Even if Spanish is your native language, how much do you really know about its roots? It’s time to find out more. At the very least, you probably know it comes from Latin, right? Well, that’s a start. Don’t worry, Okodia works with languages every day, and we are well-versed in their origins and evolution. Keep reading to discover the captivating story behind the Spanish language!
Where does Spanish come from?
Spanish is a Romance language with its roots in Rome. It developed from Vulgar Latin, the everyday version of spoken Latin, which later gave rise to several other European and global languages. Its history goes all the way back to the 3rd century BC, but it became the official language of the Kingdom of Castile in the 13th century during the reign of Alfonso X, known as “the Wise”.
The Romans left more than just monuments behind in Spain, since Latin laid the foundations for the Spanish language. Of all the Romance languages that appeared after the fall of the Roman Empire, Spanish has become the most widespread. It is now the native language of around 493 million people, and spoken or studied by over 590 million people, according to the Instituto Cervantes.
The roots of Spanish
Spanish has deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula, influenced by the Celts, Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and most of all, the Romans. Their conquest made Latin the dominant language in Hispania. After the Roman Empire collapsed, Vulgar Latin evolved in different parts of the region. This gave rise to the Romance languages, including Spanish.
The Muslim presence in Al-Andalus also left its mark, with the emergence of Mozarabic, a blend of Arabic and Vulgar Latin. The Reconquista shaped Spanish even more, especially in the Kingdom of Castile, which took the initiative and absorbed elements of Mozarabic, adding many Arabic words to the language.
So Spanish is the result of a complex mix of influences, including Roman, Germanic and Arabic, and it is now one of the most widely spoken and important languages in the world.
Spanish or Castilian?
The terms “Spanish” and “Castilian” are often used interchangeably to refer to the language. However, there’s a bit of debate over whether they really are identical or if there’s a subtle difference.
In everyday use, both words refer to the same language, Spain’s official language, which is also spoken in many other countries. The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) treats both terms as synonyms and doesn’t make an official distinction between them.
“Spanish” is more commonly used internationally, while “Castilian” (“castellano” in Spanish) is often used when talking specifically about the dialect from the Castile region in Spain.Some people prefer to use “Spanish” to talk about the language in general, while others use “Castilian” for cultural or historical reasons.
The oldest known text in Castilian
A 10th-century document called the “Nodicia de kesos” is a strong contender for the title of the first text written in Castilian, challenging the previously accepted ‘Glosas Emilianenses’. However, the RAE also points to early signs of Castilian in documents found at the monastery of Valpuesta, about 90 km from the city of Burgos.
These texts, part of the Cartulary of Valpuesta, have been partly verified, although some pages have turned out to be forgeries. According to the RAE, these documents show Latin starting to give way to a new linguistic structure, the beginning of Castilian.
Even though the “Nodicia de kesos” is still seen as a key early example of Castilian, the RAE hasn’t yet carried out a full study of the text. The document is from the year 959. It actually predates the Glosas, a manuscript found at the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, which dates back to 977 and was long thought to be the oldest known Castilian text.
It is thought to have been written by Brother Ximeno, who worked as a steward at the Monastery of Saints Justus and Pastor in La Rozuela. It’s basically a shopping list, an inventory of food supplies, specifically cheeses, recorded by the monk.
Now that you know the origins of Spanish… what has surprised you the most?
