I know that for a fact. My best bud growing up was from Valencia, Spain. They DO NOT think of themselves as hispanics. Heck, their version of Spanish (Castilian) sounds more elegant.
When he visits me here in L.A., he has a low opinion of the mexican spanish calling it “third world gutter trash”.
When he visits me here in L.A., he has a low opinion of the mexican spanish calling it “third world gutter trash”.
Spanish is a beautiful language.
I have less trouble understanding someone from Peru or Chile than I do someone from Mexico or other parts of Central America. It might be due in part to education and social class. Many of the Mexicans and Central Americans are lower class and less educated and articulate. I have a great deal less trouble understanding a Mexican radio or TV announcer (though they do tend to talk rather fast).
The funny thing is that the native language in Valencia isnt Spanish-Castillian, but Valencian, which is a dialect of Catalan (though its probable that a Valencian would say Catalan is a dialect of Valencian. Its Spain. Thats how it goes).
The Valencians dont make as much of an issue out of it as the Catalans do, though. Over there Catalan is required in scools, signs and official everything is bilingual Spanish-Catalan. Rather like in Canada. Not so much in Valencia.
Catalan/Valencian are quite different from Spanish btw. Until you get very used to it they are not really mutually intelligible.
The biggest common differences between Spanish in Spain and Latin America generally is that the “colonial” language was filtered through Andalucia, as Sevilla was the principal port of access and point of governance to all the Americas. And Andalucian (yet another Spanish accent/dialect/language) itself can be quite peculiar.
Latin America has a common “television” dialect, which is what you hear from Telemundo, etc. Also most international media and entertainment.
I rather like the Mexican accent. The “educated” version is “easy listening” and pleasant.
Interview with Natalia Lafourcade (from Veracruz)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xciXjV_a06I