Author: Jean-Benoît Nadeau Publisher: Macmillan + ORM ISBN: 1250023165 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 485
Book Description
The authors of The Story of French are back with a new linguistic history of the Spanish language and its progress around the globe. Just how did a dialect spoken by a handful of shepherds in Northern Spain become the world's second most spoken language, the official language of twenty-one countries on two continents, and the unofficial second language of the United States? Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow, the husband-and-wife team who chronicled the history of the French language in The Story of French, now look at the roots and spread of modern Spanish. Full of surprises and honed in Nadeau and Barlow's trademark style, combining personal anecdote, reflections, and deep research, The Story of Spanish is the first full biography of a language that shaped the world we know, and the only global language with two names—Spanish and Castilian. The story starts when the ancient Phoenicians set their sights on "The Land of the Rabbits," Spain's original name, which the Romans pronounced as Hispania. The Spanish language would pick up bits of Germanic culture, a lot of Arabic, and even some French on its way to taking modern form just as it was about to colonize a New World. Through characters like Queen Isabella, Christopher Columbus, Cervantes, and Goya, The Story of Spanish shows how Spain's Golden Age, the Mexican Miracle, and the Latin American Boom helped shape the destiny of the language. Other, more somber episodes, also contributed, like the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of Spain's Jews, the destruction of native cultures, the political instability in Latin America, and the dictatorship of Franco. The Story of Spanish shows there is much more to Spanish than tacos, flamenco, and bullfighting. It explains how the United States developed its Hispanic personality from the time of the Spanish conquistadors to Latin American immigration and telenovelas. It also makes clear how fundamentally Spanish many American cultural artifacts and customs actually are, including the dollar sign, barbecues, ranching, and cowboy culture. The authors give us a passionate and intriguing chronicle of a vibrant language that thrived through conquests and setbacks to become the tongue of Pedro Almodóvar and Gabriel García Márquez, of tango and ballroom dancing, of millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of people throughout the world.
Author: Jacques De Bruyne Publisher: Blackwell Publishing ISBN: 9780631190875 Category : Education Languages : en Pages : 685
Book Description
A definitive grammar for all students of Spanish. Covers topics from basic pronunciation and the use of the noun, to particular problem areas such as difficulties with verbs and word order. Attention is paid to regional diversity within the language and in particular to Latin American variations.
Author: Angel Flores Publisher: Courier Corporation ISBN: 048611998X Category : Foreign Language Study Languages : en Pages : 191
Book Description
Delightful stories, other material based on works of Don Juan Manuel, Luis Taboada, Ricardo Palma, other noted writers. Complete faithful English translations on facing pages. Exercises.
Author: John Butt Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 1461583683 Category : Foreign Language Study Languages : en Pages : 533
Book Description
(abridged and revised) This reference grammar offers intermediate and advanced students a reason ably comprehensive guide to the morphology and syntax of educated speech and plain prose in Spain and Latin America at the end of the twentieth century. Spanish is the main, usually the sole official language of twenty-one countries,} and it is set fair to overtake English by the year 2000 in numbers 2 of native speakers. This vast geographical and political diversity ensures that Spanish is a good deal less unified than French, German or even English, the latter more or less internationally standardized according to either American or British norms. Until the 1960s, the criteria of internationally correct Spanish were dictated by the Real Academia Espanola, but the prestige of this institution has now sunk so low that its most solemn decrees are hardly taken seriously - witness the fate of the spelling reforms listed in the Nuevas normas de prosodia y ortograjia, which were supposed to come into force in all Spanish-speaking countries in 1959 and, nearly forty years later, are still selectively ignored by publishers and literate persons everywhere. The fact is that in Spanish 'correctness' is nowadays decided, as it is in all living languages, by the consensus of native speakers; but consensus about linguistic usage is obviously difficult to achieve between more than twenty independent, widely scattered and sometimes mutually hostile countries. Peninsular Spanish is itself in flux.
