Spanish Linguistics: Morphology, Phonetics, and Dialects
Spanish Morphology: Parts of Words and Their Formation
Morphology studies the parts of words and their capacities for internal construction and the formation of words.
A word is a linguistic unit equipped with two spaces on either side, separated by a blank space. It has lexical independence and autonomy. In the word "Sagdo" (a sample form), the lexical part is the most important element. The morphological invariables modify the lexeme of the word over time.
Types of Word Formation
- Compound words (palabras compuestas): formed by two or more lexemes, or by a lexeme plus morphemes that are inflected.
- Derived words (palabras derivadas): formed by a root plus affixes, where the lexeme and morphemes are also inflected.
- Tracing: a word that copies the structure of a foreign language, reproducing it without phonetic correspondence.
- Barbarism: words imitating the form, structure and pronunciation of foreign words.
Phonetics and Phonology
Phonetics is the linguistic discipline that studies the natural sounds of speech. It is divided into three areas:
- Articulatory phonetics: the manner in which sounds are produced by the speech organs.
- Acoustic phonetics: the physical propagation of sound waves.
- Auditory phonetics: how sounds are perceived by the ear.
Phonology describes the system of representation of sounds in the mental lexicon of a language.
Consonants
- By manner of articulation: occlusives (p, t, k, b, d, g); fricatives (f, θ, s, y, x); affricates (ch); nasals (m, n, ñ); laterals (l); and vibrants (r).
- By place of articulation: bilabials (b, p, m); interdentals (θ); labiodentals (f); dentals (t, d); alveolars (l, n, r, s); palatals (ch, ñ, ll); and velars (g, k, x).
- By voicing: voiceless (k, ch, f, j, p, s, t, θ) and voiced (b, d, g, m, n, ñ, l, r).
Bilingual Areas and Language Variation
Bilingual communities in Spanish-speaking regions have adopted peculiar pronunciations. These are distinguished by the interferences (transferences of phonetic, lexical and morphosyntactic elements) from one language to another.
Dialects and Their History
For social, political and historical reasons, the prestige of Castilian reduced the possibilities of expansion of Aragonese and other dialects. Dialects derived from Latin gave rise to the general Castilian language. Some dialects are located in Asturias and the Aragonese Pyrenean valleys.
Southern Varieties
Linguists distinguish three nuclear southern varieties: Canarian, Andalusian, and transitional languages (Murcian, Extremaduran). Andalusian Spanish is characterized by seseo, aspiration and elimination of the final "s", and the aspiration of the sound /x/. It also uses the pronoun ustedes with a preference for diminutives ending in -ito and -ita. Canarian Spanish shows the presence of Andalusian features, Portuguese influences, Americanisms and Gallicisms, as well as words from native sources.
Aspiration of the final "s", aspiration of the sound /x/, and the replacement of vosotros with ustedes are common features. Transitional varieties present features of Extremaduran and Murcian together with Northern Castilian, Catalan, Andalusian and Aragonese.