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History of Spanish Language

Join us for a FREE virtual program on October 23 at 6:30 p.m. ET!

Discover how the Spanish language has shaped – and been shaped by – the history of the American West. Based on the book U.S. Mexican Spanish West of the Mississippi, this program looks at how Spanish arrived with early settlers, adapted as borders changed, and developed into unique regional dialects.
We’ll explore:

• How migration and historical events, like the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, influenced where and how Spanish was spoken.
• The role of Spanish in identity, community, and culture.
• How these factors and events have shaped the Spanish spoken in this region today.

This program offers an approachable look at the history of Spanish in the United States and how it continues to connect people, place, and heritage today.

Jens H. Clegg is Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA. His research interests include US Spanish, language contact, bilingualism, and sociolinguistics.