Why Is Spanish So Damn Insignificant?

[Wiglaf]

The language has had no great works of literature, at all, ever. English has had several and will continue to. Ancient languages that so many Spanish-speaking people tend to defame, like Greek or Latin, have stood the test of time - mainly due to the fact that they housed some of the best stories and epics known to man. How can those same bastard critics then claim that Spanish is the hot new language, and that everything else is on the way out for some reason?

I look forward to the El Illiado.

[KrazyHorse]

9.5/10

[Dauphin]

Never heard of the epic El Pollo Diablo?

[MrWhereItsAt]

Well, I don't know enough (even after 7 years of study) about Spanish literature to argue that part, and perhaps in the US Spanish seems insignificant, (where EVERYTHING non-American seems insiginificant ) but just try telling that to the half billion plus who speak it, and the many countries that are starting to find MASSIVE markets in South America.

That's like saying the Russians couldn't start a world war if they tried. Pah! Reality check.

[mactbone]

I'm posting just to post

El Cid? whatever it was called, the story of the crazy conquistador.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
Never heard of the epic El Pollo Diablo?

No.

but just try telling that to the half billion plus who speak it, and the many countries that are starting to find MASSIVE markets in South America.

Ok. Their language is pathetic, compare it to the epic-full English, Greek, or Latin, and be prepare to be schooled all the way up and down the court. It's truly amazing how things like that work.

That's like saying the Russians couldn't start a world war if they tried. Pah! Reality check.

What?

[MrWhereItsAt]

Well, how many Greek or Latin speakers are there today?

As much as I enjoy these epics, they hardly are anything but stories from bygone eras today. Hell, the only reason they are taught in so many places is 'cos of a tradition from Christian religious sevices (and how relevant are they?)

Love it or deny it, Spanish is here to stay. And I am quite looking forward to the day that many monolinguals (especially Americans) need to learn it for daily life.

[Provost Harrison]

Never heard of the epic El Pollo Diablo?

No.

[LTEC!]

The language has great works of literature, although not many that you would know about since you're either not interested or educated enough.

Don Quijote de la Mancha is considered one of the greatest spanish literature works in spanish, to name one.
Nowadays spanish speakers learn english because its the economic language but not because of its flourish and the beauty of it. Not too many people I know bother to learn shakesperian english for the sake of it.

My technical books are in english. My literature is in spanish...

[Wiglaf]

Well, how many Greek or Latin speakers are there today?

Very few, because of people like you who are all "Viva La Spanish Revolution" or whatever and treat the whole thing like some sort of ****ing revolt against "Big Diablo" America. Grow up.

As much as I enjoy these epics, they hardly are anything but stories from bygone eras today. Hell, the only reason they are taught in so many places is 'cos of a tradition from Christian religious sevices (and how relevant are they?)

Wrong. Latin's still taught in schools because of religious texts and services, true, but also because of the amazing and life-changing dose of culture/history you get along with it. Try saying the same about Spanish.

[KrazyHorse]

I'm still looking forward to Giancarlo posting in this thread.

[Bereta_Eder]

The world's lingua franca is english. Or at least the western world's.

In Europe the most important language as a means of communication between people of different nations is english.
Next it's french.
Next it's german

Spanish, Italian etc are a minority.

Now in the new world things may be somewhat different I imagine. Latin America except Brazil speaks spanish so...


But that does not mean things won't change.
Once Greek was the lingua franca of the whole knwon world.
Now they still do exist through Greeks and through academic classes and through the current lingua franca which is english and is based heavily on greek.

In any case maybe US will become bilingual with english and spanish.
In Europe though the "common language of communciation between foreigners" (=lingua franca in a way) is english.

[Seeker]

Actually, don Quixote is considered by English departments to be the worlds first novel.

'Magic Realism' is a style first developed by South American authors...

'Kiss of the Spider Woman' was a novel long before it was a movie, and is considered a great work of Argentinian literature.

Naturally English speakers don't get exposed to Hispanic literature and culture....oddly enough, because it's in Spanish!

Even in other areas...the popular graphic novels of Carlos Meglia and Carlos Trillo, from Buenos Aires, are read and exported from Quebec to Italy all around the world....but not in English.

There is a whole world out there of non-English speakers, and it's still quite vibrant. The 'ROW' does NOT just 'sit around, waiting for the translation'.

Oh, and for a good chunk of history up until the 19th century, most books were not written in English....

[MrWhereItsAt]

Originally posted by Wiglaf


Very few, because of people like you who are all "Viva La Spanish Revolution" or whatever and treat the whole thing like some sort of ****ing revolt against "Big Diablo" America. Grow up.

Tremendous Wiglaf. Given only two posts you have summed me up in but a phrase. Wow.

Just what is it that seems to bother you about ppl knowing and using Spanish? Perhaps it is 'cause you don't yourself know the language. Or perhaps you do, but in that case I hardly think you would see it as "insignificant". Just what, pray tell, is "significant"? Is is that which directly affects you and your community? I hope not, as that is a very narrow frame of reference.

My point is that EVERYONE would do well to learn other ways of expression, and the only reason I singled out America is because I have yet to meet an American overseas who knows any language more than just English. Sure, there are millions who are multi-lingual, but how much impact does this have on US society at the moment? From what I can gather, very little, yet this is just a denial of a very large section of society.

If Spanish, and other languages, are seen as "insignificant", I fear for the future - if such wholly Anglocentric and singular ideas are prevalent in enough peoples' minds, this just enforces the sort of nationalism and distrust that causes the anti- (insert-name-of-country-or-people here) sentiment that most of the free world is currently fighting against.

[Wiglaf]

Just what, pray tell, is "significant"? Is is that which directly affects you and your community? I hope not, as that is a very narrow frame of reference.

A language is significant if it leaves or is leaving a lasting mark on literature in general. A language is not significant if it has no great works of written art and is instead only used worth a damn in spoken conversation and/or only exists as some sort of method for a dangerous riot aimed at North America to bring down English. (You pretty much said it did yourself)