The Spanish And English Cultures Worldwide
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.
Much of North America was colonized by the UK, laying the foundation for an English culture. The South and Central Americas were influenced by the Spanish who settled there. The most apparent difference is language. Spanish is one of the Romance Languages, and relies on gendered word forms, specific accents and unique sounds such as the trill. English is a Germanic language and is generally more basic than any of the romance languages. Loan words in English from Spanish are numerous, including, comrade, tornado, patio and cigar.
The social structure of Spanish cultures is closely tied to the family unit. This social structure includes nuclear and extended family. American and English cultures tend to be more progressive in their relationships from business to family. In America and the UK, the family unit has taken on new and more independent form with climbing divorce rates over the last 30 years
The food of Spanish cultures is often healthier than the traditional western diet. Spanish food tends to be based on the fresh and unprocessed ingredients. In Britain and America, foods tend to be heavier, with more carbohydrates and fats.
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.
