Category: Culture around Spanish language

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Culture around Spanish language

Ten curiosities about Spanish

Spanish, the second most widely spoken language ​​in the world after Mandarin Chinese, is a rich and diverse language with unique features. If you’re not familiar with these peculiarities and curiosities, they are sure to surprise you. Keep reading to discover the fascinating world of Spanish.

Spanish is the official language of twenty-one countries spread across Europe, the American continent and Africa. Its extensive geographical area of ​​influence and diversity make this language’s richness evident. So, let’s look at ten curiosities about this beautiful language:

1. The letter ñ: It is par excellence, the distinctive symbol of Spanish since it is an exclusive letter to this language compared to other European languages. The sound derived from Latin is a fundamental part of its cultural identity.

2. Origin of Arabic words: During the Arab occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish incorporated many Arabic words into their lexicon. Terms such as almohada (pillow), azúcar (sugar), almuerzo (lunch), and albahaca (basil) come from Arabic, showcasing the profound influence and rich history of this culture on the Spanish language.

3. Spanish and Latin: as a Romance language, Spanish inherited a grammatical structure and vocabulary from Latin, although over time, variants developed in different countries, enriching the language.

4. Words without an exact translation: Spanish has unique words that are difficult to translate directly, such as sobremesa, which refers to the time spent together after a meal.

5. The subjunctive: The subjunctive is an exclusive verbal mode that allows you to express desires and doubts, something that surprises speakers of other languages ​​where this verbal form does not exist. Spanish is the only language that uses it, along with Portuguese. An example is in the second part of the saying, adonde fueres haz lo que vieres (wherever you go, do what you see.)

6. Diminutives and their richness: Dimitives (such as “—ito ” or “-illo”) are commonly used in Spanish to express affection, size, or to soften the tone, which is not so common in other languages.

7. Dialects and regional variations: The differences in vocabulary and pronunciation between Spanish-speaking countries are vast, and some words can have very different meanings from one region to another. We will talk about this in an article next month 😉

8. W is the letter that is used the least and has the most names: despite appearing the least frequently in the Spanish lexicon, it is the letter that has the most ways of being named; it is called “uve doble,” “doble uve,” “ve doble,” “doble ve,” and ” doble u.”

9. The difference between the verbs ser and estar: Spanish is one of the few languages ​​in the world with such a clear distinction between both verbs. Not even Latin, the language from which it originated, made this distinction. Learn more about this philosophical difference in the article we publish next week 😊.

10. Spanish is the second fastest to pronounce: The University of Lyon studied different languages ​​worldwide to determine which are pronounced the most rapidly. The result? Japanese is the fastest language in the world, followed by Spanish. The study showed that both languages ​​condense a smaller amount of information per syllable, unlike others, such as Vietnamese, for example, which is at the opposite end. This means that Spanish uses more words and longer grammatical constructions.

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you want to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, subscribe to our superb grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language

Spanish in music: from flamenco to reggaeton

Do you remember the song Despacito, a hit by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee that became world-famous a few years ago? It sounded like this:

♫♬♪Despacito,

quiero respirar tu cuello despacito,
deja que te diga cosas al oído 
para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo. ♫♬♪

(Slowly
I want to breathe in your neck slowly.
Let me murmur things in your ear
So that you remember if you’re not with me)

In 2017, this song was heard in practically every country, including Europe, Asia, Latin America, and, of course, the United States. This began to change the dynamics of the global music market. The United States began to look to Latin America, and after years of being in the shadows in the musical field, the Spanish began to enjoy recognition worldwide. Today, it is the second most listened-to language in the musical world.

Music is one of the most universal forms of cultural expression. In the Spanish-speaking world, Spanish has been the vehicle for a vast diversity of musical genres that reflect each country’s cultural richness and linguistic evolution of the language. From flamenco to reggaeton and trap, through salsa and rock in Spanish, each genre tells a story, not only through its melodies but also with language. Today, we will explore how Spanish manifests itself in different musical genres and how it reflects the cultural and social aspects of Spanish-speaking communities.

