Gio

"There are many people who think that the Spanish and Spanish are totally different things, but this is not true.
According to the authoritative dictionary of the "Real Academia Española" the two names are synonymous and both can be used without any problem. But in Spain is a bit confusing to say you speak Spanish for the reason that there are many other languages, the best known are "Gallego, Basque and Catalán," and if you say you speak Spanish may imply that you also speak these other languages.
In Spain it is mostly used to say "castellano" than Spanish."

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol%C3%AAmica_em_torno_das_denomina%C3%A7%C3%B5es_espanhol_e_castelhano ;

"Para designar la lengua común de España y de muchas naciones de América, y que también se habla como propia en otras partes del mundo, son válidos los términos 'castellano' y 'español'. La polémica sobre cuál de estas denominaciones resulta más apropiada está hoy superada. El término 'español' resulta más recomendable por carecer de ambigüedad, ya que se refiere de modo unívoco a la lengua que hablan hoy cerca de cuatrocientos millones de personas. Asimismo, es la denominación que se utiliza internacionalmente (Spanish, espagnol, Spanisch, spagnolo, etc.). Aun siendo también sinónimo de 'español,' resulta preferible reservar el término castellano para referirse al dialecto románico nacido en el Reino de Castilla durante la Edad Media, o al dialecto del español que se habla actualmente en esta región. En España, se usa asimismo el nombre 'castellano' cuando se alude a la lengua común del Estado en relación con las otras lenguas cooficiales en sus respectivos territorios autónomos, como el catalán, el gallego o el vasco."

As far as personal preference goes, my knowledge of Spanish isn't nearly comprehensive enough to give you an adequate answer of the nuance between the languages. If you're learning the language out of interest more than utility, I imagine you should just go with your initial preference.

As far as the utility goes, if you plan on using your Spanish practically, where you plan on using it should probably have more of an impact on your decision than your personal preference.

Central and North American Spanish (Mexican Spanish as it were) would prepare you to communicate effectively with an estimated 151 million people (106 million in Mexico, 45 million in the US without counting illegal immigrants according this Spanish article here. Sorry I don't have an English source http://elpais.com/diario/2008/10/06/cultura/1223244001_850215.html ) Especially if you were to visit/live in Texas, New Mexico, or California as far as the US is concerned. And of course, if you were planning on going to Spain more than America, I imagine Castilian would be the better option for you.

Ultimately if you're interested in Spanish for the long-haul, the decision you make wouldn't be too different from choosing between British or American English - practically speaking, you are learning both languages one way or the other.

Good luck with your decision, Bro :)

Dorothy, wouldn't the majority of the Spanish speakers in your community come from Latin America?  Primarily Mexico? I would think so, yet you seem to have chosen a Spain accent to emulate rather than a Mexican accent.

We wouldn't say terminologic although it makes perfect sense and is probably better.

Shit, shit, shit! I corrected everything but it wouldn't fit so I had to cut it and put it into a separate post and I lost all the corrections! grrrrr. I'll do it again, but I would only do this for you Gio!

I corrected a second time and it wouldn't let me post it! The corrections and colors I guess take up too many characters. Oh, this is just too hard! Only for you Gio.

I had to do it THREE times! 

Correcting within messages here makes it so that each part can only be a very short. From now on I'll send you corrections through email Gio. 

Thank you so very much for explaining that to me. Your example of how you could say that you speak Fiorentino made sense to me and it is how I've heard the term used in Spain so now I understand fully. In Spain Castillians speak español but if they want to they can also call it Castillano just like you could say you speak Fiorentino or Italiano. Gracias!

Hi Gio, 

Thank you, and here is your correction that you asked for:

OMG Dorothy, Very nice use of that internet abbreviation!  it is a topic very interesting topic but at the same time is very difficult to explain. As you know I'm not a teacher and maybe I'm don't have the qualities qualifications  to for states any conclusions. B but I'll try to expalin explain it to you.
Nowadays Castellano and Spanish mean pretty much the same thing. A and it is better if you say: I'm learning Spanish and then add what kind of for instance from Spanish Lat-Ame. or from Spain.
In Lat-Ame most of countries have wroten written in their constitutions that Castellano is their official language. (art.48 Perù; Art.2. Ecuador; Art. 9 Venezuela...) and few others Spanish (art.143 Guatemala)