THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE SPANISH

Abstract

The purpose of the publication is to study cultural, literary and economic significance of the Spanish. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. More than 550 million people around the world speak Spanish, some 7.6 % of the  global population. It is the official language of 21 countries. Undoubtedly, the Spanish language is a means of acquiring knowledge, an element of identification in Hispanic countries. The challenge is to strengthen and seek strategies in different areas in order to legitimize it.

In 1492, Antonio de Nebrija published a book called «Grammar of the Castilian Language» (Gramática Castellana de Antonio Nebrija). In the prologue, the scholar defined the Spanish language the way it could endure and flourish in centuries to come. Thanks to Antonio Nebrija, the Spanish language is the first modern language in the world, which was already established and taken for granted 5 centuries ago. The Royal Spanish Academy along with the Association of Spanish Language Academies  have regulated the Spanish  language and established common rules for the entire Spanish-speaking world.

There are following peculiarities of the Spanish language:

• the most united among the major languages of the world;
• fast-growing Spanish-speaking population, including native speakers and those studying Spanish as a second language, as well as users of the web pages;
• growing cultural influence: 12 laureates of the Nobel Prize literature (6 Spaniards, 2 Chileans, 1 Mexican, 1 Peruvian, 1 Colombian and 1 Guatemalan);
• growing use of Spanish in the United States, driven primarily by Hispanic immigration to the territory, belonging to the Spaniards in ancient times;
• growing economy of the Spanish-speaking countries.

The Language is about economic prosperity: the more people use it, the more valuable it becomes. If a common language is used in negotiations, then transaction costs are reduced. In this respect, Spanish is the key to the successful conduct and control of negotiations, as well as a means of management that facilitates international trade.

It's not about competing with the English language. It about improving the international status of the Spanish language, which requires strengthening in international diplomacy, science and  technology.