Flamenco: the essence of Andalusia

Flamenco, originating in Andalusia, Spain, is much more than a musical genre: it is a comprehensive artistic expression that combines singing, dancing and guitar. This style reflects centuries of multicultural influences, from gypsy music to Arabic and Jewish sounds. In flamenco, Spanish is intertwined with cante jondo, a deep and emotional style of singing that tells stories of suffering, love and everyday life. Flamenco lyrics are loaded with local expressions, Andalusian dialects and rich poetry that reflects the region’s idiosyncrasies.

The words, full of feeling, are often stretched and deformed to fit the rhythm or emotion of the performance. Phrases such as “Ay, pena, penita, pena. Pena de mi corazón” (Oh, sorrow, pain, grief, pain in my heart) express a deep sadness, an emotion beyond what everyday language might convey. Furthermore, flamenco often uses metaphors and symbolism that are characteristic of Andalusian culture, such as the use of nature to represent emotions: “pena que me corre por las venas, con la fuerza de un ciclón” (pain running through my veins, with the force of a cyclone).

Salsa: Caribbean flavour and neologisms

Salsa, born in the Caribbean, mainly in Cuba and Puerto Rico, is a musical genre that combines Afro-Caribbean rhythms with influences from jazz and other styles. Salsa lyrics, primarily sung in Spanish, capture urban life, romance and social resistance. In this genre, Spanish reflects the rich cultural fusion of Caribbean communities and their ability to create unique neologisms and expressions.

Songs such as “Pedro Navaja” by Rubén Blades tell stories of typical city characters, using colloquial language full of idioms and expressions typical of Hispanic communities in Latin America. Salsa also reflects the Latin diaspora in cities such as New York, where modern salsa was born. Thus, the language in this genre is a lively mix of Caribbean Spanish influences with Spanglish, a fusion of Spanish with English that arises from bilingual coexistence.

Rock in Spanish: The Voice of the Counterculture

Rock in Spanish, a Spanish-speaking response to the global phenomenon of rock and roll, emerged with a surge of bands in the 1960s and 1970s. It became a powerful channel for expressing youthful rebellion and political concerns in countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Spain. Bands like Soda Stereo or Héroes del Silencio used their music and lyrics to address existential, social, and political themes, making Rock in Spanish a musical genre and a socio-political movement.

In this genre, Spanish was used innovatively, with more complex narrative structures and wordplay that reflected an evolution of the musical language in Spanish. Unlike other, more traditional genres, rock in Spanish shows the language’s ability to adapt to global influences without losing its identity. It allows the creation of its lexicon within the music scene.

Reggaeton: The New Urban Language

Originating in Puerto Rico in the 1990s, reggaeton has evolved to become one of the most popular genres worldwide. Its characteristic “dembow” rhythm and mostly Spanish lyrics reflect urban life, love, partying, and often themes of social criticism. Reggaeton is a genre marked by its simplicity in lyrics, with repetitive phrases that are easy to remember and that appeal to a young audience. Trap, on the other hand, has evolved with darker and cruder lyrics. Initially, the trap talks about street life, drug trafficking, and social difficulties. In Latin trap, themes include self-improvement, economic success, betrayal, violence, and internal struggles, although it can also address themes of romance or heartbreak.

However, what is interesting about reggaeton and trap is how they have incorporated Spanglish and urban slang. English words are mixed with Spanish in the lyrics, reflecting globalisation’s cultural and linguistic influence. Reggaeton and trap are a mirror of life in the big cities of Latin America and the United States, where Spanish coexist with other languages ​​and urban identity is built from multiple influences.

Linguistic diversity in Spanish music

One of the most fascinating aspects of using Spanish in music is how the language adapts to different Spanish-speaking cultures. Each country and region has its dialect and set of expressions that are reflected in its music. While flamenco uses a Spanish full of Andalusian turns of phrase and reggaeton mixes Spanglish and urban slang, the music of Latin America and Spain continues to evolve, incorporating new forms of linguistic expression.

