The Spanish Language - Spanish Translation

Over 400 million people speak Spanish in the Americas, Spain and Africa. The countries with the largest number of speakers are Mexico (112 million), the United States (around 50 million), Spain (46 million), Colombia (44 million), Argentina (41 million), Peru (30 million), Venezuela (27 million), Chile (17 million) and Uruguay (3.5 million).

Modern standard Spanish

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, modern standard Spanish developed out of the Castilian dialect, more specifically, from the modified forms of Castilian spoken in and around Toledo and Madrid. Spanish has been the official language of Spain since the late 15^th Century, when "the kingdoms of Castile and Leon merged with that of Aragon."¹ The power of Castilian's official status has marginalized the dialects of Aragon, Navarre, Leon, Asturias and Santander, which can now only be found in rural , out-of-the-way areas in Spain.²

The Castilian dialect was exported to the New World in the 15^th and 16^th Centuries by Spanish explorers. Although Spanish in Latin America has several regional dialects, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, they all are based on Castilian. Their differences with Continental Spanish are related to word pronunciations and the use of words borrowed from English, which is much more common in Latin America.³

Hispanics in USA

Hispanics now make up the second largest consumer group in the USA after non-Hispanic whites, who are the largest group with 200 million. One in every six USA residents is now Hispanic. The 2010 Census is expected to count 50 million Hispanics, whose population in America has increased 42% over the past 10 years, compared to 5% growth for the rest of the population.

Find more about the Spanish language and the Hispanic market in our translation blog:

Important facts about the larger markets within the Spanish-speaking world:

Mexico

Capital: Mexico (Distrito Federal)
Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)
Government Type: Federal Republic
Population: 112,468,855 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .mx
Internet Hosts: 12.854 million (2010)
Internet Users: 23.26 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Colombia

Capital: Bogota
Currency: Colombian peso (COP)
Government Type: Republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Population: 44,205,293 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .co
Internet Hosts: 2.527 million (2010)
Internet Users: 17.117 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Spain

Capital: Madrid
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Government Type: Parliamentary monarchy
Population: 46,505,963 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .es
Internet Hosts: 3.822 million (2010)
Internet Users: 25.24 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Argentina

Capital: Buenos Aires
Currency: Argentine peso (ARS)
Government Type: Republic
Population: 41,343,201 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .ar
Internet Hosts: 6.025 million (2010)
Internet Users: 11.212 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Venezuela

Capital: Caracas
Currency: Bolivar (VEB)
Government Type: Federal republic
Population: 27,223,228 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .ve
Internet Hosts: 238,665 (2010)
Internet Users: 7.167 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Peru

Capital: Lima
Currency: Nuevo sol (PEN)
Government Type: Constitutional republic
Population: 29,907,003 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .pe
Internet Hosts: 268,225 (2010)
Internet Users: 7.128 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Chile

Capital: Santiago
Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)
Government Type: Republic
Population: 16,746,491 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .cl
Internet Hosts: 1.056 million (2010)
Internet Users: 5.456 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

Uruguay

Capital: Montevideo
Currency: Uruguayan peso
Government Type: constitutional republic
Population: 3,510,386 (July 2010 est.)
Internet Country Code: .uy
Internet Hosts: 765,525 (2010)
Internet Users: 1.34 million (2010)
Official Language: Spanish language

For additional demographic information on the countries listed here, you can check out The World Factbook

1. "Spanish language" Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9068992
[Accessed December 13, 2004]

2. "Spanish language" Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9068992
[Accessed December 13, 2004]

3. "Romance languages" Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=74694
[Accessed December 13, 2004]

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