Spanish voice overs: what you need to know

Castilian Spanish, or Castellano, is a European Spanish language variety that’s spoken in Central and Northern Spain. Part of the Romance language group, this Spanish variety is the basis for modern standardized Spanish.

The term ‘Castilian Spanish’ can refer to two language varieties. English speakers tend to use this term to refer to the dialects spoken in Central and Northern Spain. However, in Spanish, ‘Castellano’ is used to describe the European Spanish language in general — in contrast to Latin American Spanish.

Historically, Castilian Spanish was spoken across the northern coast of Spain, as well as in Aragon, Tajo, and Júcar valleys. It’s unclear how many people speak Castilian Spanish. As it is the basis of the modern language, the majority of Spanish speakers can speak and understand it.

Language History

Castilian rose as a dominant Spanish variety in the 11th century from the Medieval Castilian language variety. Castilian, then the official language of the Kingdom of Castille, spread to the neighboring territories after the capture of Toledo city.

Toledo became the cultural and administrative center of the kingdom. That’s where the majority of the new documents were released not in Latin, but in the new written variety — Castilian. It didn’t take long for the language to develop further. The written Castilian Spanish standard was developed in the 12th century and the language standardization process began in the 13th century.

Castilian as a modern Spanish variant appeared in the 16th century and was standardized by the Royal Spanish Academy in 1713.

Castilian Spanish vs Other Spanish Varieties

Castilian Spanish has sometimes been called “the purest form of Spanish”. While linguists question this statement, the uniqueness of Castilian Spanish is very apparent.

One of the main differences between Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish varieties is the use of the informal ‘vosotros’. Castilian Spanish uses both the informal ‘vosotros’ and the formal ‘ustedes’, while Latin American Spanish varieties tend to only use ‘ustedes’.

Another very distinct feature of Castilian Spanish is the pronunciation of ‘c’ and ‘z’ as ‘th’ (for example, in the word gracias). In Latin American varieties, such as Mexican or Peruvian Spanish, the ‘c’ and ‘z’ sounds are pronounced as ‘s’. In Castilian Spanish, however, the ‘th’ pronunciation is preferred.

Castilian vocabulary also differs from other Spanish varieties. Compared to Mexican, Columbian, or Chilean Spanish varieties, Castilian vocabulary retained more words from Vulgar Latin, while the American Spanish variants adopted terms from local indigenous languages.

Accents and Voice Over Tips

Castilian Spanish is a dialect that’s spoken in Northern and Southern Spain and doesn’t have notable regional varieties. However, since it’s spoken across a rather wide territory, there are some negligible regional differences.

When recording a Castilian Spanish voice over, one of the main goals is to retain its uniqueness and not confuse it with other Spanish varieties. So when recording, keep in mind the previously mentioned ‘th’ sound that’s pronounced instead of ‘s’ and ‘z’.

Castilian Spanish is full of region-specific idioms and slang that add diversity and figurativeness to the spoken language. Don’t be afraid to use them. However, make sure to know your target audience — slang might not be the best idea if you’re recording something official!

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