Throughout the Middle Ages a variety of Spanish dialects were spoken in Spain. The dialect of Castile, or Castilian Spanish, eventually became recognized as the official language in the 13th century and it is Castilian Spanish which is taught in the Oxford Take Off In Spanish course.
Although the majority of words in Spanish come from Latin, many come from other sources which reflect Spain's rich and colourful history: Greek, Basque, and Celtic from the pre-Latin times, Arabic from the Muslim occupation, French from the 11th century pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, Italian from the 15th and 16th centuries, American Indian languages from colonial times, to name but a few.
Each country in Central and Latin America has its own slight variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and, in some cases, structure, but whether you speak to people from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, or any of the other Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas, you will be able to communicate effectively the Spanish as it is spoken in one of these countries. The Take Off In Latin American Spanish course focuses on the Spanish spoken in Mexico.
Spanish was introduced in Central America by European colonists from the late 15 century. The indigenous ancient civilizations, such as Maya, Aztec, and Inca, and the Hispanic traditions of the colonists have contributed to a rich and varied culture, which is reflected in the language spoken today throughout the continent.
Presiding over the Spanish language is the Real Academia de la Lengua Española, which makes the rules for what is and is not acceptable and reviews and ratifies modifications and changes.
From the introduction to Take Off In Spanish
Learn to speak, read, write, and understand authentic Spanish quickly and easily
Learn to speak, read, write, and understand authentic Latin American Spanish quickly and easily
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