RIZA A.

BELTRAN October 18, 2020

PhD in HRM Score:

Module 1: The Story of the Spanish Lnaguage

A. The Origin of the Spanish Language

Spanish - is the most widely spoken Romance Language
- Other Romance Language
o Portuguese
o French
o Italian
o Romanian
o Catalan
- It is the native language to 330 million in 21 countries
- It’s considered the second world language in international communication
and the third world language in politics, economics and culture
- A “world language” is a language that’s widely learned as a second language
and spoken extensively across the globe.

The Different Branches of the Spanish Language

o Castilian Spanish, also called Castellano, is spoken predominantly in

Spain.
 There are some pronunciation points that make it sound different
from Latin American Spanish.
 There are also a few vocabulary differences. For example, in
Spain you’d drive un coche (a car) while elsewhere you’d use un
carro (a car). Additionally, the vosotros (you) form is utilized rather
than the ustedes (you) that you’d hear in other Spanish-speaking
countries.
o Latin American Spanish is used by the Americans
 there are regional differences in Latin American Spanish,
depending on location. Dialects, idioms and slangy phrases make
this a fun language to hear and speak—wherever you are!
The History of the Spanish Language: From Origin to Romance

From Proto-Indo-European to Latin: The Story Begins Near the Black Sea

In his widely-read book “A History of the Spanish Language,” author Ralph Penny traces the
Spanish language all the way back to the Indo-European languages

Proto-Indo-European languages 

- it is a family of languages according to historians and linguistics

- were spoken until around 3,400 BCE, which then gave way to the
development of the languages we know today.

Indo-European language

- were first spoken 5,000 years ago in the area surrounding the Black Sea,
located between southeastern Europe, western Asia and modern-day
Turkey.

From Latin and Arabic to Castilian: The Travelers Reach the Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula, where Spain and Portugal are located, is nearly 2,000 miles
from the Black Sea. But this distance didn’t stop the Roman Empire from
spreading its reach all the way out and influencing the development of the area, both in
terms of culture and language.
The Romans settled on the peninsula in about 200 BC, bringing their spoken language
with them. This wasn’t the classic Latin that we associate with fine art and
religion today. Instead, they spoke a more common, cruder form of Latin, known
as Vulgar Latin.

Other settlers and languages began to filter in to the area, including Arabic due to the Muslim
rule of the peninsula between 711 and 1491. Infact, approximately 4000 modern Spanish
words are derived from Arabic! 
.
As the languages in the area mixed together, dialects began to take shape within the spoken
language. Around the end of the 11th century, the Castilian dialect was formed in northern
Spain. This is the earliest point where we can see the beginnings of modern Spanish being
spoken.
What started as a local dialect spread and gained a foothold when the kingdoms of Castile,
Leon and Aragon joined together to form the beginnings of Spain in the late 15th century. In
1492, Castilian became the official language of the region, having also developed a writing
system.
With this newly widespread use, literature began to emerge from the area. People started to
write down the tales that were previously spread through oral storytelling, further evolving and
refining the language. Other literature began to be translated into Castilian, as well.

A surge of written language is a high point for any society and Spain was no exception. In
Charles E. Chapman’s “A History of Spain,” we learn that there was a large intellectual surge
during the period leading up to the end of the 15th century.

To this day, Castilian Spanish remains the official language of that incredible country, Spain!

From Castilian to Latin American: Castilian Spanish Crosses the Ocean

Spanish is also spoken in the Americas.

 Spanish ended up being spoken so far from the Iberian Peninsula.

 The journey of the language “across the pond” is thanks in large part to an Italian (or,
maybe, Portuguese) explorer whose name you might recognize: Christopher
Columbus.
 Starting with his voyage in 1492, Italian sailor Christopher Columbus traveled on behalf
of Spain (speaking Castilian Spanish) to the Americas four times. He and his crews
brought the language to many places, including the Bahamian islands, Trinidad, the
South American mainland, Panama and present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
 He wasn’t the only explorer who visited the inhabitants of America: Spain’s Ponce de
León also made some trips starting in 1513 to Florida and expanded across present-day
United States.
 All this exploration by the Spanish led to the establishment of several Spanish-speaking
colonies along the way.
 Spanish continued to evolve after its arrival in the Americas. Castilian Spanish may have
arrived in its pure, original form to Latin America but it didn’t remain that way. Native
languages spoken by the people who were impacted by visitors and the church, and
later, English speakers in modern-day United States, led to variations in spoken
Castilian Spanish.
 Dialects emerged—and Latin American Spanish evolved. Even today, depending on
where you go, you’ll hear differences in the language, sometimes subtle and sometimes
pretty drastic.
 And, over time, the sounds of Latin American Spanish became pretty different from
those of Castilian Spanish 
 Spanish is the result of linguistic evolution. The origins of the Spanish language show
that languages don’t form in isolation.
o The language is like una hermosa mariposa (a gorgeous butterfly).
Source: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/history-of-spanish-language/

