Tierra del fuego - Patagonia
languages and popular images
Because Spain, and most of Hispano-American countries are located in hot or temperate zones of the earth. Spain is an arid mediterranean country, Mexico is full of deserts and jungles in the south, Central America and the Carribean are totally tropical, the American southwest is hot desert territory, and large tracts of Spanish South America are near the equator, "ECUADOR", etc. There are exceptions like northern Spain, and the Andes region, but by and large, Spanish speaking lands are usually warm climates. That is why people tend to associate such lands with the language in their mind.
That's right. And as for the Tierra de Fuego, think about how many people live there as compared to how many people live on a stereotype hispanophone landscape.
In most cases, Tierra del Fuego will not compare.
In most cases, Tierra del Fuego will not compare.
Yes, but what is often true is that a lot of people assume that Spain is a hot country, due to the association with the spanish language.
The mediterranean climate (wich is arid only in the Almeria region - out of there mediterranean autumns and winters are quite wet) in Spain is limited to the regions of the east coasts and Andalucia. Extremadura and Castilla-la-Mancha have mediterranean influence but with harder climatic conditions (curiously the majority of the mediterranean regions of Spain are Catalan speaking, not castillian (and Andalucian Castillian in Andalucia). The central meseta, where is situated Madrid, has a very hard climate - very hot in summer and very cold in winter. The oceanic climate of north-west Spain is more similar to Irish climate than to mediterranean one.
A lot of people are often surprised to discover how cold is Madrid in winter (one of the biggest spanish-speaking cities), because it is not in adequation with what most people expect from a spanish-speaking country, even if Spain was the first spanish speaking country, it seems that the hispanic stereotype of today in popular imaginary is based mainly upon countries such as Cuba, Mexico or Puerto Rico.
The mediterranean climate (wich is arid only in the Almeria region - out of there mediterranean autumns and winters are quite wet) in Spain is limited to the regions of the east coasts and Andalucia. Extremadura and Castilla-la-Mancha have mediterranean influence but with harder climatic conditions (curiously the majority of the mediterranean regions of Spain are Catalan speaking, not castillian (and Andalucian Castillian in Andalucia). The central meseta, where is situated Madrid, has a very hard climate - very hot in summer and very cold in winter. The oceanic climate of north-west Spain is more similar to Irish climate than to mediterranean one.
A lot of people are often surprised to discover how cold is Madrid in winter (one of the biggest spanish-speaking cities), because it is not in adequation with what most people expect from a spanish-speaking country, even if Spain was the first spanish speaking country, it seems that the hispanic stereotype of today in popular imaginary is based mainly upon countries such as Cuba, Mexico or Puerto Rico.
Well, all countries, unless they are very small, will vary in climate and terrain. English is spoken in places that range from tropical to desert to polar. French is spoken in temperate Europe, hot Africa, and on various tropical islands. Tokyo swelters in the summer, while northern Hokkaido is bitterly cold. And so on and so forth.
Portuguese - muddy streets of Lisbon
Spanish - Barcelona architecture
French - Blue lagoon in Marquese's islands
English - Toronto skyline
German - Frankturt airport
Dutch - little Venice
Italian - great Venice
Spanish - Barcelona architecture
French - Blue lagoon in Marquese's islands
English - Toronto skyline
German - Frankturt airport
Dutch - little Venice
Italian - great Venice
When people think of Italy or the Italian language, they have images of Naples and the Southern part of Italy. What most people don't know is that Italy is a very diverse country with many differing dialects. The popular image of the spaghetti eating Neapolitan, created by Hollywood , is very inaccurate.
" The popular image of the spaghetti eating Neapolitan, created by Hollywood , is very inaccurate "
Well, it is more or less acurate as a caricature of southern Italy of the begining of the 20th century. It is completly inacurate for all Italy.
It is forgetting that Italy is the 5th world economy, with northern industrial regions as being the most populated and one of the "4 leading economic regions of Europe".
Italian language is the Tuscan language, very different from napolitan language.
Well, it is more or less acurate as a caricature of southern Italy of the begining of the 20th century. It is completly inacurate for all Italy.
It is forgetting that Italy is the 5th world economy, with northern industrial regions as being the most populated and one of the "4 leading economic regions of Europe".
Italian language is the Tuscan language, very different from napolitan language.
K.bon Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:04 pm GMT
««Portuguese - muddy streets of Lisbon »»
It is nice to exercise your imagination. But "muddy streets of Lisbon" you must be talking about the town of Lisbon in east central Connecticut.
««Portuguese - muddy streets of Lisbon »»
It is nice to exercise your imagination. But "muddy streets of Lisbon" you must be talking about the town of Lisbon in east central Connecticut.
These "popular images" are stereotypes - generalizations. They are all necessarily inaccurate when you consider how diverse any population is - especially populations that just happen to speak the same language. I find it funny that anyone could feel righteous enough to challenge one and tell us how stereotypical it is, but not others.
Well, to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, we all know they are stereotypes, yes? And that Italy, as apam says, is much more diverse than that? If I had to give you a stereotypical view of Italy based on my experiences, it'd be much different as I've travelled mostly in northern and central Italy. apam, have you been to Italy?
Most of the stereotypes about Italy and Italians (propagated by Hollywood and Madison Avenue) are cruel, bigoted and ignorant. The mainstream American media seem to have a love-hate relationship with Italy and Italians. On one hand, Italy and Italians are portrayed as sophisticated, well dressed people who are genius designers. On the other hand, they are portrayed as unsophisticated, childish, immature, or made members of the mob.
<<The popular image of the spaghetti eating Neapolitan, created by Hollywood , is very inaccurate>>
Really everything created by Hollywood or any others movie makers, are completely inaccurate. It's seems it's their goal more than their work.
Really everything created by Hollywood or any others movie makers, are completely inaccurate. It's seems it's their goal more than their work.
<<Really everything created by Hollywood or any others movie makers, are completely inaccurate. It's seems it's their goal more than their work.>>
Very good observation.
Most stereotypes about things are cruel, bigoted and ignorant. There are many horrid stereotypes of blacks, Americans, French, Germans, asians, Jews etc. While I would defend the Italians too, let's not forget how unfair the world really is to everyone.
apam, what part(s) of Italy?
Very good observation.
Most stereotypes about things are cruel, bigoted and ignorant. There are many horrid stereotypes of blacks, Americans, French, Germans, asians, Jews etc. While I would defend the Italians too, let's not forget how unfair the world really is to everyone.
apam, what part(s) of Italy?