Evolution and Origins of the Spanish Language
History and Language
Spanish is a Romance language, a derivative of Latin. Before the Romans arrived in what is today Spain in 218 BC, various pre-Roman peoples lived there, each speaking their own language. Basque (or Euskera) is the unique pre-Roman language that remains in the peninsula. Examples of vaskismos include words like zamarra (sheepskin) and izquierdo.
Romanization and Vulgar Latin
Romanization began from the moment the Romans made contact with the indigenous inhabitants. The people spoke Vulgar Latin, which eventually stretched and evolved into the various Romance languages.
The Germanic and Arab Invasions
The Germanic invasions brought an end to the Roman Empire and led to the appearance of Romance languages—also called Roman or Neo-Latin—around the 5th century. The Visigoths settled in the peninsula in the 6th century. In 711, the Arab invasion began, and they conquered the peninsula from the south up to the border of France. Córdoba became the capital of the Caliphate, serving as a bright center of civilization, while Christian resistance was held in the north. The process of the Reconquista was completed in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs entered the Kingdom of Granada and dominated the last Arabs.
The Origins of Castilian
Castilian was born in Cantabria. The oldest known texts are from Santo Domingo de Silos (Glosas Silenses) and San Millán de la Cogolla (Glosas Emilianenses). Glosses are short Romance notes written in the 5th century (and later) in the margins of ecclesiastical texts written in Latin to facilitate their understanding. During this time, the Arabs and some Christians also spoke another Romance language called Mozarabic.
Castilian in the Middle Ages and the 15th Century
In the 13th century, Alfonso X "The Wise" promoted the School of Translators of Toledo with the aim of translating works into Castilian. Later, in 1492, Christopher Columbus reached American lands, expanding the reach of the language.
Castilian Today and Bilingualism
Castilian is currently the 4th most spoken language in the world. In Spain, there is a coexistence of different languages including Galician, Basque, and Catalan. Diglossia occurs if people do not use two languages equally in every communicative situation.
Medieval Society and the Modern State
In 1474, the Catholic Monarchs began the process of territorial, political, and religious unification, leading to the creation of the first modern state. In 1492, they conquered Granada, Columbus arrived in America, and Jews who did not wish to convert to Christianity were expelled from Spain.
Medieval society was organized into classes or groups based on birth:
- Warriors: The nobility.
- Farm workers: The common people.
- Clergy: The Church.
- Traders and merchants: The bourgeoisie.
Early Medieval Literature: Jarchas and Moaxajas
The Jarchas are the oldest documents that have reached us. They are short lyric and epic poems written in verse. While some literature was written in Galician-Portuguese, the Jarchas were written in Mozarabic and focused on loving themes. Moaxajas were anonymous ditties collected by educated poets and included at the end of their own poems, which were written in Arabic and Hebrew.