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Spanish

Definition

Spanish is a Romance language that originated in Spain and is now spoken by millions of people worldwide. It has become one of the most widely spoken languages in Latin America due to historical colonization and ongoing cultural influence.

Analogy

Imagine you have a favorite song that everyone seems to be singing. You want to join in and be part of what everyone else is enjoying, so you learn the lyrics and start singing along. Similarly, many Latin American countries adopted Spanish as their primary language because it was brought over by colonizers and became dominant within society.

Related terms

Romance Languages: A group of languages derived from Latin (the language spoken by Romans) including Italian, French, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish.

Bilingualism: The ability to speak two languages fluently.

Linguistic Imperialism: The dominance or influence exerted by one language over others due to political power or economic supremacy.