Nicaragua – Spanish Language and Culture
Population: 5.7 million (2009)
Capital: Managua
Area: 120,254 km² (46,430 sq miles)
Currency: Córdoba (NIO)
National Holiday: 15th of September
Calling Code: + 505
Time Zone: GMT – 6
GDP: Total – US$ 6.246 billion (2010)
Per Capita – US$ 966
The Spanish Language in Nicaragua
Aside from influence from various native languages (especially Nahuatl), Nicaragua was also populated by communities of African descent that strongly influenced the development of the language. Nicaraguan Spanish holds many similarities with the Spanish spoken in neighboring Honduras and El Salvador. Pronunciation of consonants is soft and some characteristics involve changing or shortening of certain vowels. For example,the word “peor“ (worst) is pronounced as “pior”.
Special words and expressions
- ¡estoy tan languido! – I am so hungry!
- esas dos chicas estan profis mejores – those two girls are best friends
- los vimos afincando – we saw them kissing
- busca un bosque y pierdete / borate – equivalent of ‘get lost’ / ‘drop dead’
- estoy achantado – I am disappointed
- soltá prende / abrite – tell me/us. expressions used when you want somebody to tell you something
- me duele la jupa – my head hurts
- arpení – brother (hermano)
- va pues – good-bye, see you
- billuyo/luz – money
- bucanal/bache – a party
- pulpería – corner store
- chavalo / sipote/ chigüín – kid, child
- ¡que chafa! – what a lie!
- me gustan tus llantas – I like your shoes
Articles about Nicaragua
-
Intermediate level
- Otto de la Rocha: ícono de la radiodifusión nicaragüense
- Emprendimiento “nica” para madres solteras
- Las mujeres de Chureca Chic
-
Advanced level
- “Cinco y le marco”: un trabajo peculiar
Other languages spoken
- The main indigenous language spoken in Nicaragua is Mískito and its related dialects, with 154,000 speakers
- Nicaragua Creole English – is spoken by close to 30,000 people on the eastern coast of Nicaragua. These Nicaraguans, often of African descent, generally speak Creole as a first language and Spanish fluently as a second language.
- Nicaraguan Sign Language – this language is of great interest to linguists as it was developed by deaf and dumb kids in their own environment in schools. It is considered one of the newest languages to be born and completely unrelated to any other language. It is ‘spoken’ by 3,000 people.
- Out of the immigration groups that have maintained usage of their languages there are the Chinese (with 7,000 speakers ) and Arabs (400 speakers)
Spanish dialects and variations
- There are many differences in the Spanish spoken from town to town and across region to region.
- Nicaragua is considered the center of the use of ‘voseo’. ‘Usted’ can also be used depending on the circumstance but the use of ‘tú’ is rare.
- Before the 19th century, the Spanish spoken in Nicaragua was partially Nahuatl (a branch of Aztecan languages) and its influence still remains in the vocabulary and syntax of their Spanish today.
Geography and Climate
Nicaragua is a tropical country that has only two seasons: dry season, and rainy season. The north has a more mountainous terrain and it is generally cooler than the flatter southern region. Over the ages Nicaragua has been struck by natural disasters, notably earthquakes and hurricanes.
Destinations in Nicaragua
Lago de Nicaragua
- Cities, Towns and Folklore – Managua ,Granada, Leon, Masaya (Colonial architecture, art, music, gastronomy, UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
- Caribbean – Corn Islands, Pearl Lagoon, Bluefields, Puerto Cabezas (snorkeling, beach)
- Pacific Coast – San Juan del Sur, Montelimar (surfing, swimming, snorkeling)
- Nature and reserves –Rio San Juan, Bosawás Biosphere Reserve, Indio Maíz Biological Reserve, Chocoyero-El Brujo Natural Reserve, Jinotega… (wildlife, rainforests, hiking, adventure travel)
- Lakes and Volcanoes – Lake Nicaragua,Masaya Volcano, Momotombo, Ometepe, Zapatera Island, Cerro Negro (hiking, climbing, swimming, kayaking…)
History & Politics
Nicaragua was named after a local indigenous chief Nicarao. After having been incorporated into the Mexican Empire and the United Provinces of Central America, the country was officially declared independent in 1838. During the first half of the 19th century the coast of Nicaragua was under British influence. After deposing the dictator Zelaya, the US established military presence in Nicaragua causing guerrilla revolts led by Augusto Sandino. Sandino’s death in 1934 marked the beginning of the Somoza dynasty that lasted until 1979. The following years were marked by civil war between the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the opposition often backed by the US, causing the flight of over one million people from the country.
¿Sabías qué….? Nicaragua became the first country in the Americas and in Latin American to democratically elect a female president when they elected Violeta Chamorro in 1990.
Famous People
- Rubén Darío (poet)
- Ernesto Cardenal (priest, liberation theologians)
- Alexis Argüello (boxer)
- Gioconda Belli (novelist, poet)
- Sergio Ramirez Mercado (writer)
- Carlos Mejia Godoy (musician, composer)
- Steven López (taekwondo olympic gold-medalist)
- DJ Craze (DJ)
- Duo Guardabarranco (musicians)
- Arlen Siu (early martyr of the Sandinista revolution)
- Bianca Jagger (Political Activist, Mick Jagger’s wife)
- Vicente de la Cruz Padilla (baseball player)
Media
The media in Nicaragua has historically been closely tied to politics, with there being few opposing views represented. However, in the past decade freedom of the press has been expanding. Low literacy rates in the country make radio and television the main sources of news for the majority of Nicaraguans.
El Nuevo Diario – www.elnuevodiario.com.ni
La Prensa – www.laprensa.com.ni