The Spanish Language Conquering and Being Conquered by the World
By: Benedict Smythe
Submitted: 2008-10-11 20:09:19 | Word Count: 543
Hola. Adios.
These may be very familiar words to anyone in the world. Yes, it is Spanish and everyone knows a little of this language. Like any other language, Spanish has a very rich history.
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Let’s Talk About Spanish
Spanish is one of the major languages of the world. It is spoken by millions of people not only in Spain but in the rest of the world. If people will ask you about the Castilian language, will you know the difference? Castilian is actually the official tongue of the Spanish language. A deeper probe of Spanish will reveal its intricacies and variations depending on the region where it is being used.
Other frequently used Spanish languages are the Basque, Catalan, and the Galician. It will be a misconception to call these as dialects. They are recognized languages under the umbrella of Spanish but reflect distinction and division of the Spanish culture.
When we talk of the Spanish language, we are talking of one of the most romantic languages in the world. You might be thinking of galleons, conquistadores, and the beautiful people. The Spanish language is a language which traces its roots in Latin and shares similarities in terms of structure with other European languages.
The Evolution of the Spanish Language
Aside from traces of Latin, the Spanish language is also said to have developed during the rule of the Roman Empire. Spanish had its beginnings around 2000 years ago and had its early formation in the Iberian Peninsula. Today, it is estimated that 300 million people around the world use Spanish as their native language. It has evolved primarily due to the conquests made by Spain in a lot of countries and somehow, their language was influenced by the words of those they conquered.
The variations of the Spanish language are therefore seen not only in the boundaries of Spain. It is evident in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Honduras, and many more.
English also invaded Spanish like other languages. Now it is common to see words like bus stop, click, or marketing in Spanish speaking countries. This is fondly called Spanglish.
There are campaigns to protect the language and retain its purity. The truth is that Spanish like any other language is a mix of different influences. This fusion of different roots and evolution is inevitable with the available technologies which make communication a lot easier.
Learning Spanish
If you want to learn Spanish beyond the fiesta, tapa, siesta, burrito, or tequila, there are a lot of ways to do so. You can browse the internet and learn from websites the offer foreign languages. Some of these sites offer these courses for free and some charges minimal fees. They have a lot of available media which can make learning fun and easier.
You can start to immerse yourself in Spanish by listening to audio CD’s or watch films, television and read books in Spanish. You can also try to incorporate some Spanish phrases in your day to day living.
Ultimately, you can visit Spain and experience first hand how the language really sounds. Explore their culture, arts, history, and their day to day living. Through this experience you will have a deeper perspective and understanding of the Spanish language.
