Spanish or Castilian (español or castellano) is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that originated in northern Spain, and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile and evolved into the principal language of government and trade in the Iberian peninsula. It was taken most notably to the Americas, and also to Africa and Asia Pacific with the expansion of the Spanish Empire between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Castilian evolved from several dialects and languages, now collectively termed Spanish. Latin, which comprises roughly about 95% of Spanish, was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by Romans during the Second Punic War around 210 BC. During the 5th century, Hispania was invaded by Germanic Vandals, Suevi, Alans, and Visigoths which resulted in numerous dialects of Vulgar Latin. After the Moorish Conquest in the 8th century, Arabic became a powerful influence in the evolution of Iberian languages of which Castilian is thought to have evolved on the northern fringes of the Iberian Peninsula in the Christian Kingdom of Castile during the 10th century. Modern Spanish developed with the Readjustment of the Consonants (es:Reajuste de las sibilantes del castellano) that began in 15th-century Castile, and continues to adopt foreign words from a variety of languages, as well as developing new words.
Today, 329 million people speak Spanish as a native language (more native speakers than English), making it the world's second most spoken language in terms of native speakers.[1][2] Mexico contains the largest population of Spanish speakers. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
Spanish is growing increasingly popular as a second or third language in a number of countries because of logistical, economic, and touristic interest towards the many nations which chiefly use Spanish as the primary language[citation needed]. This phenomenon is most notable in Brazil, the United States, Canada, Italy, France, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Poland and much of the Anglosphere in general[citation needed].
Contents |
|
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas (blog)
The School has offered a Spanish - language Masters's program in 2003 that was taught as an executive, non-residency program. The in-residency program will be ...
