TED-Ed: A brief history of Spanish | Ilan Stavans

The video explores the evolution of the Spanish language, starting from the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, which led to the development of regional languages. Over time, influences from the Visigoths, Umayyad Caliphate, and the adoption of Castilian as the official language in 1492 shaped Spanish. The language spread to the Americas during colonization, incorporating indigenous words. French influence in the 18th century and independence movements in the 19th century further impacted Spanish. Today, Spanish is a global language, maintaining unity despite regional variations.

Which language contributed approximately 75% of modern Spanish vocabulary?

• Arabic

• Latin

• Germanic

• French

What was the significant impact of the Umayyad Caliphate on the Spanish language?

• Introduction of French vocabulary

• Introduction of Arabic vocabulary

• Introduction of Germanic vocabulary

• Introduction of Latin vocabulary

Which language was adopted as the official state language of Spain in 1492?

• Castilian

• Basque

• Galician

• Catalan

What was the effect of the Spanish conquest on the indigenous languages of the Americas?

• Indigenous languages remained dominant

• Spanish was adopted at the expense of indigenous languages

• Indigenous languages replaced Spanish

• Spanish and indigenous languages merged equally

Which famous Spanish author published a work in 1605 that was more similar to modern Spanish than Shakespeare's works were to modern English?

• Miguel de Cervantes

• Francisco de Quevedo

• Lope de Vega

• Garcilaso de la Vega

In which century did French language and culture become fashionable in Spain, influencing the Spanish language?

• 19th century

• 16th century

• 17th century

• 18th century

How has Spanish managed to remain a single language despite its global spread?

• Lack of regional variations

• Strict language policies

• Unity of syntax, grammar, and vocabulary

• Complete isolation of regions