Language is often referred to as either living or dead. Castilian Spanish, or simply Castellano, is interesting partly because its governing body, the Real Academia Española (Spanish Royal Academy) authorizes the adoption of new words. 

Sometimes, they seem to mull things over quite a bit before deciding... One recent authorization was for the word estrés or stress. Since new words aren't adopted quickly, purists are sometimes horrified at the Spanglish spoken daily in many parts of the United States. (I'm certainly guilty of my share!)

For this blog post, I'm actually going back in time hundreds of centuries. I recently came across a dictionary of terms used in Spanish Colonial times, and many are precursors to words still used today, like "barbecue." I hope you enjoy this slice of linguistic history. ¡Adelante! Onward we go!

adelantado: Someone authorized to settle a new territory. Literally, "one who pushes forward." One who recruits his own army and bears expedition costs, distributes land to loyal followers and reserves a hereditary holding for his family. This explains why so many explorers died penniless after a shipwreck.

akalde or alcalde: Mayor; head of a town council. The same word is still in use today.

almirante: Admiral; second in command of a fleet. Sailed in the ship designated as almiranta, which guarded the rear of a convoy.
 
axdiencia: Audience, the highest regional appeals court; a hearing at such a court.

barbacoa: A raised framework for smoking meat or fish. This is the source of modern word barbecue; also the name of a wooden framework used to store corn above ground.

factor: An agent of the king; usually an accountant; reports to the king on results of the expedition.

oidor: A judge, someone who hears, or listens to pleas.
 
peso: A Spanish coin of varying value made of gold or silver; often rated at an ounce of pure silver.

reales [real, sing.]: The real was a silver coin, first minted in Castile, whose value has varied. To Cubans in the pre-Castro era, a “real” was a ten-cent coin.

repartimiento: A share received from the division of the proceeds of an expedition.

vara: A measure of approximately 33 inches; This word is still heard in a textile shops today.

vecino: A free Spanish citizen of a municipality, most often with voice and vote in municipal affairs, also a neighbor. (This reminds me of the Spanish saying, "No tengo ni voz ni voto.")

Florida has had a decidedly Spanish flavor for nearly 500 years, when the first Europeans first stepped foot here. Florida's newest comprehensive history website, www.VivaFlorida.org, is full of details about the Spanish Colonial trail. For an interesting slice of Tampa's Latin history, watch this video. And for details about Cuban culture in the Sunshine State, read this story.

¡Hasta la próxima! 'Til next time!