How Spanish Grew

This book explores the history of the Spanish language, including its influence by the Romans, Visigoths, and Arabs, and its development into four periods: Old Spanish, Spanish Ascendancy, French Prestige, and Modern Spanish. It is valuable for language enthusiasts, teachers, and students.

Format: Hardback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

This comprehensive book delves into the rich history of the Spanish language, spanning from its pre-Roman origins to the present day. It emphasizes the profound influence of social and political events on the language's evolution. After briefly exploring the roots of the Indo-European tongues, the author delves into the impact of the languages of the pre-Roman invaders, such as the Visigoths and other Germanic tribes, as well as the Arabs, on the development of Spanish. The subsequent chapters categorize the evolution of Spanish into four distinct periods: Old Spanish (up to 1500), Spanish Ascendancy (1500-1700), French Prestige (1700-1808), and Modern Spanish (1808-present). Within this framework, the author explores the intricate changes that occurred in sounds, forms, constructions, style, vocabulary, and orthography. The final chapter also delves into modern slang, popular Spanish, and the diverse Spanish dialects, including Leonese, Aragonese, and Andalusian.

This book holds immense interest and value for anyone passionate about language, educators at both high school and college levels, and students alike. Its well-organized structure makes it an invaluable resource for courses focusing on the historical development of the Spanish language, as well as for students of Spanish literature who wish to understand the linguistic landscape at different periods.

This title is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which celebrates the University of California Press' commitment to discovering and nurturing exceptional minds, providing them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and make meaningful contributions to the field. Drawing upon a rich backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived utilizes print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. This particular title was first published in 1943.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 190 x 120 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520358195