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Narcos is a popular crime drama series that follows the story of the rise and fall of the Medellin drug cartel in Colombia in the 1980s and 1990s. The show has been praised for its gripping storyline, well-rounded characters, and accurate portrayal of the drug trade in South America. However, one aspect of the show that has garnered criticism is its use of language. Many viewers have noted that the show’s English-language dialogue often includes Spanish words and phrases, which they believe is an unrealistic portrayal of the way people in Colombia actually speak. In this post, we will explore the use of British English in Narcos and examine how it affects the show’s authenticity.
First, it’s important to understand that Narcos is primarily an English-language production, which means that most of the dialogue is in English. However, the show’s creators made a conscious decision to include Spanish words and phrases in the dialogue to make it feel more authentic. This decision was likely influenced by the fact that Spanish is the official language of Colombia, and it’s spoken by the majority of the country’s population. Including Spanish words and phrases in the dialogue was a way for the show’s creators to acknowledge this fact and pay homage to the language and culture of the region.
However, the use of Spanish in the English-language dialogue has been criticized by some viewers who believe that it’s unrealistic. They argue that people in Colombia would not mix English and Spanish in the way that the characters on the show do. While it’s true that people in Colombia would likely speak primarily in Spanish, it’s not uncommon for bilingual individuals to mix languages in their speech. In fact, code-switching (the practice of alternating between two or more languages or language varieties in conversation) is a common phenomenon in many parts of the world, including Latin America. Therefore, the use of Spanish words and phrases in Narcos is not entirely unrealistic.
That being said, the show’s use of British English is perhaps more problematic in terms of authenticity. The majority of the cast is made up of English-speaking actors, which means that they naturally speak with British accents. However, the show is set in Colombia, where English is not the primary language. This means that the characters on the show would likely speak with Spanish accents and use Spanish idioms and expressions in their speech. Yet, in the show, the characters speak with British accents and use British idioms and expressions, which can feel jarring and out of place.
For example, in one scene from the show, the character Pablo Escobar (played by Brazilian actor Wagner Moura) says to his wife, “You’re the bee’s knees, Tata.” While this may be a common expression in British English, it’s not one that would typically be used in Colombia. Similarly, in another scene, a character says, “I’ll be there in a jiffy.” Again, while this is a common expression in British English, it’s not one that would be used in Colombia.
The use of British English in Narcos can also be seen in the way that the characters pronounce Spanish words. For example, the name “Medellin” is pronounced with a British accent (me-dell-in) rather than a Spanish accent (me-de-yeen). This may seem like a small detail, but it can have a significant impact on the show’s authenticity. The way that characters pronounce words can reveal a lot about their cultural background and identity, and using a British accent to pronounce Spanish words can feel like a missed opportunity to accurately represent the culture of the region.
Of course, it’s important to acknowledge that the use of British English in Narcos is likely a result of the show’s production and casting decisions. It’s possible that the show’s creators felt that a British
