SPAN 320

Dialecto

A variety of a language spoken by a particular group or community. All speakers use a dialect.

Gramática descriptiva

Describes how speakers actually use language without judging correctness.

Gramática prescriptiva

Establishes rules for how people are expected or told to use language.

Consciencia metalingüística

The ability to think about and discuss language using grammatical terms.

Critical Language Awareness (CLA)

Understanding how language relates to power, privilege, identity, and social structures.

Lengua

A language system shared by a community of speakers.

Variedad lingüística

A specific form or variety of a language used by a group of speakers.

Tiempo verbal

Indicates when an action occurs (past, present, future).

Modo

Expresses the speaker's attitude toward an action or statement.

Indicativo

Mood used for facts, realities, and certainty.

Subjuntivo

Mood used for doubt, emotion, desire, possibility, or uncertainty.

Imperativo

Mood used to give commands or instructions.

Aspecto

Describes how an action unfolds in time.

Pretérito

Past tense used for completed actions.

Imperfecto

Past tense used for ongoing, habitual, or background actions.

Infinitivo

The unconjugated form of a verb ending in -ar, -er, or -ir.

Conjugación

The process of changing a verb form to match person, number, tense, or mood.

Verbo

A word that expresses an action, event, or state of being.

Sustantivo

A noun; a person, place, thing, or idea.

Pronombre

A word that replaces a noun.

Artículo

A word that introduces a noun (el, la, los, las, un, una).

Adjetivo

A word that describes a noun.

Adverbio

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

Preposición

A word showing relationships between words (a, de, en, con).

Conjunción

A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses.

Interjección

A word or phrase expressing emotion or reaction.

Primera persona

Refers to the speaker (yo, nosotros).

Segunda persona

Refers to the person being addressed (tú, usted, vos).

Tercera persona

Refers to someone or something being discussed (él, ella, ellos).

Tú

Informal second-person singular pronoun.

Usted

Formal second-person singular pronoun.

Vos

Alternative second-person singular pronoun used in many Latin American regions.

Vosotros/as

Informal second-person plural pronoun mainly used in Spain.

Ustedes

Second-person plural pronoun used throughout Latin America.

Ser

Verb used for identity, origin, characteristics, profession, time, and possession.

Estar

Verb used for location, condition, emotion, and temporary states.

Reflexivo

Action performed on oneself.

Recíproco

Action performed mutually between two or more people.

Se accidental

Construction showing an accidental action or reducing emphasis on responsibility.

Se pasivo

Construction emphasizing the action rather than the actor.

Norma lingüística

Conventional language practices accepted by a community.

Prestigio lingüístico

Social value assigned to a language variety.

Prejuicio lingüístico

Negative judgment about a person's language variety.

Discriminación lingüística

Unequal treatment based on language use or dialect.

Ideología lingüística

Beliefs and assumptions people hold about language.

Variación lingüística

Differences in language use across speakers, groups, or contexts.

Cambio lingüístico

The process through which languages evolve over time.

Registro

Language style used according to context and audience.

Inclusión lingüística

Language practices that recognize and respect diverse speakers and identities.

Colonialismo lingüístico

The privileging of one language variety while marginalizing others.

Identidad lingüística

The way language reflects and expresses identity.