The Spanish language has adapted, evolved, and expanded through genres such as flamenco, salsa, rock in Spanish, reggaeton, and, most recently, trap, reflecting the social, political, and cultural changes of Spanish-speaking peoples. Each song is a fragment of history, and each musical genre reveals how Spanish remains a living, dynamic, and constantly changing language.

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Culture around Spanish language The language today

Inclusive language in Spanish

The United Nations defines inclusive language as “the way of expressing oneself orally and in writing without discriminating against a particular sex, social gender or gender identity and without perpetuating gender stereotypes.” Spanish has grammatical genders; therefore, to pluralise, one must choose one, and it does so with the masculine to integrate both genders.

Origins of inclusive language

The fact that pluralisation in Spanish is with the masculine grammatical gender has generated much debate. Thus, since the seventies, feminist movements began to propose linguistic reform for the Spanish language and the human language in general. This reform raised the need to generate a change towards a non-sexist, gender-neutral or inclusive language, which proposed different linguistic strategies that would avoid sexist prejudices or stereotypes when using language to refer to people of a particular sex, gender or sexual orientation. Thus, inclusive language in Spanish includes preventing the use of the generic masculine and accepting the feminine version of traditionally masculine nouns (for example, presidenta, jefa, gerenta, Médica, etc.).

Preferring terms such as ser humano (human being) instead of hombre (man) to refer to the human species, las personas (people) instead of hombres (men), and infantes (infants) instead of niños (children) to refer to these large groups correspond to strategies to make the language more inclusive and less sexist. Now, what happens when neutral or non-binary language is proposed? (that with words ending in the vowel e or the symbols x or @ to express gender indeterminacy and using the pronouns elle or elles).

Non-binary language seeks to encompass all those people who do not identify with the gender dichotomy traditionally established by society, that is, male and female. Non-binary language is therefore associated with the LGBTQIA+ community (this term is made up of the acronyms of the words lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, transvestite, queer, intersexual and asexual. At the end, the + symbol is usually added to include all groups not represented by the previous letters). Spanish researcher Isabel López, from the organisation 4Motion Systemic & People, points out that international studies estimate the number of non-binary people between 7% and 14% of the world’s population.

Furthermore, if we consider the existence of a third gender and the recognition of this within different cultures worldwide, we will realise that we are not facing a new situation. The graphic report Tercer género alrededor del mundo, by the authors Leandro Galdames, Gabriel Oyarzo, Michael Pando, and Paula Solar, records ten geographically very dispersed cultures where the understanding of gender goes beyond the separation between man and woman.

In Latin America, there are two cases: in Mexico, there are the Muxe people, who are assigned the male sex at birth, but who adopt feminine or mixed gender roles. In Chile, there is the Epu Pillan or Epu Püllü; these are expressions in Mapudungun, the language of the Mapuche people, which roughly translates as “two spirits” or “two souls.” They are used to refer to people within the Mapuche culture who have a gender identity that does not entirely fit the binary categories of man and woman.

Inclusive language versus gender-neutral language

Although feminism took a significant step in its fight against androcentric language, in the words of sociolinguist Ben Papadopoulos in his text A Brief History of Non-Binary Spanish (2022), “these language changes were limited by the traditional gender dichotomy based on sexual difference.” Therefore, the morpheme e – initially proposed in 1976 by Spanish engineer Álvaro García Meseguer – “was the solution to the problem of linguistic sexism.”

Inclusive language versus gender-neutral language

Although feminism took a significant step in its fight against androcentric language, in the words of sociolinguist Ben Papadopoulos in his text A Brief History of Non-Binary Spanish (2022), “these language changes were limited by the traditional gender dichotomy based on sexual difference.” Therefore, the morpheme e – initially proposed in 1976 by Spanish engineer Álvaro García Meseguer – “was the solution to the problem of linguistic sexism.”

Since then, neutral or non-binary language has become increasingly prominent. The use of the morpheme y implies substantial changes in the language, but the proposals for using morphemes such as x or @ are even more fundamental. This present great difficulty when reading or using them in spoken form. This is even more complex for people who suffer from visual or hearing disabilities or are elderly, who find it much more difficult to understand the language with these new variants. How does the technological assistant read the morpheme @, for example?

