The history of Spanish - FULL

Summary

This script offers a concise historical journey of the Spanish language, from its pre-Roman origins with Iberian, Basque, and Celtic influences to the Roman conquest and the spread of Vulgar Latin. It details the Visigoths' limited impact and the profound effects of Arabic, introducing numerous words into the lexicon. The script also covers the influence of other Romance languages, the Spanish Empire's linguistic legacy, and the current borrowings from English, illustrating how Spanish has evolved and spread globally, reflecting its rich and dynamic history.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The history of Spanish predates the Romans, with the Iberian Peninsula hosting various civilizations and languages such as Iberian, Basque, and Celtiberian.
• 📜 Spanish is a Romance language that evolved from Latin, specifically from Vulgar Latin, which was the spoken form used in everyday life.
• 🏛 The Roman Empire's influence on the Iberian Peninsula led to Latin becoming the dominant language, contributing most of the Spanish lexicon and introducing words like 'casa' and 'siesta'.
• 🏰 The Visigoths, a Germanic group, left a minor cultural impact but contributed words related to administration and war, as well as popularizing certain surname suffixes.
• 🕌 The Muslim conquest in the 8th century had a significant impact on the Spanish language, introducing thousands of words, many of which began with the Arabic article 'al-'.
• 📚 The first grammar of a Romance language was published in 1492 by Antonio de Nebrija, marking a significant milestone in the formalization of Spanish.
• 🌐 The Spanish language has been influenced by other Romance languages, particularly French, which influenced Spanish during various periods, including the 18th century under the Bourbon Dynasty.
• 🌟 The Spanish Empire's colonization efforts led to the Spanish language interacting with over 2000 indigenous American languages, enriching Spanish with words like 'tomate' (tomato) and 'chocolate'.
• 🌐 The Real Academia Española, established during the Bourbon reign, aimed to standardize Spanish, and today there are 23 academies worldwide promoting diverse forms of Spanish.
• 🌍 English, as a popular second language, has influenced Spanish, leading to the borrowing of words like 'OK' and 'online', and the development of Spanglish and Llanito Spanish in regions like Gibraltar.

Q & A

What were some of the civilizations and languages present in the Iberian Peninsula before the Romans arrived?

Before the Romans, the Iberian Peninsula was home to several civilizations and languages including Iberian, Basque, Celtiberian, Tartessian, and Gallaecian.

Which words in Spanish are believed to have originated from the Celts?

Words like 'beer' and 'shirt' are believed to have originated from the Celts.

How did the Basque language contribute to the Spanish vocabulary?

The Basque language contributed words to Spanish such as 'cod', 'top hat', and 'drizzle'.

What influence did the Greeks have on the Spanish language, and how did it manifest?

The Greeks influenced the Spanish language through Latin, contributing words like 'poem', 'history', and 'hysteria'.

What is the difference between Classical Latin and Vulgar Latin, and which one does Spanish primarily derive from?

Classical Latin was used in writing, politics, and poetry, while Vulgar Latin was mainly spoken. Spanish primarily derives from Vulgar Latin.

What is the origin of the word 'siesta' in Spanish?

The word 'siesta' comes from the Latin 'sexta', which means 'sixth hour', referring to the hottest time of the day.

How did the Visigoths influence the Spanish language during their rule in the Iberian Peninsula?

The Visigoths didn't influence the culture and language much, but they left words related to administration and war, and popularized suffixes like -az, -ez, -iz, and -oz found in Spanish surnames.

What significant impact did the Muslim conquest in the 8th century have on the Spanish lexicon?

The Muslim conquest introduced many words into the Spanish lexicon, particularly related to food and kitchen items such as 'sugar', 'oil', 'noodles', 'watermelon', and 'alcohol'.

How did the expulsion of Sephardic Jews in 1492 affect the spread of the Spanish language?

The expulsion of Sephardic Jews in 1492 led to the spread of Spanish to places like Turkey, the Balkans, and Greece, where different varieties of Judeo-Spanish are still spoken today.

What role did the Bourbon Dynasty play in the standardization of the Spanish language?

The Bourbon Dynasty, particularly during the reign of King Philip the 5th, was instrumental in the standardization of the Spanish language through the establishment of the Real Academia Española, which published dictionaries and grammar books.

How has the Spanish language influenced and been influenced by English?

Spanish has borrowed words from English, such as 'OK', 'post', and 'online', and has also developed words that resemble English ones, like 'footing' and 'puenting'. Conversely, English has borrowed words from Spanish, such as 'alligator', which originally came from the Spanish 'lagarto'.