Evolution of Languages and Dialects in the Iberian Peninsula
Development and Relations of Languages and Dialects in the Iberian Peninsula
Language differences arose during the Reconquista and subsequent multilingualism. The fragmentation of Vulgar Latin resulted in distinct language cores.
Galician-Portuguese
In the northwest, Galician-Portuguese was very similar to Latin, reflecting the area’s extensive Romanization. During the Middle Ages, the language supported a significant literary culture. Even Alfonso X the Wise wrote poems in this language (Cantigas de Santa María). Historical and political factors led to the divergence of Galician and Portuguese into separate languages.
Astur-Leonese
The early monarchy of the peninsula is associated with Astur-Leonese. Until the first half of the 11th century, the variety spoken in Oviedo and León held more prestige than other dialects of the peninsula. However, before it could achieve a unified literary culture, it was absorbed by Castilian.
Castilian
A small county of Castile grew into a kingdom, and the Castilian tongue advanced southward with the Reconquista, giving rise to dialects or variations such as Andalusian, Extremaduran, Murcian, and Canarian.
Navarro-Aragonese
To the east, Navarro-Aragonese experienced a similar fate to that of Astur-Leonese during the Middle Ages.
Catalan
The historical evolution of Catalan is linked to Provence until the fifteenth century. The Reconquista led to its expansion southward, giving rise to Balearic and Valencian.
Dissemination of Castilian
In the ninth century, the County of Castile was a small territory on the eastern border of the Kingdom of León (between Cantabria and Burgos). Politically dependent on the Astur-Leonese monarchs, it gained some autonomy from the tenth century under Count Fernán González. Originally, a Romance dialect with limited influence from the Visigothic court and influenced by Basque was spoken in this territory. This dialect had a strong and innovative character. Later, populations from other backgrounds (Cantabria, Basque, etc.) were added, contributing to the diverse speech of the area.
The first texts written in Castilian appear in some Latin manuscripts of the tenth century, namely the Glosas Emilianenses and Glosas Silenses. Castile became an independent kingdom in the 11th century under Ferdinand I, after which his dominions joined the Kingdom of León. His descendants continued the conquest from north to south until the fall of Granada in 1492. The first poem in Castilian, the Poem of the Cid, dates to the 12th century. In the 13th century, Alfonso X the Wise contributed to Castilian’s rise as a prestige language, notably through the creation of the Toledo School of Translators. Authors like Gonzalo de Berceo wrote in this century. In the fifteenth century, following the discovery of America, Castilian was brought to these lands by the conquerors, leading to a significant development of the language. Also in 1492, Elio Antonio de Nebrija published the first grammar of a Romance language.
The 16th and 17th centuries marked the heyday of Castilian as a language of trade and culture. Major works were written in Castilian during this time (e.g., Don Quixote, Lazarillo de Tormes). In the 18th century, the Royal Spanish Academy was founded in 1713 to standardize the Castilian language. During this century, many words from French began to penetrate Castilian. In recent times, the Castilian language continues to develop and is the third most spoken language in the world. Significant Hispanic communities have formed in countries like the U.S.