There is a growing societal awareness of gender diversity, and language is evolving to reflect this. The issue is how to balance the right to the legitimate assessment of a collective without overshadowing or displacing another human group.

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you are looking to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, remember to subscribe to our wonderful grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language

Qué pena con usted. Colombia, why do you cause us so much confusion?

It is 3 pm in Bogotá, and I crave trying the classic tamales with hot chocolate. “Ay no, qué pena con usted, pero ya no tengo tamales” [Oh no, what a pity for you, but I don’t have any more tamales], the saleswoman tells me. That qué pena con usted [what a pity for you] resonates in my mind and is very funny because I do not understand that something so unimportant causes you “pity”. Is it not a bit exaggerated to feel so much grief for so little? I was a little confused, but I managed to understand the central idea of ​​the message. Instead of dwelling on the confusion, I accepted the cultural difference and did not give it much importance.

My walk through Bogotá continues, and so does my interaction. This means I will repeatedly hear the phrase: ” What a pity, the food is taking a little longer than expected.” “Excuse me, what a pity for you, but can you explain how I can get to Teusaquillo?” And so many times, the phrase echoes in my ears, persistently reminding me of my confusion, still without understanding why they use “pena” [pity] in that expression.

The RAE, Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, highlights the sense of shame for countries in Central America, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela within the meanings of pity.

I already knew the expression—but from a distance—and that was the first of many times it was said to me directly. Sometimes, it was in its shorter version, with a simple “what a pity,” and then in its extended version, with all the feeling that “what a pity for you” contains. It is indeed an expression that arouses a lot of tenderness but also draws attention due to its excessive politeness.

As one becomes familiar with the expression, one realises that it is very versatile, with multiple uses. It is used to apologise, ask for a favour, attract attention, or deny something. It is a kind and courteous way of addressing someone. Some foreigners love it; others, however, find that courtesy in the spoken language of Colombians implies a degree of condescension that, at times, produces a lot of discomfort.

Where does this way of speaking come from?

The answer seems to lie in two references. On the one hand, the significant influence of the Catholic Church, which calls for respect for elders and authority figures, and in general terms, good manners. On the other hand, the influence of the colonial era, characterised by servility and respect for hierarchies, was very marked at that time. These two influences make up essential elements of the Colombian peculiarity, which helps explain that in its language, everyday uses expressions such as ‘what a pity for you’ or the usual a la orden [‘at your service’] and para servirle [‘to serve you’]. The phrase para servirle is a product of this historical context, where servility and respect for hierarchies were highly valued.

If you are a foreigner, I understand that it may shock you the first time you hear “to serve you” because if one is not familiar with the expression, one emphasises its literal meaning, while a Colombian, probably due to the everyday nature of its use, is no longer governed by the literally, if not for the meaning that the use has given it, which would be equivalent to “you’re welcome.” In this way, the expression has lost the literal force of its meaning and has acquired a sense of courtesy.

In Colombian speech, courtesy and kindness are not just values but the cornerstone of effective communication. The unique cadence and respect they show to their interlocutor through language are genuinely remarkable. Unsurprisingly, Colombian citizens are highly valued in customer service positions in other Spanish-speaking countries.

Some argue that the courtesy and kindness embedded in Colombian speech are a powerful tool to counteract and confront the pervasive violence Colombians experience daily. It’s a unique way to combat violence with courtesy, a cultural significance that is often overlooked.

I hope you learned more about this variant of the Spanish language and gained a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of Colombian speech. As Colombians say, qué pena con usted, but this article has ended. Quedo a sus órdenes para lo que necesite. I look forward to sharing more insights in the next blog post.

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Culture around Spanish language

Rituals, chants and superstitions for the Euro Cup and Copa América

What is a superstition? What is the hustle and bustle of the fans? What if not everything at the football festival! We are four days away from the final of the Copa América Euro Cup, and although it did not start from the strongest, Spain will be playing in the Euro Cup final alongside the Netherlands or England. On the other hand, the final of the Copa América will be fought by Argentina or Canada v/s Uruguay or Colombia. We are in the finals, and our nerves are on edge.

