I posted this in another thread and am hoping to get some insight. I would like to be able to communicate better with the people in Bonaire and was told by a local that Spanish would be best. Now my question is...do I refresh my Latin America Spanish I learned in high school (40 yrs. ago) or learn Spanish? I can get a hold of Rosetta Stone Spanish but wonder if it would be easier going back to the Latin America version. What would be most appropriate in Bonaire.

Thank

I would suggest Latin American Spanish. I'm sure Old World Spanish would get you by just fine, but if you have a choice, New World Spanish would be more appropriate.

I use it on Bonaire and it works well. In fact, I usually get a better response when using New World Spanish than when using English.

Of course, some of my Mexican terms make the South Americans laugh, but then my Texas English makes English-speakers laugh, too. As long as both produce laughs and grins, the process is a success.

Hope this helps.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

Try getting the little blue book, "Getting Around the ABC Islands in Papiamentu". I start reading it on the plane and then attempt to communicate at dinner, the grocery, etc. It's fun!!

Always nice to walk along the waterfront and say "nochi dushi" to the women sitting outside playing cards.

that would be "dushi nochi" Spanish is pretty widely understood, but Papiamentu is easier to learn.

Spanish is a very useful language around here, as many of the Papiamentu speakers will understand you if you speak Spanish & there is a very large Spanish speaking community here.
Indeed the venezuelan Institute for Culture and Co-operation gives free classes & they are very good, taught in English. if you want to find out when a new class is starting, speak to Rafael.
they are opposiste Cactus Blue (handy for a quick beer during a break!) telephone 717 5275. email rafajosefernandez@hotmail.com.
it is definitely the Latin American Spanish you need here, which you can also get on Rosetta. If you are here maybe somebody can give you a copy!

Mike

"Nochi dushi" sounds much better when greeting a lady.

Same as when buying a loaf of bread - Mi por hanja un pan~dushi -

As a Spanish teacher, I must weigh in here...Spanish is Spanish, with some local and colloquial differences. You only get into the big differences betw Latin American, South American, Mexican, Caribbean, and peninsular Spanish as you get much more advanced. Think of the English you speak, versus understanding English if you went to London, or Galway, or Edinburgh. Are there differences? Sure! But we understand each other. Same with Spanish. Verb tenses are verb tenses, and that's mostly what you need to communicate, the nouns, names of food, flowers, slang are window dressing. If you know some Spanish, Papiamentu is really easy to learn! If on-island, I also recommend the Venezuelan Institute. Buena suerte!

as a long time resident .. i really vote for you to make an effort with Papiamentu .. it is THE language of this country .. not Spanish .. most of us can speak 4 languages .. but to respect this little country .. Papiamentu is the way to go .. it is our culture .. our special language .. and not at all difficult to learn ...

there is a cd rom available .. eurotalk interactive to learn papaimentu .. it is excellent..

I went back and re-read the OP, and if your intent is to bond with Bonaireans, go for the Papiamentu. It is their language and culture. And easy to learn! (Spanish is fun, too!!)

yes .. i agree .. please stay with our culture .. many many concerns that our culture will be smothered in the changeover ... we have 72 registered nationalities here .. dutch and papiamentu are bonaires major and legal languages .. you will find almost everything -- newspapers-radio-street talk in these 2 languages .. English and Spanish are considered third/ fourth languages and spoken as a courtesy--

I took class with Rafael..he is amazing...Maggie did too..we had a blast..learned a lot.

I have no problem trying to learn Papaimentu and that was my first thought, so if I could find a CD or something similar to rosetta stone I am all for that. The area I live has a high Hispanic influence and thought that would help in both areas.

Thanks.