard to believe that they can be so consistently lacking in quality. I was wondering if there maybe was some literary tradition that Dominicans had for using archaic or obscure terms. I suppose it is just an effort to appear more educated than they really are. This is kind of disappointing to say the least.

[El_Uruguayo]

The thing is chip, you only hang out with barrio chopos at colmados. You have never been to the REAL DR where people speak in the language of Cervantes
Through your presidente coloured glasses you see this as trivial superfluous pompousness, but that's because you haven't seen the REAL DR through Grey-goose clear lenses that only the most sophisticated and cultured segments of the population have the priviledge. If you knew anything about the REAL DR, you wouldn't be asking these questions as to why, how to put it simply, ALL THE BIG WORD THINGIES?? You'd know that usage of "All the big word thingies" denotes elite heritage, pure blood-line, and ownership of a late model Jipeta! As a chopo loving gringo like you may never come to understand the true essence of REAL DR spanish - but you can still dream! A gringo like you could only be so lucky! Keep reading the news paper, maybe some day you'll get there!

God have mercy on your soul!!




*disclaimer: I just felt like going into some long winded diatribe - no offense intended *

[Chip]

Originally Posted by El_Uruguayo

The thing is chip, you only hang out with barrio chopos at colmados. You have never been to the REAL DR where people speak in the language of Cervantes
Through your presidente coloured glasses you see this as trivial superfluous pompousness, but that's because you haven't seen the REAL DR through Grey-goose clear lenses that only the most sophisticated and cultured segments of the population have the priviledge. If you knew anything about the REAL DR, you wouldn't be asking these questions as to why, how to put it simply, ALL THE BIG WORD THINGIES?? You'd know that usage of "All the big word thingies" denotes elite heritage, pure blood-line, and ownership of a late model Jipeta! As a chopo loving gringo like you may never come to understand the true essence of REAL DR spanish - but you can still dream! A gringo like you could only be so lucky! Keep reading the news paper, maybe some day you'll get there!

God have mercy on your soul!!




*disclaimer: I just felt like going into some long winded diatribe - no offense intended *

Things pariguayo (no offense intended, jeje), I mean uruguayo, but you have me confused with someone in Sosua.

All fun aside, if you actually read some of my earlier posts you would see I'm not a tourist but live in Santiago and actually hang out with other professionals like myself at the local golf course and Gold's gym. Thanks for the constructive criticism though!

[El_Uruguayo]

Sorry, any gold's gym member is fine in my book hehe, I'm just having some fun.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by El_Uruguayo

Sorry, any gold's gym member is fine in my book hehe, I'm just having some fun.

Glad you are having fun, however, it would be great if you could offer an honest opinion.

[Vacara]

Originally Posted by Chip

I know this topic concerning the Dominican press had been somewhat discussed before but it is hard to believe that they can be so consistently lacking in quality. I was wondering if there maybe was some literary tradition that Dominicans had for using archaic or obscure terms. I suppose it is just an effort to appear more educated than they really are. This is kind of disappointing to say the least.

Chipxtremesism?

This guy go from one day asking for help on how to improve his Spanish to next day criticizing people who are light years ahead of him in the use of the language. What is next Chips?, bashing the "Mañoso" author of "La Mañosa", laureated around the world and to whom Gabriel Garcia Marquez refer as "Maestro"?, do you know who he is?

To answer your question go to Long Island suburbs or any inner part of New York city with a copy of the New York Times and start asking question about the meaning of weird sounding words to passerby, you'll be surprised.

In 1997 reading the sports section of the NYT I read the following ; ".......the uncanny shooting abilities of Cedric Ceballos", I started asking "what does uncanny mean", nobody could tell. we were inside a law firm office in the middle of Time Square, full of lawyers and legal aids. They needed a "mataburro" to tell me the meaning, embarrassing right?.

Chips don't let your contempt for Dominican society and culture cloud your judgment and make you look like a fool time and time again, Dominicans were there long before you showed up a the door.........and will be there long after you pay your dues in the purgatory.

In another thread I saw you bashing Dominicans as people who only dream of marrying a foreigner to flee the country, but your wife is Dominican isn't she Chips?, and if not, lot of posters here are ex pat with Dominican wives and you don't want to hurt "sensibilidades" right Chips?.

Sorry to break this one to you Chips, but you are an immigrant, and nothing set you apart from Dominican immigrants who sail to other countries just like you looking to achieve whatever they couldn't in DR.

Stop being Pedro's clown,......................I mean clone.

[El_Uruguayo]

I basically agree with the reasons given above. In an attempt to distance oneself from the "unpolished" spanish which is prevalent in the DR, the writers will use an exagerated amount of big words. It's an overcompensation, which at times has them using words in the wrong context and/or using words that do not correctly convey the meaning of what they are trying to say.

Maybe many of these journalists have a penchant for Borges (which is probable, given he is great writer), and would like to show their "word power". If you haven't read Borges, I suggest you do, and make sure to keep a dictionary beside you - you'll know what I mean. If you want to see usage of archaic and odd words, try Borges, Cervantes is good too. There is something to be said about vocabulary, using the correct words to convey the most accurate meaning/sentiment - oversimplification takes away accuracy, as does overcomplication - it's all about balance. However, in today's world, at least according to my father and some of my other elders, there seems to be a limition on vocabulary - things are oversimplified, several words have dropped out of the collective vocubulary, hell, even common words are being replaced by acronyms LOL. So while I agree that while inappropriate usage of certain words may take away from the true meaning of what is trying to be conveyed, it is admirable that at least people are trying to use some unfamiliar words - especially in a place where it seems as though language, in all its aspects (spelling, grammer, vocabulary - i.e LITERACY), is not given tremendous importance.

[À bientôt]

Originally Posted by Vacara

Chipxtremesism?

.

I think you meant Chipextrememism.

Good post from El Uruguayo, too.

Hey, El Chip-Oh! I think your level of proficiency in Spanish is very good. Would you please post a link to a recent newspaper article? I'd like to see what is the dealio.