Did you know that the U.S. has nearly 40 million native Spain speakers? That’s not all, as, by 2050, the U.S. will be the largest Spanish-speaking country across the globe, according to Instituto Cervantes. In this article, we are going to talk about the history of the Spanish language; the countries that speak it; how Spanish differs from other languages, like English, and fun facts about it. Furthermore, why we recommend that you work with a reputable translation company when it comes to Spanish language translation. A well-recognized Spanish translator offers a second-to-none Spanish translation service for maximum satisfaction.
The Spanish Language
Here is everything you need to know about the Spanish language.
1. History of the Spanish Language
The Spanish language has been around for more than 1,500 years. As such, it is no surprise that it has a rich and somewhat complicated history. Spanish started as a dialect of spoken Latin, which, today, is referred to as “Vulgar Latin” and not the Classical Latin applied in the literature.
The language originated from the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Empire. During this period, the official language on the peninsula was the Latin language, which was, otherwise, known as “Hispania”. Nevertheless, the language was not pure. It was mixed with the inhabitants’ local languages. These included Iberians and Celts. It would, later on, start to take its own unique flavor.
2. Difference Between Spanish and Other Languages
Although Spanish and English languages are both from the Indo-European family, they have plenty of differences. For instance, in English, articles “A”, “An”, and “The” apply to every gender. In other words, we do not consider gender before using articles in the English language. That is not the case with Spanish, though, as gender is considered before using the article.
For example, in Spanish, the article “the” means “la” when referring to a female or a feminine object and “el” when referring to a male or a masculine object. It is also important to note that there are several varieties of the Spanish language. These include Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Chilean Spanish, Argentinian Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish, and Peruvian Spanish.
The key differences in these various Spanish languages and dialects are vocabulary and pronunciation. This means the difference only comes out in spoken language since Spanish grammar, particularly in writing, remains the same throughout countries that speak Spain.
3. Which Countries Speak Spanish?
For international businesses, you may find yourself needing a Spanish language translator to communicate effectively with business partners, colleagues, and clients. Consider seeking the services of a Spanish to English translator before you visit or do business in a Spanish-speaking country. This will allow business operations to run smoothly and will improve client satisfaction.
Spanish-speaking countries include Mexico (110 million speakers); Colombia (41 million speakers); Argentina (40 million speakers); Spain (over 38 million speakers); Venezuela (around 27 million speakers); Peru (26 million speakers); Chile (over 16 million speakers); Ecuador (over 14 million speakers); Cuba (around 11 million speakers); Guatemala (close to 10 million speakers); Bolivia (over 8 million speakers); the Dominican Republic (over 8 million speakers); El Salvador (around 6 million speakers); Honduras (6 million speakers); Nicaragua (close to 6 million speakers); Paraguay (over 4 million speakers); Costa Rica (around 4 million speakers); Puerto Rico (over 3 million speakers); Uruguay (over 3 million speakers); Panama (3 million speakers), and Equatorial Guinea, where 627,000 people speak Spanish as their second language.
Moreover, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 speakers of Ladino or Judeo-Spanish. These speakers are mostly from Israel.
4. Fun Facts About the Spanish Language
The following are surprising, and, of course, fun facts about the Spanish language.
- Boasting more than 400 million speakers, the Spanish language is the second-most spoken native language in the world. Furthermore, according to Instituto Cervantes, the number of people that speak Spanish will hit 600 million by 2050.
- The Spanish language used to be a diplomatic language until the 18th century.
- The second-most studied language across the globe is Spanish. Instituto Cervantes says that over 20 million people studied Spanish as their second language in 2010.
Spanish Language Translation
To effectively communicate with your clientele and colleagues, consider contacting a professional translation company. You’ll get a Spanish translation service that can help with all your conference interpretation, legal translation, and remote simultaneous interpretation needs. Contact Atlas Language Services to find out how our Spanish language translation services can benefit your global business.
Sources
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-language
https://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/anuario/anuario_12/i_cervantes/p01.htm
FAQs
What is the history of the Spanish language?
The Spanish language originated over 1,500 years ago as a dialect of Vulgar Latin on the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Empire. Over time, it evolved by blending with local languages like Iberian and Celtic, eventually becoming the distinct language we know today.
How does Spanish differ from English?
While both languages belong to the Indo-European family, Spanish uses gender-specific articles like “la” for feminine nouns and “el” for masculine nouns, unlike English, which uses the same articles (“the”) regardless of gender. Spanish also has various dialects with differences in vocabulary and pronunciation.
Which countries primarily speak Spanish?
Spanish is spoken in many countries, including Mexico (110 million speakers), Spain (over 38 million), Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, and many others across Latin America. It is also spoken as a second language in Equatorial Guinea and by around 100,000-200,000 Ladino or Judeo-Spanish speakers in Israel.
Why should businesses use professional Spanish translation services?
Professional translation services ensure that businesses can communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking clients, partners, and colleagues. Accurate translation helps improve client satisfaction and smoothens business operations by avoiding language barriers.