"As in the first edition, Pharies debunks -- in an engaging manner -- a number of 'linguistic myths' about Spanish orthography, pronunciation, and grammar." -- Choice
Since its publication in 2007, A Brief History of the Spanish Language has become the leading introduction to the history of one of the world's most widely spoken languages. Moving from the language's Latin roots to its present-day forms, this concise book offers readers insights into the origin and evolution of Spanish, the historical and cultural changes that shaped it, and its spread around the world.
A Brief History of the Spanish Language focuses on the most important aspects of the development of the Spanish language, eschewing technical jargon in favor of straightforward explanations. Along the way, it answers many of the common questions that puzzle native speakers and non-native speakers alike, such as: Why do some regions use tú while others use vos? How did the th sound develop in Castilian? And why is it la mesa but el agua?
David A. Pharies, a world-renowned expert on the history and development of Spanish, has updated this edition with new research on all aspects of the evolution of Spanish and current demographic information. This book is perfect for anyone with a basic understanding of Spanish and a desire to further explore its roots. It also provides an ideal foundation for further study in any area of historical Spanish linguistics and early Spanish literature.
A Brief History of the Spanish Language is a grand journey of discovery, revealing in a beautifully compact format the fascinating story of the language in both Spain and Spanish America.

• We started tracking this book on January 22, 2023.
• This book was $25.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 67 times in the past 1,084 days.
• The current price of this book is $20.99 last checked one day ago.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $3.99.
• The lowest price to date was $2.99 last reached on June 29, 2023.
• This book has been $2.99 5 times since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $36.10 last reached on April 3, 2025.
• This book has been $36.10 3 times since we started tracking it.

• HistoryEuropeSouthernSpain & Portugal
• HistoryEuropeHistory of Spain & Portugal

• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• File Size: 50 KB