Today, I’d like to address the topic of español neutro, or neutral Spanish.

But first, let me ask you a question: Do you think there is such thing as Neutral Spanish? How would you define it?

In the world of film dubbing and television, the term neutral Spanish is commonly used to refer to a standardized form of the language aimed at reaching the widest audience possible. This variant of Spanish, characterized by its lack of regional accents or idiomatic expressions, has gained popularity through its use in dubbed movies and TV shows.

However, it’s essential to understand that the concept of neutral Spanish is more of a convenience for dubbing purposes than a linguistic reality. Language is inherently diverse and constantly evolving, shaped by cultural, historical, and regional influences. As such, the idea of a single, neutral form of Spanish overlooks the rich diversity within the Spanish-speaking world.

The Argentinian experience

Interestingly enough, attempts to dub movies into Rioplatense Spanish have encountered challenges. Despite efforts to adapt the dialogue and cultural references to better resonate with local audiences, these dubbed versions have sometimes faced criticism for -paradoxically- feeling unnatural for the Argentinian audience. It turns out that besides the accent being almost incompatible with body language, the Rioplatense accent is considered “the accent of Buenos Aires”, adding to the long dispute between Buenos Aires-Interior. This highlights the complexities involved in adapting content for specific linguistic and cultural contexts.

A YouTube teacher made an excellent series of videos showing this:

In my experience as a Spanish teacher, I’ve encountered students who express a desire to learn the language but specify that they are not particularly interested in learning Argentinian Spanish. In such cases, I do my best to remove the most regional features of my speech, but still, I don’t think that can be considered neutral, but rather a hybrid.

That’s why my recommendation is that you choose an accent you like, and go down that road and see where it takes you. It will also narrow all the resources choices out there. And always be aware of what Spanish accent you expose yourself to.

Happy Spanish learning,

You might also want to read these articles:

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• Estar chocho/a
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