In Latin America, the drums sound, and the Argentine fans sing animatedly, almost hysterically:

No importa donde juegue Argentina, voy a estar a tu lado

dejando cualquier cosa de lado por la Selección

[No matter where Argentina plays, I will be by your side

leaving anything aside for the National Team]

Meanwhile, in the European summer, the capes, flags and red scarves are felt under the classic “qué viva España”. The whistles are heard, and every time Spain scores a goal, the fans immediately shout “olé, olé”.

Superstitions and rituals are the order of the day. If, in the 2010 World Cup, Paul the octopus guessed the results of the countries that would win the match hours later, this year, the Eurocup seems to have a new mascot that has captured interest with knowledge of it. The dog, Steph Furry, makes his prediction by hitting the ball with his snout. So far, Furry has not been wrong and has already predicted that the final will be between the Netherlands and Spain. We’ll have to see how well-calibrated Furry this time is.

Some players have unique pre-match rituals that add a touch of intrigue to the game. Take Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance. He prefers to be the last one out of the tunnel, entering the field with his right foot before leaping into the air. Then there’s English defender Kyle Walker, who, in a nod to former wrestler Triple H, fills his mouth with water and spits it out like a fire thrower in a circus.

Argentines follow their team wherever they play; they don’t care how far they travel. The albiceleste does not rest, nor does it falter. And cheer loudly:

Ganar otra copa con Leo es lo que imagino

para traer la gloria a Argentina desde Estado Unidos

[Winning another cup with Leo is what I imagine

to bring glory to Argentina from the United States]

Argentina is the favourite team to win the Copa América, and even with all their strength as a team, they do not put aside superstitions. The team has a superstition born in the 2021 World Cup in Brazil: to travel with the Chucky doll, the team’s mascot. Yes, just like that, Chucky, like the one in the movie. “Not even Chuky missed the mate,” says a post by the president of the Argentine Football Association, who, through Instagram, published a photo of some selected players along with part of the team’s staff. Some Argentine member teams have tattooed Chucky, and others have promised to do the same if they return to Argentina with the Cup. Chucky is not a saint of my devotion, but I will do whatever ritual is necessary to support this team 🥰.

Did you know that superstitions can influence players’ confidence and mental strength? Sociologists say that’s part of the charm surrounding the game outside the football field.

I’m going to Argentina, and you? Which team are you going for? Do you have any rituals or superstitions to support your team?

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you want to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, subscribe to our superb grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language History of Spanish language

The Spanish of Argentina and Uruguay

If you listen to an Argentinian and a Uruguayan speaker, will you know how to differentiate each other? The truth is that it is challenging. There are those who say that the only way to distinguish them is by seeing what they have in their hand: the Argentinian will always have his hands busy with the mate and the thermos, while the Uruguayan will have the mate in one hand and carry the thermos in a bag. It’s not a wrong clue; it’s pretty accurate, but here we give you some linguistic tips so you can get to know them a little better and know where their unique way of speaking comes from.

¿Y vos cómo estás? The ‘voseo’ as a singular pronoun

Spanish began to spread throughout the American continent more than 500 years ago. Still, today, the unique use of the pronoun ‘vos’ as a second-person singular is a linguistic curiosity found only in Argentina and Uruguay.

Upon the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in America, ‘tú’, ‘vos’, and ‘vuestra merced’ were used in Spanish—these three expressions, each with unique connotations, refer to the second person singular. The communicative context determined the use of one over the others; both ‘tú’ (you) and ‘vuestra merced’ (your grace) were used in the context of closeness and trust, while ‘vos’ was exclusively used to address a person of greater authority.

Due to hierarchical relationships, the pronoun ‘tú’ was much more common. However, this changed over time. This is how, in the 16th century, the ‘vos’ began to be a disused expression in Spain and the places in America with a Viceroyalty, such as Peru or Mexico, and ‘you’ became the expression corresponding to the voice of I respect. Thus, the countries furthest from the viceroyalties, such as those in the southern cone and Central America, retained the ‘voseo’.

