What does the term 'regional variety' refer to in the context of Puerto Rican Spanish?

• A. The standard grammar of Spanish used in schools.
• B. The vocabulary borrowed from French.
• C. The unique characteristics of Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico.
• D. The influence of English on Puerto Rican pronunciation.

Answer: (C)

Regional variety refers to the set of language features that are characteristic of a particular geographic area. For Puerto Rico, this means the distinctive way Spanish is spoken there—the specific pronunciation, local vocabulary, and grammatical patterns that set Puerto Rican Spanish apart from other Spanish varieties. These features arise from the region’s history and ongoing contact with other languages, especially English, and from local culture. So the term points to the unique characteristics of Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico, not to a standard school grammar, a French loanword focus, or English influence on just one aspect of speech.