Author: Marcial Prado Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 0471134481 Category : Foreign Language Study Languages : es Pages : 359
Book Description
Contiene metodos para aprender los puntos claves del espa?ol conrapidez y facilidad (The fast, easy way to master the finer points of Spanish) Unsure about conjugating irregular Spanish verbs? Using thesubjunctive? Determining the appropriate definite article? Thiscomplete, accessible guide clarifies grammatical structure andexplains vocabulary usage to help you master Spanish. Whether youneed extra help for a course, want a quick review for a test, orsimply want to brush up your language skills, this is the book tohave. In this completely revised edition of More Practical SpanishGrammar, you'll find: * An interactive format that lets you work at your own pace * Exercises to reinforce what you've learned * Over 1,000 practical Spanish words and terms * Explanations of the more intricate grammatical rules of Spanish * Special !Atencion! sections that focus on problematic words andstructures
Author: Rosario Alonso Raya Publisher: ISBN: 9788484434375 Category : Spanish language Languages : en Pages : 312
Book Description
The Students' Basic Grammar of Spanish (SBG) is a self-study grammar book for students at Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels A1-B1. It tackles the traditionally difficult grammatical problems faced by students of Spanish through clear, straightforward explanations,accompanied by a variety of engaging, accessible and practical exercises.Designed as a self-study book for students, the SBGS can be used outside the classroom, or as a study aid for a language course. It can also be used at levels above B1.It offers clear, precise and thorough explanations expressed in plain language.It contains over 470 illustrations that make it easier to understand the grammar points covered.It provides more than 370 exercises to help learners understand and assimilate the grammar presented and avoid common mistakes.It offers helpful examples of real, communicative Spanish and contains a wide range of text types.It also includes:An answer keyRegular and irregular conjugated verbsA complete and easy-to-use thematic index
Author: Emily Spinelli Publisher: ISBN: Category : English language Languages : en Pages : 210
Book Description
ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR STUDENTS OF SPANISH explains the grammatical terms that are in Spanish textbooks and shows students how they relate to English grammar. Once students have understood the terms and concepts in their own language, it is easier for them to understand their textbook. With simple explanations and numerous examples, this brief handbook compares English and Spanish grammar and points out the similarities and differences.
Author: My Daily Spanish Publisher: ISBN: 9781648262005 Category : Foreign Language Study Languages : en Pages : 296
Book Description
Learn beginner Spanish grammar painlessly with step-by-step lessons that focus on the essentials and help you build a learning habit. Inside "Spanish Grammar For Beginners" you'll find: 30 beginner-level Spanish grammar lessons: This reference and practice book covers everything you need to know about beginner Spanish grammar. Straight-to-the point explanations: No extra fluff and frills, the lessons are straightforward and focus more on the rules rather than the exceptions. Short daily lessons designed to help you create a learning habit: Spend just 30 minutes every day for 30 days to form an effective learning habit. Clear and concise grammar discussions written in a conversational tone: Difficult grammar concepts are broken down and simplified with a brief yet engaging explanation. An embedded workbook with 300+ grammar exercises: Challenge yourself and reinforce your comprehension by doing the exercises after each lesson. Audio for pronunciation and listening practice: Improve your listening and pronunciation skills in Spanish by listening to the audio narrated by a native Spanish speaker. If you're tired of your usual boring Spanish textbook, grab your copy of this book and start learning Spanish grammar the un-boring way today!
Author: William C. Harvey Publisher: Barrons Educational Services ISBN: 9781438006864 Category : Foreign Language Study Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Written for intermediate students taking Spanish on a high school or college level, this book can be used in the classroom as a main text or as a textbook supplement. It covers every aspect of Spanish grammar and correct usage, beginning with verbs and analyzing verb tenses, the passive voice, reflexive verbs, verb usage in the subjunctive mood, imperative command verb forms, and uses of verb infinitives. The book's subsequent sections cover nouns, modifiers, and the other parts of speech, with discussion of various interrogative forms, words that express negation, feminine forms, demonstratives and possessives, pronouns, diminutive and augmentative word formations, and more. Contemporary idioms are interspersed throughout the text, and the book's many exercises give students plenty of solid practice. Cartoon illustrations throughout the book help to demonstrate points of Spanish grammar.
Author: Jean-Benoît Nadeau
Author: Jacques De Bruyne
Author: Angel Flores
Author: John Butt
Author: Marcial Prado
Author: Rosario Alonso Raya
Author: Emily Spinelli
Author: My Daily Spanish
Author: Charles Carroll Marden
Author: William C. Harvey