Currently, the ‘vos’ is widely used in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Costa Rica, and in some regions of Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Cuba, although in the latter, the connotation given to its use may vary according to regions and socio-cultural stratum.

¿Uruguasho, sho?

If you speak Spanish, you will know that an Argentinian and a Uruguayan speak very similar and, at the same time, different from any other Spanish speaker. They pronounce “y” and “ll” uniquely to any Spanish-American Spanish speaker. They say posho instead of pollo (chicken); they go to the plasha, not the playa (beach), and they call shuvia (rain) to the water that falls from the sky. Where does this way of speaking come from?

The unique sound in the Spanish of Argentina and Uruguay, also found in other languages ​​such as Portuguese and English, can be attributed to the nations’ formation by migratory waves from Europe. This linguistic landscape, further shaped by the proximity to Portuguese-speaking Brazil, has led to a contagion of certain sounds of these languages in the Spanish spoken in these regions.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Río de la Plata area experienced a substantial migratory influx from Spain, Italy and France, translating into the gradual incorporation of sounds from Galician, Italian and French. Furthermore, the Argentine sociolinguist María Beatriz Fontanella de Weinberg, a student of the Buenos Aires phonetic particularity, mentions in her works that at the end of the 19th century, there was a significant influence of French in Argentine culture and, with it, an explicit desire to incorporate phonological elements in your vocabulary. There are similar theories that explain the incorporation of sounds from Italian.

Whatever the explanation, the truth is that linguistic loans are transformed and finally appropriated to adapt to the values ​​and culture of the people that incorporate them. Whether it’s with a thermos in your hand or a bag, the culture of the Río de la Plata is inseparable from mate and herb, che!

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you are looking to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, remember to subscribe to our wonderful grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language

The first literary works in Spanish

Literature in Spanish is rich in talented playwrights, writers, and poets. Since the Swedish Academy awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901, eleven of the 102 authors awarded the prize are Spanish-speaking authors: the Spaniards José Echegaray y Eizaguirre (1904), Jacinto Benavente (1922), Juan Ramón Jiménez (1956), Vicente Aleixandre (1977), and Camilo José Cela (1989); the Chileans Gabriela Mistral (1945) and Pablo Neruda (1971); the Guatemalan Miguel Ángel Asturias (1967); the Colombian Gabriel García Márquez (1982); the Mexican Octavio Paz (1990) and the Peruvian Mario Vargas Llosa (2010).

Now, if we look back at the first literary texts in Spanish, we will see that they were written during the Middle Ages, in the 12th century. This was the time of minstrels, those singers and actors who entertained people with lyrical and epic poetry. Epic poetry was composed of epic poems and narrative works written in verse that sing the exploits of great heroes. The most representative work of the epic poems is the Cantar del Mío Cid. It is an anonymous and classic work from the 12th century that is recorded as the first Castilian work written in verse and the only epic song preserved almost entirely.

This work is composed of 3,730 verses, which narrate the final part of the life of the hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid. Here, the complex process of recovering lost honour is narrated, implicitly criticising blood nobility while praising the lower nobility, those who have achieved their status through merit and who fight to win their honour and honour.

In addition to the songs of deeds and the poetry transmitted by the minstrels, a large part of medieval literature was created in the monasteries with a more cultured poetry of a religious nature and educational purposes, the so-called Mester de Clerecía. One of the most representative works of this type of medieval literature is Los Milagros de Nuestra Señora (The Miracles of Our Lady). This work, written by the clergyman Gonzalo de Berceo between 1246 and 1252, narrates, in Spanish, 25 miracles of the Virgin Mary to make known the religion and the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. In this place, he was a cleric. Furthermore, it was close to the Camino de Santiago, widespread throughout Europe.

XV century

The 15th century is a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; didactic and religious writing continued during this time, but new metric forms began in part of the lyrics written by people from more affluent classes. For example, in Coplas a la muerte de su padre (Couplets to the Death of His Father), Jorge Manrique alternates octosyllables and pentasyllables. He makes a beautiful reflection on the brevity of life and the irrelevance of material goods.

