Evolution of Languages in the Iberian Peninsula

Diachronic Varieties: Causes of Linguistic Change in the Iberian Peninsula

Pre-Roman Hispania

Before the arrival of the Romans, diverse languages were spoken on the peninsula, including Celtic, Iberian, and Basque. All except Basque disappeared after the expansion of Latin. Currently, some remnants of these languages are preserved (e.g., stream, pond, Segovia).

The Roman Empire

In 218 BC, Roman forces landed in Ampurias and, over two centuries, completed the conquest of the peninsula. With them came the use of Latin, which marked the beginning of the linguistic unity of Spain.

The Germanic Invasions

The 5th century corresponds to the fall of the Roman Empire. Peoples like the Suebi, Vandals, Alans, and Visigoths invaded the Iberian Peninsula and remained until the arrival of the Muslims. This marked the end of linguistic unity and the beginning of the transition from Latin to the Romance languages.

The Muslims

In 711, the first Muslim invasion from North Africa occurred. Their presence lasted nearly eight centuries and left its mark on customs, culture, and language. The Arabic language coexisted with Vulgar Latin, creating a bilingual society. This also gave rise to the Mozarabic language, a Romance language derived from Vulgar Latin, contaminated by Arabic, spoken by Christians and Muslims in Islamic Spain. This language is currently extinct.

The Renewal Process

The recovery of the territory by the Christians began almost immediately after the Muslim invasion and did not end until 1492. This process accentuated the linguistic differences. Various Romance languages were formed: Asturian-Leonese, Castilian, etc. In the 15th century, four events determined the final expansion of Castilian: the political unity with the Catholic Monarchs, the spread of printing, the conquest of Granada, and the discovery of America.

The Enlightenment

This period saw the founding of the Royal Spanish Academy, which published the first dictionary and the first grammar and spelling rules of the corporation.

Romanticism

The 19th century was the era of the Rexurdimento in Galicia and the Renaixença in Catalonia, movements to revitalize the use of Galician and Catalan as literary languages.

20th Century

After the Civil War, the use of languages other than Spanish was hampered by the Franco regime, relegating them to the domestic sphere.

Today

The Spanish Constitution recognizes Castilian as the official state language. The other languages of Spain are official in their respective autonomous communities: Catalan, Galician, and Basque.

Galician

Galician is a Romance language spoken in Galicia and parts of Castilla y León. This language experienced a boom during the reign of Alfonso X. Currently, it is used in all spheres of public life. Galician features include:

• Vocalism: Seven vowels (a, e, i, o, u), two of which have open and closed variants (e, o).
• Diphthongization: Vowels do not typically diphthongize.
• Consonants:
  • Conservation of initial Latin f.
  • Evolution of Latin groups cl-, pl-.
  • The Latin group -ct- has evolved to -it- in Galician.

Catalan

Catalan is an official language in three autonomous regions: Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Valencia. Catalan enjoyed literary prestige during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, it was relegated to the family sphere until the Renaixença. Currently, it is fully standardized and used in public life. Catalan features include:

• Vocalism: Consists of eight members.
• Elision: Unstressed final vowels are often elided.
• Consonants:
  • Conservation of initial Latin f.
  • Latin groups fl-, pl-, cl- have been preserved.
  • Initial L is palatalized.

Basque

Basque is a non-Romance language, probably pre-Indo-European. Its exact origin is unknown. Eight dialect areas are distinguished. The official language is characterized by:

• Sharing with Peninsular Romance languages the opposition of single and multiple vibrant r and rr, and the five-vowel system.
• Words are ordered in reverse order compared to Castilian, with complements preceding the nuclei of phrases.
• Nouns are declined, as in Latin.