B. Theimportant of studying Spanish Languagee

Hispanics are the largest minority in the United States, with the majority of them
being Spanish speakers. By learning Spanish, you'll be better able to communicate
with Spanish speakers. Latin American countries are our most important trading
partners. Being able to speak Spanish greatly enhances your resume.
1. Because of the Number of Speakers
 there are over 475 million native speakers of Spanish worldwide.
 Spanish the second most-spoken language in the world after Chinese Mandarin!
 In the US alone, the number of native Spanish speakers is over 41 million, a
number that is growing so fast that it is estimated that in a few years, the United
States will be the country with the most native Spanish speakers in the whole
world
 The growing number of Spanish speakers means they are present in almost
every country in the world. You can make friends abroad, visit them and practice
your Spanish at the same time.
2. Because It Can Get You a Better Job
 Learning Spanish will add that final touch to your resume that will make you stand
out among the rest of candidates who are applying for that job you so want to get.
 Spanish is also a great asset that can help you get promoted at your current place
of employment!
3. Because of Commerce
 Hispanic Americans are getting wealthier, whether it is in their home countries or
working in the US. A wealthier person will buy more of that product you are
selling, and since their purchasing power is on the rise, your sales can be,
too!
 Learning Spanish is your key to opening a business in the Spanish-speaking
area of your city or even in a Latin American country.
 With Hispanic Americans spending more and more each year, you have the
perfect opportunity to get your dream business started and make some profit
while helping others get what they need.
4. Because You Want to Grow as a Person
 With English being the world’s  lingua franca, there are hundreds of thousands of
English native speakers who do not even try learning a second language. Many
believe that they do not need to, because “everybody speaks English.”
  Learning a second (or third) language will not only make people around you look
at you in awe and admiration, but it will also allow you to grow as a person and
make you proud of yourself!
 And I mean the whole “growing as a person” thing literally: It has been
demonstrated that people who study another language acquire some personality
traits related to that language and its native speakers.
5. Because It Will Open the Door to Other Languages
 Romance language is the mosy widely spoken in the world, you will be learning
valuable information that can help you study other Romance languages like
Italian, Portuguese and even French.
 Romance languages come from Vulgar Latin and they share a whole lot of
characteristics like core vocabulary that is written either identically or very
similarly. In addition to this, their grammar and sentence are structurally similar
and the different tenses and verb moods have a tendency to stay more or less
the same across all of them.
6. Because It Is an Easy Language
 Spanish shares thousands of cognates (words that sound and mean the same)
with English. Thanks to this, you already know more Spanish than a native
five-year-old even if you have never touched a Spanish grammar or vocabulary
book!
 Secondly, Spanish grammar is nice and easy. Spanish likes (no, it loves!) its
grammar rules, and tends to stick to them. If you learn a grammar topic, you will
be able to apply it right away and it will help you to learn other topics.
 Last, but not least, Spanish is spelled exactly as it is pronounced (with the
exception of the magical letter h, which has no sound whatsoever).
 Spanish, on the other hand, has evolved not only its pronunciation but also its
spelling. Every letter is pronounced the same way, no matter what the context is.
What you see is what you get!
7. Because It Will Improve Your English
 it is learning a foreign language that really opens your eyes to how
grammar and languages work. And once you see it in another language, you
will tie the information back to your native language.
 This will make you more conscious about your own grammar and will make you
realize things you never paid attention to or have always taken for granted, like
(surprise!) English having a subjunctive mood, too!
8. Because It Will Let You Enjoy Books, Music and Movies in Their Original
Language
 Learning another language opens a world of opportunities that has virtually no
end.
  You will not have to depend on a native speaker to help you understand those
lyrics. You will not have to depend on subtitles, dubbing, translated versions of
books…
9. Because It Will Make Your Vacation More Enjoyable
 If you speak Spanish, you can interact with the people of the place you are
visiting, ask for directions without having to carry a dictionary with you, mingle
and have fun at local bars and party
 If you start learning Spanish now, you will be able to choose from 20+ more
countries!
10. Because It Will Help You Make New Friends
 We are in the era of the internet. Everything—literally—can be done online. Why
not take advantage of that and make a ton of friends from the comfort of your
computer or phone?
11. Because It Can Help You Find Love
 It is also cool and very feasible to fall in love online and start a long-distance
relationship. Been there, done that, too.
 learn Spanish for love Spanish-speaking person you are head-over-heels in love
with will start looking at you with different eyes.
12. Because It Can Save You from Trouble
 knowing Spanish, you can avoid certain situations just by paying attention to
what the people around you are saying.
  Knowing what people say when they think you cannot understand is an
extremely useful skill to have.
 Even a little bit of Spanish knowledge will definitely come in handy in order to feel
more secure and at home in a foreign environment.
13. Because of the Amazing Food, People and Culture
 There are over 20 countries where Spanish is an official or national language.
That means there are over 20 different kinds of traditional foods, customs
and cultures.
 Each of the countries where Spanish is spoken has its own history,
traditions and way of living. People from Nicaragua, for instance, are distinctly
different from people Spaniards. Even within these countries, there can be
several kinds of traditions, folklore and dialects!
 When you start learning Spanish you will open a window to its history, traditions
and people, and you will be able to fully understand our differences and
similarities.
14. Because You Want to Grow Old with a Powerful Brain
 The brain is a muscle, and as such, the more you exercise it, the stronger it
gets.
  Learning a new language involves memorizing grammar rules, tenses,
vocabulary words, idioms and much more. If you start learning Spanish and
spend, say, 20 minutes a day practicing and studying it, you will be exercising
your brain every day!
 But learning a new language will not only boost your brain: it will slow down its
aging process!
 There are several studies that demonstrate that learning a new language can
delay the appearance of dementia. This is mainly caused by the fact that when
you speak more than one language, you need to switch between them, making
your brain work harder and thus making it more powerful.

