Spaniards' African roots may show in how loudly they speak
Do Spaniards speak loudly because of African roots? The debate over voice volume in Spain pits genetic theories against cultural and civic explanations.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Why do Spaniards speak so loudly? The controversy over the 'African root'
A traveler in Mexico City notices the silence on the streets, broken only by Spanish voices in the distance. From that anecdote a theory is born: the high volume of Spaniards would have an African root. But the genetic data some people cite clashes with other explanations: Mediterranean tradition, lack of civic-mindedness, or simply poor urban acoustics.
The noise pollution data
Spain ranks in the EU's top 3 for noise pollution, according to comparative analyses. However, the top spot worldwide belongs to Japan, a country with no African heritage. The type of noise, though, is different: train alerts and announcements versus shouting from sidewalk cafés and dogs at dawn.
Genetics or culture?
Those who defend the African thesis point to the historical mixing in the Mediterranean: southern Italians and Greeks also have North African admixture. The problem is that northern Italians, Brits in pubs, or Israeli tourists are no slouches in volume either. The association between genes and loud voices is circular: a cultural trait is taken and given an ethnic origin with no evidence beyond geographic correlation.
The role of architecture and civility
Another school of thought points to more prosaic factors: thin drywall partitions, a tradition of outdoor café terraces open until late, and a culture that normalizes household noise. Dogs barking at 7 in the morning and neighbors' music did not wait for the arrival of immigrants to exist.
The open question is whether the volume of the Spanish voice is inheritance or habit. What the debate has made clear is that, to explain it, you have to look beyond skin tonalidad.
Related discussions in the forum
A traveler in Mexico City notices the silence on the streets, broken only by Spanish voices in the distance. From that anecdote a theory is born: the high volume of Spaniards would have an African root. But the genetic data some people cite clashes with other explanations: Mediterranean tradition, lack of civic-mindedness, or simply poor urban acoustics.
The noise pollution data
Spain ranks in the EU's top 3 for noise pollution, according to comparative analyses. However, the top spot worldwide belongs to Japan, a country with no African heritage. The type of noise, though, is different: train alerts and announcements versus shouting from sidewalk cafés and dogs at dawn.
Genetics or culture?
Those who defend the African thesis point to the historical mixing in the Mediterranean: southern Italians and Greeks also have North African admixture. The problem is that northern Italians, Brits in pubs, or Israeli tourists are no slouches in volume either. The association between genes and loud voices is circular: a cultural trait is taken and given an ethnic origin with no evidence beyond geographic correlation.
The role of architecture and civility
Another school of thought points to more prosaic factors: thin drywall partitions, a tradition of outdoor café terraces open until late, and a culture that normalizes household noise. Dogs barking at 7 in the morning and neighbors' music did not wait for the arrival of immigrants to exist.
The open question is whether the volume of the Spanish voice is inheritance or habit. What the debate has made clear is that, to explain it, you have to look beyond skin tonalidad.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (56 replies).
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