A Brief History of the Spanish Language - Softcover

Pharies, David A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226666832 ISBN 13: 9780226666839

Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2007

Synopsis

Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world and a language of ever-increasing importance in the United States. In what will likely become the introduction to the history of the Spanish language, David Pharies clearly and concisely charts the evolution of Spanish from its Indo-European roots to its present form. An internationally recognized expert on the history and development of this language, Pharies brings to his subject a precise sense of what students of Spanish linguistics need to know.

After introductory chapters on what it means to study the history of a language, the concept of linguistic change, and the nature of language families, Pharies traces the development of Spanish from its Latin roots, all with the minimum amount of technical language possible.  In the core sections of the book, readers are treated to an engaging and remarkably succinct presentation of the genealogy and development of the language, including accounts of the structures and peculiarities of Latin, the historical and cultural events that deeply influenced the shaping of the language, the nature of Medieval Spanish, the language myths that have become attached to Spanish, and the development of the language beyond the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Americas. Focusing on the most important facets of the language’s evolution, this compact work makes the history of Spanish accessible to anyone with a knowledge of Spanish and a readiness to grasp basic linguistic concepts.

Available in both English and Spanish editions, A Brief History of the Spanish Language provides a truly outstanding introduction to the exciting story of one of the world’s great languages.
 

About this title

About the Author

David Pharies is professor of Spanish and Linguistics and chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Florida and editor-in-chief of the bestselling University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary, Fifth Edition.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0226666832
• ISBN 13: 9780226666839
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 314