C. The Spanish Speaking People and the environment where they live and their
contribution to the world of civilization.

Latin American culture 

 It is the formal or informal expression of the people of Latin America and includes
both high culture (literature and high art) and popular culture (music, folk art, and dance),
as well as religion and other customary practices. These are generally of Western origin,
but have various degrees of Native American, African and Asian influence.
 Definitions of Latin America vary. From a cultural perspective,[1] Latin America generally
refers to those parts of the Americas whose cultural, religious and linguistic heritage can
be traced to the Latin culture of the late Roman Empire. This would include areas
where Spanish, Portuguese, French and various other Romance languages, which can
trace their origin to the Vulgar Latin spoken in the late Roman Empire, are natively
spoken. Such territories include almost all of Mexico, Central America and South
America, with the exception of English or Dutch speaking territories. Culturally, it could
also encompass the French derived culture in North America, as it ultimately derives
from Latin Roman influence as well. There is also an important Latin American cultural
presence in the United States since the 16th century in areas such as California, Florida
and the Southwest, which were part of the Spanish Empire. More recently, in cities such
as New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Miami.
The richness of Latin American culture is the product of many influences, including:

 Spanish and Portuguese culture, owing to the region's history of colonization, settlement

and continued immigration from Spain and Portugal. All the core elements of Latin American
culture are of Iberian origin, which is ultimately related to Western Culture.
 Pre-Columbian cultures, whose importance is today particularly notable in countries
such as Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay. These cultures are
central to indigenous communities such as the Quechua, Maya and Aymara.
 19th- and 20th-century European immigration from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany,
France and Eastern Europe; which transformed the region and had an impact in countries
such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil (particular the southeast and southern
regions), Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Venezuela, Paraguay, Dominican Republic (specifically
the northern region) and Mexico (particularly the northern region).
 Chinese, Indian, Lebanese and other Arab, Armenian, Filipino, Korean, Japanese and
various other Asian groups. Mostly immigrants and indentured laborers who arrived from
the coolie trade and influenced the culture of Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Panama and Peru in
areas such as food, art, and cultural trade.
 The culture of Africa brought by Africans in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade has influenced
various parts of Latin America. Influences are particularly strong in dance, music, cuisine,
and some syncretic religions of Cuba, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and coastal
Colombia.

www.coloradomesa.edu
www.fluenta.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American_culture

Reflection:
The story of the Spanish language enhance my knowledge and appreciation of the Spanish
language. And even interest me more to study after knowing the fourteen reason why we need
to study Spanish Language, and recognized the influence of the Spanish speaking people tho
their contribution to the world.
Spanish language was my fear when I was a child since once my grandpa speak to me that
language its also word of discipline. The Spanish a language is a consecrated dialect for I
always heard it from my grandma’s prayers and read it from her prayer book with a little
understanding. Remembering also the excitement of attending the Latin mass yet the feeling of
disappointment when you understood nothing from it. While the elders a very much enjoy
reciting the responses of the mass. That’s why it challenge me to learn the basic of the Spanish
language. The information I again from the topic ignite my interest learning the Spanish
language for it enhance my personality and profession in gaining new language.
The evolution of Spanish Language is veru essential to the journeyed the world. As the second
spoken language I founf it very significant if we try and desire to explore the world of peple
andplaces. The navigation done by different navigator contributed a lot if spreading the Spanish
dialect. Our history brought us nearer and closer through the language despite of the dark
experience of the past,