SpanishLesson 1 of 3 in the course Varieties of Spanish

Spanish: History, Global Reach, Grammar, and Regional Variation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Spanish is a major world language with deep roots in the history of the Iberian Peninsula. This lesson introduces its linguistic family, its alternative names, and its worldwide importance.

Spanish is a Romance language in the Indo-European language family. It developed from Vulgar Latin, the everyday form of Latin spoken on the Iberian Peninsula after Roman expansion. Spanish belongs more specifically to the Ibero-Romance group.

All flashcards

What does pro-drop mean in Spanish?
A subject pronoun can be omitted when the verb and context make the subject clear.
What is seseo?
A pronunciation pattern in which the sounds associated with z and c before e or i are pronounced as /s/.
What is yeísmo?
The merger of the sounds represented by ll and y in pronunciation.
How does an acute accent function in Spanish spelling?
It can mark stress that differs from the usual patterns and distinguish some words.
What does the Cervantes Institute promote?
Spanish-language education and Spanish and Hispanic American cultures internationally.

Quiz questions

  1. The earliest documents containing traces of the precursor to modern Spanish date from which century?Answer: The 9th century
  2. Where did systematic written Spanish first emerge in the 13th century?Answer: Toledo
  3. In what year did Elio Antonio de Nebrija publish the Gramática de la lengua castellana?Answer: 1492
  4. How many letters are counted in the Spanish alphabet?Answer: 27
  5. What is the main international role of the Cervantes Institute?Answer: Promoting Spanish education and Spanish and Hispanic American cultures

Based on the Wikipedia article Spanish language, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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