Origins of the Spanish Language

 Around the 6^th-5^th century BCE, Celtics, a group of nomadic people from central Europe, arrived on the peninsula, (today, Portugal and Spain), and mingled with other tribe already living there: Iberians. That's how a new group was originated: Celtiberians, who were using a form of a Celtic language. They lived in the north-central area of what it is now Spain. We'll call this period “Pre-Roman”, as it precedes the domination of the peninsula by the Roman Empire.

But Celtic and Celtiberian were not the only languages spoken at that time. The group of languages spoken before the Roman occupation also includes Phoenician, Classical Greek, and Aquitanian or Lusitanian.

Most of the Spanish words with Celtiberian origin are place names like 'Sasamón', 'Siguenza', 'Clunia' or 'Coruña'. (names of cities and villages in Spain)

In general terms, the influence of Pre-Roman words are mostly related to nature elements, like 'toro' (bull), 'cerveza' (beer), 'perro' (dog) or 'garza' (heron).

After the Second Punic War, Rome's influence increased, so its language, Latin, did as well. The Celtiberian culture was definitely absorbed after the war against Sertorius. (72 BCE). In fact, natives from the peninsula learned Latin from Roman soldiers and traders. This 'colloquial' Latin people used to speak, mixed up with pre-Roman terms from native speakers in the peninsula, wasn't, let's say, 'pure' classical Latin. That's why we call it Vulgar Latin.

Vulgar Latin language, spoken in the North-Central peninsula was, in fact, a variation of Latin. Together with other words borrowed from languages spoken at that time, this Latin variation became the start and basis of todays' Spanish language. It is not difficult to see the similarities between both Vulgar Latin and Spanish verbs:

- legere (Latin) --> 'leer' (to read)

- masticare (Latin) --> 'masticar' (to chew)

- acceptare (Latin) --> 'aceptar' (to accept, to agree)

- computare (Latin) --> 'contar' (to count)

nouns:

- opera (Latin) --> 'obra' (work)

- insula (Latin) --> 'isla' (island)

- populo (Latin) --> 'pueblo' (village)

- littera (Latin) --> 'letra' (letter)

or adjectives:

- magnificu (Latin) --> 'magnífico' (wonderful)

- exemptu (Latin) --> 'exento' (exempt, free)

- viride (Latin) --> 'verde' (green)

- sacratu (Latin) --> 'sagrado' (sacred)

The vocabulary is not the only thing inherited from Latin; there is syntax, verb conjugation and the use of the 'personal "a."

Around 400 (AD) a tribe from Eastern Europe invaded Hispania (that's what Phoenicians called the Iberian Peninsula, a term subsequently used by Romans). Visigoths. And, despite their presence, Latin kept on being used as the official language for culture and politics.

Although the Visigoths' intention was to distance themselves from the Iberian-Roman society, they finally got absorbed by this culture. But their legacy to the language was quite limited, because of Visigoth romanization; just some words like:

- 'ganso' (goose)

- 'norte', 'sur', 'este', 'oeste' (North, South, East, West)

- 'guardia' (guard)

- 'atacar' (to attack)

And some proper names: Froilán, Alfonso, Ramiro and also the suffix (-ez) used in surnames like Fernández, López or Sánchez.

In 711, with the invasion of Arabic speaking groups, the Spanish spoken in the peninsula received a very important influence. And this situation lasted until 1492, with the expulsion of Moors due to the Reconquest by Christian kingdoms. This way, the Vulgar Latin started to be used again, as the Southern peninsula was reconquered.

A lot of Spanish words, beginning with the prefix al- have an Arabic origin. For example:

(la) 'almohada' (pillow)

(el) 'alcohol' (alcohol)

(el) 'álgebra' (algebra)

(el) 'alcalde' (major)

(el 'almacén' (storage)

'Alá' (Allah)

Although there are also other words not starting with al-, they also have Arabic roots:

(el) 'azafrán' (saffron)

(el) 'azúcar' (sugar)

(el) 'aceite' (oil)

(la) 'espinaca' (spinach)

'ojalá' (I wish)

Apart from Vulgar Latin, Germanic and Arabic roots, the Spanish language has also received influences from other languages:

- From indigenous Americans: (la) patata (potato) or (el) chocolate (chocolate).

- From French: chófer (driver, chauffeur), capó (hood -auto-), gendarme (police)

- From English: (el) parking , (el) leasing, (el) fútbol (football), (el) basket (basketball)

Spanish origins - flag - wikimedia commons