Evolution of the Spanish Language: Origins to Present

Posted on Mar 22, 2025 in Latin

Historical Evolution of the Spanish Language

The current linguistic situation in Spain is the result of a historical evolution influenced by a number of linguistic, political, and cultural factors. Except for Euskera, all peninsular languages are derived from Latin. Before Roman colonization, the Iberian Peninsula was home to a great diversity of peoples from various cultures, such as Celtiberians, Germans, and others. This resulted in linguistic heterogeneity, with a number of different languages of diverse origins spoken. Latin prevailed, wiping out most native languages. The Latin that became generalized was Vulgar Latin, which served as a common language that allowed communication between all peoples of the Roman Empire. In the 5th century, linguistic differentiation and diversification began to appear, a process further accelerated by the fall of the Roman Empire.

Emergence of Castilian and its Expansion

The Spanish language emerged from the evolution of Vulgar Latin in the County of Castile. Some of the salient features of these developments were the replacement of the initial “f” with an aspirated “h” (and later a silent “h”), and the transformation of the groups “pl,” “cl,” and “fl” into “ll.” The first words written in Castilian appear in Latin manuscripts in the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla and Santo Domingo de Silos. Words or short passages were translated into Castilian in the manuscripts to facilitate understanding; these are called glosses. After the completion of the Reconquest of Granada in 1492, Castilian also spread to America. Due to its prestige and volume, Castilian began to be used in literary and scientific contexts, among others.

Factors Consolidating the Spanish Language:

  • Alfonso X’s School: Works of various themes were written and translated.
  • The introduction of Humanism in Spain.
  • Publication of the first Spanish grammar by Antonio de Nebrija.
  • An extensive list of cultivated authors: Gonzalo de Berceo, Don Juan Manuel, and others.

From the 16th Century to the Present

From the 16th century onward, Castilian was considered suitable to replace Latin in the dissemination of scientific thought. Numerous treatises and dictionaries were written, such as “Dialogue of the Tongue” by Juan Valdés. During this period, many cultismos (borrowings) from Latin and Greek were incorporated into Castilian, greatly enriching the lexicon. Literature reached the highest levels of glory, with characteristic authors such as Garcilaso de la Vega, Góngora, and Quevedo. In 1713, the Royal Spanish Academy was founded in order to preserve the Castilian language. From then until today, the language has been carefully studied, various spelling reforms have been carried out, the excessive influence of classicism has been avoided, and dictionaries, spelling guides, and grammars have been continuously published. A century after the founding of the RAE, improvements in communication, industrialization, and the implementation of compulsory education began.

Castilian Beyond Spain

Castilian, besides being the official language of Spain, is also spoken in other countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and others. It is also preserved as an official language in other places, such as Africa and the Philippines. Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world, after Chinese and English. It is also an official language at the United Nations, the European Union, and other international agencies. Currently, the demand for teaching Spanish as a second language has increased in the United States, Japan, and the countries of the European Community.