With the Renaissance (16th century), interest in classical themes was recovered as oriented towards the cult of reason. In Renaissance prose, pastoral, Moorish, and Byzantine novels stand out as the books of chivalry. Miguel de Cervantes ends this fashion of brave knights swearing eternal love to a weak, faithful lady who reciprocates her love.

The great Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes peaked his career with Don Quixote of La Mancha, published in 1605; he ironises the knights-errant here.

Alonso Quijano, the story’s protagonist, and a fan of chivalric books, loses his mind and travels the roads with his horse Rocinante and his squire Sancho to impose justice guided by the rules of chivalry. His characters have the duality of madness and wisdom; they provoke laughter and admiration for his great humanity.

The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha is one of the most important works of literature in Spanish, and all of us who were born speaking this beautiful language are familiar with this work and its famous opening phrase:

En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor.

[In a village in la Mancha, whose name I do not care to remember, a hidalgo lived not long ago, one of those who keeps a lance on the rack, an old leather shield, skinny nag and swift greyhound.]

With that phrase begins this great work of Cervantes, and here I say goodbye.

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Culture around Spanish language

Sports language. The linguistic game off the field

Language is like a mouldable dough; it expands, or contracts depending on the context and grows or extinguishes according to different circumstances. It is a living being and, therefore, changing. With the emergence of different professions or areas of work development, technicalities arise, a language to convey ideas regarding a specific activity. It happens in medicine, journalism, and other areas. Within journalism, there is a subbranch: sports journalism.

Sports in general and each branch of sports have linguistic references, and sports journalism refers to those that attract the most followers. Sports journalism from countries whose official language is Spanish is often criticised for the use of foreign words, but it must also be recognised that in addition to the use of Anglicisms, the language of sports journalism stands out for the originality of some of its expressions, which have transcended the vocabulary used by journalists and have been transferred to the daily lives of the population of an entire country.

When discussing sporting events, war terminology comes to the fore naturally. The military lexicon is an essential ingredient when creating metaphors for sports. There is talk of real battles, of duel or strife. It is a life-or-death encounter in which the teams dig in, rearm, and test all their artillery.

The language of football

Football, the cultural cornerstone of Spanish-speaking countries, has given rise to a linguistic vocabulary that is incredibly diverse, mirroring the vast array of cultures it represents. This lexicon, deeply embedded in the language, is a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of these nations, inviting all to explore and appreciate their unique expressions of soccer.

Football has its dictionary. Un tiro, disparo o remate al arco is a shot at goal. El tablón is the tribune where the fans of each team are located. Depending on the team they support, they are known as Culés or Colchoneros in Spain, Bosteros or Gallinas in Argentina and Uruguay, or Las Madres, Las Zorras, or Las Monjas in Chile.

The ball is known as la pelota, el cuero (the leather) or el esférico. A player lacking passion is called pecho frío (cold chest). Dar un baile (giving a dance) is winning by a wide margin. Amasar la pelota (kneading the ball) refers to whoever can dominate it. Morfón, comilón or chupón (glutton), is the one who does not pass the ball to his teammates. The fans who aguanta los trapos (put up with the rags) are those who always support their team, and gambetear or hacer una gambeta (dribbling) is the ability of a player to elude the opposing team and continue advancing with the ball. The player with these skills is a gambeteador (dribbler).

Gato (a cat) is an outstanding goalkeeper; there is also talk of an arquerazo. And a cabezazo (a headbutt) can also be testarazo. Tuercebotas (a boot twister) is how you know a terrible player.

It is said that sports language is excessively opinionated, but at the same time, this freedom has allowed him to be one of the most creative and innovative with the use of language. Poetic resources such as metaphors, comparisons and metonyms are used in sports language. In sports journalism, emotions and feelings are appealed to, which is why using exclamation points is expected. Goal, goal, goal! It could be an acceptable headline on the front page.

Is Barcelona that good? The headline seeks to challenge the reader, establish contact, and maintain a conversation.

