Spanish - The Language
I read in a post here a couple of days ago that the constitution of Spain says that Castellano is the official language of Spain and so the entire Spanish speaking world is not really speaking Spanish.
I found this concept absurd as Spain can only dictate what Spain calls its official language. So I decided to see what Mexico calls its official language. I was surprised to see that Mexico does not have an official language yet its constitution recognizes 68 languages indeginous as national languages. Yet everywhere I looked it called Spanish the defacto national language.
So, a question for those of you living in other Spanish speaking countries. What is the official language of your country?
5 Answers
Here in Spain it's called Castellano. It is considered to be the official language of Spain by most people who are not Catalan or Gallego
The issue of language, of "linguistic fascism" is a hot potato in Spain, especially in the so called Països Catalans
The linguistic issue has permeated political and social life in the country and appears to be insoluble.
The problem is being fought out in the classrooms of the Països Catalans and it is a bitter contentious issue. Anyway "Spanish" in the country is Castellano
Hello,
Here in Spain, castellano is the official language, as chileno said.
Since español is also an adjective meaning:
- of or relating to the Spanish language or its speakers.
- of or relating to Spain or Spaniards,
and there are other official languages in Spain, we use the word castellano in order to differentiate them.
I think that the language is called castellano instead of español for historical reasons. Castilla la Vieja (Old Castilla) is an old region of Spain where a romance dialect was spoken. And this dialect is the origin of the Spanish language Here more information.
One more thing. I don't think that "the entire Spanish speaking world is not really speaking Spanish". I mean: what do you like the most "french fries" or "freedom fries"?
[Feel free to correct my English. Thank you.]
Artículo 3. El castellano y las demás lenguas españolas
El castellano es la lengua española oficial del Estado. Todos los españoles tienen el deber de conocerla y el derecho a usarla.
from constitución
In the Spanish world there has been a shift on the name of the language and several countries call it Español, because in English it is called "Spanish" and not Castilian.
It is trendy?
In the Spanish world there has been a shift on the name of the language and several countries call it Español, because in English it is called "Spanish" and not Castilian.
This raises the ckicken or the egg question. Is it called Spanish because that is what it is called in English or is it called Spanish because others call it Español?
