Can I get by using only Spanish in Oaxaca?
I speak ok Spanish. It was good enough on my first visit to Mexico DF once.
Oaxaca is known for linguistic diversity given the high percentage of indigenous population. But it's also a pretty touristy place from what I gather.
Are there any perception issues regarding Spanish and the indigenous population of which I should be aware? (tension/conflict with central government, cultural issues etc)
Beyond the daily use to buy food/accommodation/transportation I'd really like to be able to chat with locals.
Best Answer
Firstly, YES.
But for more details, do you mean just Oaxaca City or Oaxaca State generally?
In the city it's pretty hard to find people speaking indigenous languages, they seem to kind of "hide" it. If you keep your ears open you can hear local languages at second class bus stops, colectivo stops, local markets, etc.
It should be also possible to hear local languages by going to less visited villages especially in the Valles Centrales.
Last time I was in Mexico the government didn't really want foreigners there though this was less well known than in Chiapas.
So unless you're doing a homestay somewhere like Candelaria you're unlikely to even hear anything but Spanish, let alone need to speak.
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Do people from Oaxaca speak Spanish?
The principal language used in Oaxaca city and the region of Oaxaca is Mexican Spanish, however, the geographical topography throughout the Valles Centrales (Central Valleys) has lead to isolation between communities.How many people in Oaxaca speak an indigenous language?
Indigenous Languages of Oaxaca. With one million indigenous speakers, or 35 percen,t of the population speaking an indigenous language, Oaxaca is Mexico's "most indigenous state." How is Oaxaca the home to so many groups of native people? Because of its topography, explains Mexico expert John P. Schmal.Do they speak English in Puerto Escondido?
English is widely spoken in shops, restaurants and businesses in Puerto Vallarta. There is a very large selection of all-inclusive luxury hotels and hotels on the beach in Puerto Vallarta. In Puerto Escondido there's only one all-inclusive hotel and it's the 3-star Posada Real Puerto Escondido.Speaking ONLY Spanish for 24 hours in Mexico!
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