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Photo credit: My mom
Context: Family dinner at my favorite Peruvian restaurant after my First Communion.
Getting to know me :)
Getting to know me :)
English and Spanish were spoken in my home; my first words were in Spanish/ English. I spent my earlier years with my Mama and Abuela while my father was out most of the time. Due to this, I knew both languages, but I was more comfortable in Spanish. As I got older, my Abuela moved in with my Tio to LA, and I saw my father more. My father only knew English, and school was no different.
Over time, my interests changed, and my grandparents couldn't teach the uninterested child.
Miami was an important destination for me, growing helped me to realize, kids there spoke both Spanish and English fluently. Though it was not my dialect, whether it was similar or not, I felt I should try to learn it.
Eventually, I started to practice with my close relatives. I had a lot of practice with the constant visits to my grandparents. They speak both, though it’s gradually fading. I worked hard; my sentences weren’t perfect, but they could understand me. I grew closer with my grandparents through Spanish and felt more connected to my Peruvian heritage. Though I’m not perfect, I’m still growing.
Photo credit: "Muslim Conquest of Spain", Newsdle
Colonization of Spain
Colonization of Spain
Regional influences helped to shape the history and culture of the Spanish people. Spain was caught in the conflicts of Rome and Carthage’s second Punic war. Carthage conquered Hispania, then taken over by Rome. Over time, Rome’s control over Hispania ended in the 5th century; the Visigoth’s Kingdom was created. Soon after Muslims conquered this kingdom, they controlled Spain and Portugal.
During this time, Muslim kingdoms had control over most of the Mediterranean. From the 8th to 15th century, Spain was under Islamic rule, which influenced the culture and the language.
The Reconquista was an 800-year war to reclaim Spain from Muslim rule. The war ended in 1491 due to Castilian-Aragonese forces.
Photo credit: "The Conquista", Newsdle
Spanish origin
Spanish origin
Many people and groups influenced the language and tried to keep Spanish uniforms throughout the years. During the 8th to the 15th century, Spain was under Arabic influence, which helped to shape and evolve the Spanish language. The Spanish language has changed and evolved multiple times throughout history, due to the writings influenced by Alfonso x the Wise, and overseas expansion.
In the 13th century, Alfonso x the Wise unified the Spanish language spoken across Spain. The issue was the different dialects and various forms of Spanish spoken throughout the land. Alfonso x the Wise devised this unification plan called the “General Estoria”. He gathered many scholars to aid him in bringing together different texts from the many different languages to make Spanish.
The Americas also influenced the Spanish language using the local natives. Through colonization, the Spanish language received linguistic evolution through a mix of Spanish and some tribal words. This event led to the creation of more dialects among the Spanish community. Through this system, Spanish would borrow or use native words and vary depending on the area you were in, seen in today’s society.
With the help of many scholars, he made Spanish its very own language and its grammar rules. It became separate from Latin, Arabic, and Castilian Spanish. Once more, through much effort in the early 18th century, Spanish was kept uniform through Spanish efforts. The Royal Spanish Academy, founded by the king of Spain at the time, Philip V, was founded to keep the Spanish language consistent.
Photo credit: My mom
Context: Peruvian celebration "El Señor de los Milagros"
Colonization of Peru
Colonization of Peru
The Incas had a civil war between two kings, which left the Inca empire vulnerable to attacks, leading to the start of the empire's downfall. Left in a weakened state and chaos, the kingdom was no match for the technology and military forces of the Spanish.
During the Spanish conquest, it had taken a few centuries, but the Spanish had won the war with the Inca. The Incan king, Túpac Amaru, was executed; after, Incas were treated poorly with no rights.
The Inca people were weakened by war and disease, for example smallpox in the 15th century. The Spanish brought many foreign diseases, leading to the decline of the Inca population exponentially.
The people suffered a population decline and had to meet many physical demands forced upon them by the Spanish. Many tribes, including non Incas, were working in the mines for mercury and silver, also receiving little to no pay.
Photo credit: Google
A fight for Independence
A fight for Independence
Hundreds of years later, in the 18th century, these people are known as Mestizos; Mestizos are descendants of people with Spanish and indigenous heritage, making their communities over time. Newer generations had growing dislike for their Spanish government.
In 1808, the king of Spain was King Charles IV, although the people of Spain were not big fans of the royal family, they still held loyalty to their country. Napoleon's conquest of Europe led him to replace the king of Spain with his brother. The people of Spain disliked their French oppressors more than their Spanish ones. Due to the many issues at the time, the country's control over South America weakened.
Peru struggled with politics during different periods and crises, but survived. The people survived through an economic collapse, a communist uprising, economic improvement with the poor worsening, to 2001 where things became better due to their first Indigenous President. Alberto Fujimori, he had brought freedom and stability to the people.
Photo credit: My abuelo
Contex: After my Irish dance recital, this picture is of my Abuelo and I
The language today
The language today
Modern day Peru’s official language is Spanish, and has a variety of indigenous languages. Most Peruvians primarily speak Spanish, but a few still speak the indigenous languages. Spanish is spoken more in the cities and suburbs while the indigenous languages are spoken more in rural areas. Many who speak the language live in the central Andes.
There are over 105,000 people that speak these indigenous languages. Although Peruvians mainly speak Spanish, many still speak indigenous languages.
Spanish covers about 84% of the population. The other 26% percent speak Quechua or other indigenous languages. Spanish is a primary language spoken in the suburbs and cities. Aymara, Quechua, and other indigenous languages are spoken at higher rates in rural areas.
Throughout history, the preservation of these indigenous languages has been in many different ways. Unfortunately, 37 of these individual languages have been lost to time, and possibly more.
The Finale
The Spanish language has endured so much to become the language I use to connect and communicate with my family. Initially, the language was Latin, but it evolved through different cultures, people, and areas. The Spanish I know today has been influenced a bit by the Incas. My ancestors are a mix of conquered and conquerors, which shaped who I am today.
Photo credit: My mom
Context: Lunch with my family at In In out, this picture is of my Abuela and I
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