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The '''Spanish language''' is a member of the [[Romance language]] family, the group of languages descending from [[Vulgar Latin]], the dialect spoken by the soldiers and provincial officials of the [[Roman Empire]]. Originally spoken in the northern regions of what is now [[Spain]], Spanish also draws some influence from the regional languages of its area. Spanish also draws heavy influence from [[Arabic]], due to the [[Moorish]] [[Umayyad|occupation]] of Spain lasting from 711 to 1492.
The '''Spanish language''' is a member of the [[Romance language]] family, the group of languages descending from [[Vulgar Latin]], the dialect spoken by the soldiers and provincial officials of the [[Roman Empire]]. Originally spoken in the northern regions of what is now [[Spain]], Spanish also draws some influence from the regional languages of its area. Spanish also draws heavy influence from [[Arabic]], due to the [[Moorish]] [[Umayyad|occupation]] of Spain lasting from 711 to 1492. This influence is specially in Nouns, most of them are the ones that begin with the arabic article "Al".
Today, the majority of its speakers live outside of Spain, with large numbers in [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. It is one of the most-spoken languages in the [[world]]. It is spoken as a first language by about 350,000,000 people, or by 417,000,000 if non-native speakers are included. The Spanish language is the second-most common language in the [[United States]], as well as the second-most natively spoken language in the world, after [[Mandarin Chinese]].
Today, the majority of its speakers live outside of Spain, with large numbers in [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. It is one of the most-spoken languages in the [[world]]. It is spoken as a first language by about 350,000,000 people, or by 417,000,000 if non-native speakers are included. The Spanish language is the second-most common language in the [[United States]], as well as the second-most natively spoken language in the world, after [[Mandarin Chinese]].
It is more difficult for native Spanish speakers to learn [[English]] than it is for native English speakers to learn Spanish{{fact}}, due to the complexity and inconsistency of English [[grammar]] and pronunciation compared to Spanish.
It is more difficult for native Spanish speakers to learn [[English]] than it is for native English speakers to learn Spanish{{fact}}, due to the complexity and inconsistency of English [[grammar]] and pronunciation compared to Spanish.
The Spanish is being contaminated by many words loaned from the English, but there usually are many good Spanish words which the people can use instead of them.
main difficulties in learning Spanish for an English speaker:
1. In Spanish there are two verbs for "to be". "Ser" and "Estar"
2. The second difficulty is that the subjunctive is used a lot in Spanish but hardly ever in
English.
3. All nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine
4. Spanish has an informal and a formal form of address
5. pronunciation of J, Ñ and R.
easiest things about learning Spanish for an English speaker:
1. In English there are 13 vowel sounds in Spanish there are only five (a, e, i, o, u)
2. It is very easy to write in Spanish
3. It is easy to make affirmative sentences, negative sentences and questions
Spanish is being contaminated by many words loaned from English, but there usually are many good Spanish words which the people can use instead.
==Distribution==
==Distribution==
*[[South America]] and continental [[Central America]] (with the exceptions of [[Portuguese]]-speaking [[Brazil]], [[French]]-speaking [[French Guiana]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]]-speaking [[Suriname]], and English-speaking [[Guyana]] and [[Belize]])
*[[South America]] and continental [[Central America]] (with the exceptions of [[Portuguese]]-speaking [[Brazil]], [[French]]-speaking [[French Guiana]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]]-speaking [[Suriname]], and English-speaking [[Guyana]] and [[Belize]])
*[[Hispanic]] populations in the [[United States]]
*[[Hispanic]] populations in the [[United States]]
*former Spanish colonies in [[Africa]], eg Equatorial Guinea
*former Spanish colonies in [[Africa]], eg Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara.
*a distinct dialect is spoken in the [[Philippines]]
*a distinct dialect is spoken in the [[Philippines]]
* Non Officially, a great majority of Population speaks Spanish in Gibraltar, Andorra, and Northern Morocco.
Spanish is recognised as one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of American States, the Organization of Ibero-American States, the African Union, the Union of South American Nations, the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, the Latin Union, the Caricom and the North American Free Trade Agreement.
[[Category:Romance languages]]
[[Category:Romance languages]]