Phonology of Mexican and Castlilian Spanish

Spanish has many dialects. Two well-known varieties are Mexican and Castilian. Let us explore the phonological differences between them.

Castilian Spanish has an apicodental voiceless fricative. Mexican Spanish, however, does not. The apicodental fricative is produced with the tongue tip. The Mexican Spanish fricative is produced with the tongue blade. In the word casa (house), Castilian Spanish uses an apicodental fricative, but Mexican Spanish uses a voiceless dental fricative.

In the word yate (yacht), Castilian Spanish uses a palatal approximant. The palatal approximant is also used in Mexican Spanish, but many speakers use a voiced alveopalatal affricate. The voiced alveopalatal affricate is not used in Castilian Spanish.

The velar fricative in joya (jewel) has a more dorsal pronunciation in Castilian Spanish. Many linguists classify it as post-velar or even uvular. The uvular pronunciation only occurs before back vowels.

In the word centro (centre), Castilian Spanish has a voiceless interdental fricative. In Mexican Spanish, the word begins with a voiceless dental fricative. The voiceless interdental fricative is not used in Mexican Spanish.

Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish have different phonology. The voiceless interdental fricative, the post-velar fricative and the apicodental voiceless fricative are not used in Mexican Spanish. On the other hand, the voiced alveolpalatal affricate and the voiceless dental fricative are not used in Castilian Spanish. The phonological differences serve to distinguish the two varieties of Spanish.