The Dialects of Spanish: A Lexical Introduction

Description

Spanish is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, and there is extensive lexical variation between its numerous dialects. This book, the first of its kind, focuses uniquely on the origin, diversity, and geographic distribution of portions of the lexicon. The hundreds of words analysed - related to food, clothing, vehicles, and certain miscellaneous items - provide a representative study not only of the many etymological routes by which they have entered the Spanish language over time, but of the considerable diatopic variety which they display across the different Spanish-speaking nations and regions. Representative maps are provided to illustrate several instances of these astounding dialectal differences. This variation is also discussed in terms of its evident link to the historical developments of Spanish. Providing a compelling overview of lexical variety in the Spanish-speaking world, this book will interest anyone who wants to delve into the richness of this fascinating language.

Travis Sorenson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures, at the University of Central Arkansas. Having lived in two Latin American countries and travelled in several others, he has developed a heightened interest in, and specialized knowledge of, the type of lexical variation addressed in this book.

'This comprehensive volume constitutes a major reference work in the field of Spanish dialectology for students and scholars alike. It is an invaluable resource tool of lexical variation among various areas of the Spanish-speaking world.' Eva Nunez, Portland State University 'Original contrastive approach that brings together both diachronic and synchronic perspectives in the study of Spanish lexical variation. The maps are a great pedagogical feature to use at different levels of instruction.' Carmen Valentin del Barrio, Associate Professor of Spanish, Grinnell College 'This book is a useful resource for instructors and students of Spanish Dialectology. It offers thorough research of the most common words across Spanish Dialects.' Margarita Jara, Associate Professor of Spanish, University of Nevada, Las Vegas