Key research themes
1. How did sociohistorical dynamics shape syntactic changes in Early Modern Spanish?
This research theme investigates the sociolinguistic profiles and sociohistorical factors driving syntactic variation and change in Spanish during critical transitional periods, notably the Golden Age and Early Modern Spanish eras. Understanding these changes elucidates the diffusion of standard and nonstandard syntactic variants within varied social milieus, and the mechanisms by which linguistic norms consolidate and replace vernacular forms. This matters for historical linguistics and sociolinguistics as it links language evolution with social stratification and cultural practices in Spain's linguistic history.
2. What linguistic and social factors influenced the phonological developments and dialectal variation in historical Spanish varieties?
This theme explores phonological and dialectological changes within Spanish, focusing on regional peculiarities, sound system realignments, phonetic innovations, and the sociocultural contexts underlying these changes. It addresses how dialect contact, contact with other languages, and internal phonetic processes led to significant sound shifts and the emergence of distinct regional varieties, with implications for dialectology, historical phonology, and sociophonetics.
3. How did contact with other languages and sociopolitical events influence Spanish lexical and dialectal evolution?
This theme investigates the impact of language contact, loanword incorporation, and sociopolitical history on the lexical development and dialect formation of Spanish. It examines the influence of languages such as Greek, French, Basque, Arabic, Hebrew, and others through contact and migration, as well as the role of political power and social conditions in shaping language use and dialect prestige. This research is crucial for understanding the historical structuring of Spanish lexicon and dialect diversity.