Skip to product information
1 of 1

Israel Sanz-Snchez

Spanish as a Contact Language: An Ecological History

Spanish as a Contact Language: An Ecological History

💎 Earn 115 Points (£1.15) on this item.

Important: Dispatches within 2 to 4 weeks
Regular price £23.19 GBP
Regular price £29.99 GBP Sale price £23.19 GBP
Sale Sold out
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

YOU SAVE £6.80

  • Condition: Brand new
  • UK Delivery times: Usually arrives within 2 - 3 working days
  • UK Shipping: Fee starts at £2.39. Subject to product weight & dimension

Bulk ordering. Want 15 or more copies? Get a personalised quote and bigger discounts. Learn more about bulk orders.

  • More about Spanish as a Contact Language: An Ecological History

A History of Spanish as a Contact Language challenges the traditional narrative of Spanish's development, viewing it as a centuries-long constellation of contact events and centring speakers as the only historical agents of language transmission and change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2025
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press


Languages do not exist beyond their speakers, but the history of individual languages has often been told as if they had a life of their own, emerging from other languages, growing, and sometimes dying. When applied to Spanish, this story line commonly begins in spoken Latin, with the language taking shape in medieval Spain before spreading beyond Europe in the colonial period. This book proposes a new take on this narrative. Instead of seeing Spanish as a linguistic entity with linear development, what would its history look like if we think of it as a centuries-long constellation of contact events? A History of Spanish as a Contact Language revisits the evolution of Spanish from the perspective of the ecology of language, centering speakers as the only historical agents of language transmission and change. Taking the speakers' vantage point opens up exciting possibilities to rethink what Spanish is, how it has changed, and who has played a role in this process.

Languages Do Not Exist Beyond Their Speakers, But the History of Individual Languages Has Often Been Told as if They Had a Life of Their Own



When applied to Spanish, this story line commonly begins in spoken Latin, with the language taking shape in medieval Spain before spreading beyond Europe in the colonial period. This book proposes a new take on this narrative. Instead of seeing Spanish as a linguistic entity with linear development, what would its history look like if we think of it as a centuries-long constellation of contact events?


A History of Spanish as a Contact Language Revisits the Evolution of Spanish from the Perspective of the Ecology of Language



Taking the speakers' vantage point opens up exciting possibilities to rethink what Spanish is, how it has changed, and who has played a role in this process.


Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474429108

This item can be found in:

UK and International shipping information

UK Delivery and returns information:

  • Delivery within 2 - 3 days when ordering in the UK.
  • Shipping fee for UK customers from £2.39. Fully tracked shipping service available.
  • Returns policy: Return within 30 days of receipt for full refund.

International deliveries:

Shulph Ink now ships to Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, India, Luxembourg Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, United States of America.

  • Delivery times: within 5 - 10 days for international orders.
  • Shipping fee: charges vary for overseas orders. Only tracked services are available for most international orders. Some countries have untracked shipping options.
  • Customs charges: If ordering to addresses outside the United Kingdom, you may or may not incur additional customs and duties fees during local delivery.
View full details