Understanding the Connections between English and Spanish

Cognates (cognados)-- [Latin: co + gnatus born.]

Cognates are words in different languages that look and/or sound alike because they share a
common ancestor. The fact that cognates are shared between English and Spanish tells us that
there are historical links between the two languages.

Historical links between English and Spanish (or, why there are cognates)

1. Proto Indo-European

Definition- It is the name given by linguists to the ancestor language of nearly all the
languages spoken throughout Europe, Southwest Asia and the Indian sub-continent. It is the
ancient link that explains many of the similarities among this region’s languages.

(see handout of Proto Indo-European linguistic tree)

Origin- Linguists, analyzing the earliest written records of the region’s languages, estimate
that Proto Indo-European developed between 5,000 and 3000 B.C.E. among a small,
homogeneous population that gradually began to expand into new territories taking its language
with it.

Archeologists were later able to support this theory by identifying the remains of just such a
group in present-day Ukraine near the Black Sea to which they gave the name Kurgan Culture.

(see map)

The archeological record shows that around 3000 b.c.

the Kurgan Culture began to expand. Over thousands of years they conquered other groups and
imposed their language and culture. Eventually, descendants of this original language known
now as Proto Indo-European extended as far as India to the south, Scandinavia to the north, and
Iceland to the west.

As the language spread over an ever wider area it began to fragment and morph. These changes
became isolated and led to the development of separate languages. While they may not be
immediately seem to be related, close analysis reveals similarities (comparative linguistics).

(see examples of Proto Indo-European Family cognates)

2. Latin (another important connection between English and Spanish)

Spanish is known as a Romance language, that is, a direct descendant of Latin, the legacy of the
Roman conquest of what is today Spain. So, Latin’s influence on Spanish is near total.

English, a descendant of Anglo-Saxon, is a Germanic language. As such, it might be assumed

that English is not influenced by Latin, but, in fact, over 50% of words in English come from
Latin. How did this happen?

--Rome occupied England in 47 b.c.

Latin words  relating to military, gov’t., technology, food, religion, etc.

--Roman Catholic Church influence through Middle Ages

Latin words  relating to religion, all university study done in Latin, etc.

3. Norman Conquest 1066 a.d.

The French Normans conquered England and introduced French as
the language of the upper classes in England. Since French is also a Romance
Language, thousands of Latin-based words were introduced into English.

***This is the single most important factor accounting for the large number of cognates
shared by English and Spanish.

4. Direct Borrowings

English and Spanish have borrowed extensively from each other as a result of cultural contact

SpanishEnglish EnglishSpanish
corral parquear (to park)
lariat (la reata) computadora
chapparal bonche (bunch)
hoosegow (juzgar) bisnear (to do business)
alligator (el largato) lonche (lunch)
hurricane (hurucán) líder (leader)
patio mitín (meeting)
ranch (rancho) boicotear (to boycott)
guerilla jon ron (home run)
mosquito suéter

“Connections = Cognates”