Welcome to Learn Spanish Free Online
Online Spanish Language Course Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Online Spanish Language Course. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
A Brief History Of The Spanish Language
from: The history of the Spanish language is very much a history of Europe and the new world. Spain played a large part in many monumental events that occurred throughout history, and that influence can be seen in the language itself.Pre-colonial History Of The Spanish Language
The history of the Spanish language reflects the roots of Spain itself. Latin plays a big part in the formation of the language due to the influence that the Roman Empire had upon the Iberian Peninsula. Spain, prior to gaining to independence from Rome, was a part of the far-reaching and large empire.
Celtic, Germanic and Basque also play a role in the history of the Spanish language. These influences in the formation of the language came from Spain’s close proximity to the speakers of these languages. As trade and migrations brought the groups into contact, portions of each language were borrowed and used by each group.
After the fall of Rome, another outside group moved in to rule the region. Spain was conquered by the Moors. The influence of Arabic can be seen in the language as well. Alcohol and alfalfa are just a few of the words in Spanish that show the influence of Arabic on the language.
Colonial History Of The Spanish Language
After Spain broke free of the Moors, it began an era of colonization and influence throughout the world. As it spread its culture to new continents and lands, it spread its language as well. These former colonies all had Spanish imposed upon them by their ruling country. After the colonies started to gain independence from Spain, language decisions paralleled demographic makeup within those countries.
In the former Spanish colony of the Philippines, for example, the Spanish immigrant population was always small and the language itself did not stick once the Philippines left Spanish control. However, there are now many Spanish loanwords present in Tagalog, the majority dialect of those islands.
But in places such as Mexico, where Spanish presence and intermingling was much larger, Spanish remained the official language once independence was achieved. Indeed, even in Puerto Rico, now a protectorate of the United States, the Spanish language is of great importance. Many of the residents are descendents of former Spanish colonists, and Spanish is the co-official language of that island.
The history of the Spanish language did not end with Spanish rule in much of the world. As these countries forge their own destinies and create their own future, they take the Spanish language along with them.
Online Spanish Language Course News
No relevant info was found on this topic.