History of Spanish Language: Germanic, Arabic, Italian Influences

Germanic Origins of the Spanish Language

In the 5th century, Germanic peoples arrived in the Iberian Peninsula from lands north of the Roman Empire. Although their presence hardly altered the existing linguistic situation, groups like the Suevos, Vandals, and Alans preceded the Visigoths. The Visigoths, a strongly Romanized people, came to dominate Hispania. They brought their taste for epic poems (Hazañas de Héroes) to our country.

Germanisms are words of Germanic origin introduced into our language by the Visigoths. Examples include:

• Burgo (borough)
• Falda (skirt)
• Ganso (goose)

Arabic Influence on the Spanish Language

In 711, the first Arabs arrived in Spain, and shortly after, they dominated a large part of the peninsula. In the 10th century, Cordoba became the capital of the Arab Caliphate and the most important cultural center of the West. Science flourished there. Meanwhile, Christians, pushed to the north, began the process of reconquest to seize the land from the Arabs. This was a large undertaking that did not conclude until the fall of Granada.

The Arabs left their mark on the language. After Latin, Arabic is the language that has contributed the most to Castilian vocabulary.

Italian Influence in the 16th and 17th Centuries

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the cultural and political influence of Italy led to the introduction of many Italian words into Castilian. These words are known as Italianisms.

Gallicisms: French Influence on the Spanish Language

Pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela from France in the 12th and 13th centuries introduced many Provençal or French terms. The influx of French increased in the 18th century, aided by the arrival of a new French dynasty, the Bourbons, who replaced the Austrias. Gallicisms are Castilian words derived from French that were introduced into our language.

Neologisms in the Spanish Language

Neologisms are words recently incorporated into the language due to the need to name new realities, or because of fashion or whim.

Procedures for Incorporating Neologisms

• Derivation or composition from existing lexemes: New terms are created from existing words in the language.
• Traditional loans from Latin: New words are created, often related to technological advancements.