The first few Cubanos I had a conversation with I had a difficult time understanding them. This was due to the custom of dropping the final “s”. Now, I have no problem understanding them.
In written Cuban the “s” is present. Just not pronounced.
My first thought was maybe the first Spanish governor of Cuba spoke in that manner.
I recently heard on NPR that the custom started in the 1930’s as a cultural expression.
What’s the Straight Dope?
It’s not a peculiarity of Cuba; it’s present in many varieties of Spanish/Castilian in Latin America and also in Spain, even though the degree to which the S is suppressed or omitted entirely varies. Because of this, I guess that it dates back to the time before the independence of Spain’s Latin American colonies.
I believe Mexicans do the same.
I have heard from more than one source that “Cubans speak the ugliest Spanish on Earth.” No idea if it’s true, to any extent, but this dropped-s is part of at least one explanation I heard. It was described as kind of “marble-mouthed” and lazy.
I don’t know if it’s true, either, but that’s pretty much the way a Venezuelan friend described Cuban Spanish.
It’s called Debuccalization of coda /s/ and it’s not just Cuba.