Participants in the tribute to the Spanish language/ Photo: Fundación Independiente
Julio García. Madrid
Spanish is the native tongue of more than 500 million people and the second most spoken language in the world. It is official in 20 nations and represents 15% of Spain’s GDP. This is some of the data and conclusions of the universal tribute to the language of Cervantes, recently celebrated at the Club Siglo XXI and organised by the Fundación Independiente.
Another 30 institutions of civil society and of the political, business and academic arenas have joined the Foundation’s initiate, with the aim of defending the fundamental role of the Spanish language in the world as a factor of integration of cultures, and instruments of cultural, scientific and social diffusion.
The president of Fundación Independiente, Ignacio Buqueras y Bach, read a manifesto which highlights that Spanish is one of the oldest languages in the world and it was the means of communication during the first globalization, originating from the discovery of America. Because of this, it calls on the Real Academia Española, the Academias Americanas, the Instituto Cervantes and on universities and other cultural institutions to collaborate in its conservation and dissemination in order to ensure its between use and the quality of its content.
Buqueras underscored that our language is key to the “cohesion among all Spaniards in moments such as these were are living”. The citizens that speak this universal tongue must respond united to the challenge it generates, with the passing of time, to the natural social and cultural disintegrations, and must favour its diffusion and promotion across the world.
The language of Cervantes is today the second language for diplomatic relations
During the tribute, more than 20 figures from academia, science and business praised the greatness of the Spanish language, its universality and its growing importance, which has motivated more than 20 million students across the five continents to study it as a second language.
Other aspects highlighted were its growing importance in commercial and business relations and in the internationalisation of Spanish companies, given that it multiplies exponentially their capacity of expansion to other markets. It is the second language in diplomatic relations, taking over from French, and “essential” to Marca España, to which it has given vitality across the world.
Among the institutions which have supported this tribute are the Academia de las Ciencias y las Artes, Marca España, Fundación Telefónica, Confederación de Rectores de Universidades Españolas and Fundación Carolina.
