What makes a person a particular race?

[Caliga]

No, just someone who enjoys really horrible beer.

There is a time and place for Corona.

[derspiess]

No, just someone who enjoys really horrible beer.

There is a time and place for Corona.

Not if you're old enough to know better

[Caliga]

Hence the "time" comment. 

[The Larch]

Unlike English, which lacks a similar body AFAIK, correct Spanish is regulated by the Real Academia (which accepts members and terms from other countries, not just Spain). The French have something similar in the Académie française.
There are no shorthands of that kind in Spanish. I'm sure people over there use it, but just like using "your" when it should be "you're", it is still incorrect.

That may be the case in Spain, but even in my Spanish class at University we learned the Latin American version of the language, which included contractions, etc. (To be fair, we learned them because of the students asking about what they already knew from native Spanish speakers, but it came up, was addressed, and in essence became part of the lesson.)

Your governing body may try to govern the language, but it's failing miserably on this side of the ocean.

There's also an "Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española" as well, so it's also yours. 

http://www.anle.us/

[Caliga]

Mexico is more important than Spain.  Therefore, the Mexican way of speaking Spanish trumps the Spanish way.

[garbon]

There's also an "Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española" as well, so it's also yours. 

http://www.anle.us/

Apparently they are trying to bring the inquisition here by publishing a 3,000 page grammar guide.  I doubt they'll be able to stamp out "esponsorizar" or "retaliación" (as this article decries) but power to them on their quixotic journey?

http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2009/05/14/2009-05-14_academy_to_become_spanish_inquisitor_.html

[Savonarola]

Apparently they are trying to bring the inquisition here by publishing a 3,000 page grammar guide.  I doubt they'll be able to stamp out "esponsorizar" or "retaliación" (as this article decries) but power to them on their quixotic journey?

That would be a quijotic journey.

[Eddie Teach]

Mexico is more important than Spain. 

Spain has fewer people but a higher GNP.

[Caliga]

Mexico borders the United States, and therefore a bit of our awesomeness spills over the border and gives Mexico the win.

Stuff spills over the border the other way, too, and I guess its awesomeness is debatable, but I for one appreciate the resulting cheapness of my sausage. 

[Valmy]

Mexico is more important than Spain.  Therefore, the Mexican way of speaking Spanish trumps the Spanish way.

Mexico is terrorized by drug terrorists, Spain is terrorized by nationalist terrorists.  Mexico wins.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

I predict in 100 years Spain will be speaking Mexican. It's all part of Montezuma's Revenge. :p

[grumbler]

Apparently they are trying to bring the inquisition here by publishing a 3,000 page grammar guide.  I doubt they'll be able to stamp out "esponsorizar" or "retaliación" (as this article decries) but power to them on their quixotic journey?

http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2009/05/14/2009-05-14_academy_to_become_spanish_inquisitor_.html

According to the article (leaving out the hyperbole), all the Academy is really doing is helping the US government make sure its Spanish-language messages are in proper Spanish.  I see no harm in that.  The publishing of a grammar guide in Spanish seems no more quixotic than doing the same in English (and there are plenty of those).

[Valmy]

I predict in 100 years Spain will be speaking English.

Fixed

[BuddhaRhubarb]

I predict in 100 years Spain will be speaking English.

Fixed

more probable actually.

[garbon]

According to the article (leaving out the hyperbole), all the Academy is really doing is helping the US government make sure its Spanish-language messages are in proper Spanish.  I see no harm in that.  The publishing of a grammar guide in Spanish seems no more quixotic than doing the same in English (and there are plenty of those).

As far as I know the Academy's goal is to support and promote the correct usage of Spanish, which I supposed is defined by the Royal Academy of Spanish (being as the North American chapter is an affiliate.  I don't think there is a problem in helping our government communicate (we already know that they have translation issues ) but I can't help but wonder at using Spanish that might not actually be most comfortable/familiar with the Spanish speaking population. I do think it is a little quixotic to attempt to control the evolution of a language, although it may be the case that the North American academy refrains from that, leaving such to the Royal Academy.

In fact, from their site it looks like the North American academy just wants to encourage people to speak/know Spanish...although they have participated in conferences that seek to redefine spelling rules.