Getting To Know Spanish And English Cultures At Home And Abroad
Spanish and English cultures are two of the most prevalent in the world. The two exist side by side and often operate in unison. Looking at a few similarities and differences can be a great way to understand our neighbors.
In Spain itself, the Spanish language is also called Castellano. Spanish is spoken by three quarters of the population in Spain, much of north America, all of central and south America, and other regions of Europe. Obvious differences exist between Spanish and English. While both are Latin based, Spanish is a romance language while English is Germanic. Pervasive in business and entertainment, the English language has become a conventional language around the world. Cigar, guerrilla, comrade, patio and tornado are all examples of Spanish loan words used in English and evidence of the commingling between cultures.
In Spanish cultures, the family plays a central role in both social and business life. In the western world, family has been a historical staple of personal life, but businesses are more often seen as individual ventures. The UK and America have seen a dramatic rise in divorce rates over the last 30 years, resulting in less tightly knit family units.
The contrast in diet can be stark. America is the birthplace of notoriously unhealthy fast food, and the UK is known for fish and chips. By contrast, Spain and the Latin Americas have stuck more to an unprocessed diet, with many fresh natural ingredients in recipes like gazpacho or tacos.
English cultures tend to favor sedentary activities such as television, video games or spectator sports. Spanish and Latin cultures generally promote outdoor physical activities like soccer or playground games. This often leads to healthier lifestyles in Spanish cultures. This May be attributed to the inclement weather in much of the UK and US compared to the very warm areas that Spanish and Latin cultures inhabit. In the UK, a benefit of this is immediate access to theatre, art and other cultural heritage.
Spanish and English cultures are prevalent in much of the world and contact with either highly likely. Learning about either is a great way to expand a world view and find new ways to interact with your neighbors.
Spanish and English cultures are different but have very close relations. Differences and similarities exist between these cultures that can be of immense interest personally and professionally. Check out our comparison information guide.
