Spanish language
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Spanish is a Romance language originally from the northern regions of Spain. Like all modern descendants of Latin, it is chiefly a derivative of Vulgar Latin , the dialect of Latin spoken by the soldiers and provincial officials of the Roman Empire, with some influence from regional languages of its original area. Spanish also draws heavy influence from Arabic, due to the Moorish occupation of Spain lasting from 711 to 1492. Today, the majority of its speakers live outside of Spain, with large numbers in Central and South America.
The Spanish language is the second most common language in the United States.
Spanish speaking areas include:
- Spain
- Mexico
- The Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rico
- Latin America with the exceptions of Portuguese-speaking Brazil, French-speaking French Guiana, English-speaking Suriname, and Dutch-speaking Guyana
- Spanish facilities in Antarctica
- Hispanic populations scatterd across the United States
- former Spanish colonies in Africa
- a distinct dialect is spoken in the Philippines