As we have already seen, linguistic creativity is characteristic of sports language. We see it in the brief extract that we have shared here of the usual vocabulary around football and the stylistic resources that are used to create new words or expressions; in addition to these, we can mention a couple more, such as the case of the verbalisation of the noun in cases of campeonar (ganar el Campeonato: win the championship) –El atlético de Madrid logró campeonar en España– or the resource of parasynthesis, which is none other than forming words using a suffix or prefix, for example, in the case of cerocerismo. El cerocerismo vuelve a imponerse en la liga.

Sports language has been relevant in enriching other languages, even everyday languages. Do you know everyday expressions whose origin is in the sports field? Share them with us.

I have wanted to discuss the language of equestrianism, but due to a lack of space, that will have to be part of another article. You can also suggest topics that interest you.

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you are looking to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, remember to subscribe to our wonderful grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language

Spanglish. The influence of a giant

Estás ready to read this article? Yes, I know that sometimes it can be hard but let’s understand un poco about what Spanglish or espanglish is.

Spanglish is how some non-standard Spanish spoken in North America are colloquially known in contexts where Spanish and English are in prolonged contact due to group bilingualism.

Spanish and English are two widely spoken languages worldwide. Although these two languages are studied and spoken separately, we cannot ignore a sociolinguistic phenomenon that occurs when bilingual speakers of English and Spanish interact. They do not always choose to conduct the conversation purely in Spanish or English but rather choose a third way: Spanglish.

You may like it or not, but here there is. A hybrid between English and Spanish that linguists don’t know how to classify. There are no rules; It may seem like Spanish with many anglicisms between sentences or English with many Spanish words intertwined. For some linguists, it is simply code-switching, such as switching from a dialect to a standard language or when speaking the formal language and then switching to a more informal use. In many sectors, it tends to bother; for some, it is a sign of a low cultural level, while others say it shows how language is in constant creation. Others observe the phenomenon attentively and without judgment, but let’s start at the beginning: when did people start talking like this?

When did people start speaking Spanglish?

The origin of Spanglish can be seen in the early interactions between Spanish explorers and the indigenous people of the Americas, and later, during the Spanish colonisation of the southwestern United States, the Mexican- American War, and the annexation of territories such as Texas and California. Then, in the 20th century, increased migration and cultural exchange between Spanish-speaking immigrants and English-speaking communities, particularly in urban areas, further boosted the development of Spanish. This was especially true in families where the first generation did not speak English, but their children did.

The Puerto Rican writer Salvador Tió used the term Spanglish for the first time in an article titled “Teoría del Spanglish”, published on October 28, 1948, in the Diario de Puerto Rico. There, he referenced native Spanish speakers who renounced their mother tongue to learn English and immigrate to non-Hispanic countries.

Currently, Spanglish’s influence on popular culture is reflected in social networks, music, and cinema, especially among the younger generations, where it is widely accepted.

Chicano, Tex-mex and Cubonics: living la vida loca

The places where it is most common to speak Spanglish are those in the United States, where there is a large population of Latinos. For this reason, Southern California and Puerto Rico are significant hotspots for Spanglish.

Do you remember Ricky Martin’s song “Living la vida loca”? Well, that’s Spanglish. And Ricky Martin is Puerto Rican; it all makes sense now, right?

Chicano English is often used to refer to the dialect of English spoken by Americans of Mexican origin. Within this is the Texan variant, which is spoken mainly in southern Texas. However, these terms are also used to refer to the Spanglish spoken in these geographical areas, which differs, for example, from that developed by Cuban Americans residing in Miami, whose Spanglish is usually known as the Cubonics language.

What do you think of Spanglish? Is it possible that English and Spanish will merge into a single language and Spanglish will finally be recognised? Would you like that to happen? Share with us what you think of this linguistic phenomenon, whether you like it or not and if you are a user. We would want to know what you think.

Spanglish exists -that is a fact- but we still have English and Spanish. So, if you want to improve your writing in Spanish, take advantage of iScribo, our excellent spelling and grammar correction tool. You will not regret it!

Hasta la vista, baby.

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