Conference

The Spanish Language

The Spanish language and the Roman Catholic religion are among the oldest and most important cultural bonds that unite Hispanics. During Spain's colonial period, which lasted from the 1500's to the 1800's, Spanish missionaries and landowners spread their language and religion throughout the areas they controlled. As a result, most Hispanic Americans can speak Spanish, and a large majority are Roman Catholics.

Technically speaking, the Spanish language is called Castellano. Castillian Spanish is the Spanish that is spoken in Spain and Venezuela. The Swedish philologist, F. Wullf, called Spanish "the most sonorous, harmonious, elegant, and expressive of all the Romance languages." French grammarian L. Malefille declared that Italian kept Latin's sweetness, but Spanish maintained its nerve. Spanish has even been termed "manly." That is to say, French is spoken from the mouth, Italian from the throat, but Spanish from the thoracic cavity, the chest. Italian is linked with vehemence. French with refinement, and Spanish with dignity and even martial manliness!

 
There are other variations of Spanish that are spoken in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala and other countries. Hispanics in the United States speak a variety of Spanish dialects - with distinct pronunciation, vocabulary, colloquial expressions, and slang - depending on their country or region of origin, the speakers of one dialect can usually understand the speakers of another with no difficulty.

Although some Hispanic Americans do not use Spanish at all, most continue to speak Spanish in their homes and teach the language to their children. Many adult immigrants have difficulty learning English, but their children usually grow up speaking both Spanish and English. Accent - Many individuals who acquire a second language past early childhood tend to retain the accent influence of the mother tongue into the second language. Everyone has an "accent." Accents vary widely in Spanish speakers as they do in English speakers (British, New York or Australian English accents). Individuals can often easily recognize someone from Cuba, Puerto Rico or Columbia by their native accents. Accent is not an indication of fluency or comprehension of the second language. An accent reveals a person to be more than monolingual and is a source of uniqueness and pride. Unfortunately many individuals use color or skin, and accents as a basis for discrimination and prejudicial treatment. (Source: Cultural backgrounds of Hispanic Americans; Campbell, Richard C. Two Eagles in the Sun)


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