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Association of Academies of the Spanish Language
A shield with a helmet on top and flowing ribbons around it, surrounded by the flags of the member states. On the shield is a flame down the middle with a castle on the top-left, map of Latin America on the bottom-left, Columbus' three ships on the top-right, and a lion on the bottom-right. Below is a ribbon reading "UNA ESTIRPE·UNA LENGUA Y UN DESTINO"
Países con Academia de la Lengua Española.svg
Countries where Spanish-language academies exist.
Abbreviation ASALE
Formation 1951 (1951)
Headquarters Madrid, Spain
Official language
Spanish
President
Santiago Muñoz Machado
General Secretary
Francisco Javier Pérez
Main organ
Permanent commission

The Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (known as Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, or ASALE) is a group that works to keep the Spanish language strong and help it grow. It started in Mexico in 1951. ASALE brings together all the different Spanish language academies from around the world. This association helps create important books about the Spanish language and special editions of famous Spanish literature.

How ASALE Started and Grew

The idea for ASALE came from Miguel Alemán Valdés, who was the president of Mexico at the time. He wanted to make sure the Spanish language stayed united and continued to develop. The first meeting happened in Mexico City from April 23 to May 6, 1951. This meeting led to the creation of ASALE and its main working group, called the Permanent Commission.

The Royal Spanish Academy (known as RAE in Spanish), which is a very old and important academy in Spain, wasn't at the first meeting. However, they did join the Permanent Commission. Since the second big meeting in 1956, the RAE has always been a regular participant.

In 2000, ASALE helped start the School of Hispanic Lexicography and the Carolina Foundation. These groups work to improve how Spanish words are studied and defined. In the same year, ASALE and the RAE together won the Prince of Asturias Award for peace, which is a very important award. In 2013, an academy for Equatorial Guinea was created, and it officially joined ASALE in 2016.

Meetings of the Academies

ASALE holds regular meetings, called congresses, where representatives from all the academies come together. These meetings are important for discussing the future of the Spanish language. Here's a list of where and when some of these important meetings have taken place:

List of Association of Academies of the Spanish Language congresses
Number Date City Territory Notes
I 23 April – 6 May 1951 Mexico City Mexico The RAE was not present
II 22 April – 2 May 1956 Madrid Spain
III 27 July – 6 August 1960 Bogotá Colombia
IV 30 November – 10 December 1964 Buenos Aires Argentina The Cuban delegation did not participate
V 24 July – 19 August 1968 Quito Ecuador Delegations from Cuba and Venezuela were not present
VI 20–29 November 1972 Caracas Venezuela
VII 13–23 November 1976 Santiago de Chile Chile Delegations from Cuba and Mexico were not present
VIII 20–27 April 1980 Lima Peru The Cuban delegation did not participate
IX 8–15 October 1989 San Jose Costa Rica Delegations from Cuba, Honduras, and Paraguay were not present
X 24–29 April 1994 Madrid Spain
XI 15–19 November 1998 Puebla de Zaragoza Mexico
XII 12–15 November 2002 San Juan Puerto Rico
XIII 21–24 March 2007 Medellin Colombia
XIV 21–25 November 2011 Panama City Panama
XV 23–25 November 2015 Mexico City Mexico
XVI 27–30 March 2019 Córdoba Argentina

What ASALE Does: Important Works

ASALE works closely with the RAE and other academies to create important language resources. For example, since 2001, they have all worked together on the Dictionary of the Spanish Language (in Spanish: Diccionario de la Lengua Española). The 1999 edition of the Orthography (rules for spelling and writing, in Spanish: Ortografía) was a true team effort involving all Spanish-speaking countries.

They also work together on other big projects, like editing the Grammar (rules for how words are put together, in Spanish: Gramática) and putting together the Dictionary of Americanisms (in Spanish: Diccionario de americanismos). This dictionary collects words and phrases used in different parts of the Americas where Spanish is spoken.

How ASALE is Organized

ASALE holds a big meeting every four years. A special group called the Permanent Commission leads the association. This commission includes a President (who is also the head of the Royal Spanish Academy), a General Secretary (chosen from the leaders of other academies), a Treasurer (chosen by the Royal Spanish Academy), and at least two other board members from the different academies. These board members change each year.

During the third big meeting in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1960, an agreement was made. This agreement stated that the governments of countries with an academy in ASALE should help pay for their own academy and for the larger ASALE organization. This helps make sure the work of preserving and promoting Spanish can continue.

Academies Around the World

Many countries have their own Spanish language academies that are part of ASALE. These academies work locally to support the language and contribute to ASALE's global efforts.

Country Name in Spanish Name in English Founded
Spain Real Academia Española Royal Spanish Academy 1713
Colombia Academia Colombiana de la Lengua Colombian Academy of the Language 1871
Ecuador Academia Ecuatoriana de la Lengua Ecuadorian Academy of the Language 1874
Mexico Academia Mexicana de la Lengua Mexican Academy of the Language 1875
El Salvador Academia Salvadoreña de la Lengua Salvadoran Academy of the Language 1876
Venezuela Academia Venezolana de la Lengua Venezuelan Academy of the Language 1883
Chile Academia Chilena de la Lengua Chilean Academy of the Language 1885
Peru Academia Peruana de la Lengua Peruvian Academy of the Language 1887
Guatemala Academia Guatemalteca de la Lengua Guatemalan Academy of the Language 1887
Costa Rica Academia Costarricense de la Lengua Costa Rican Academy of the Language 1923
Philippines Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language 1924
Panama Academia Panameña de la Lengua Panamanian Academy of the Language 1926
Cuba Academia Cubana de la Lengua Cuban Academy of the Language 1926
Paraguay Academia Paraguaya de la Lengua Española Paraguayan Academy of the Spanish Language 1927
Bolivia Academia Boliviana de la Lengua Bolivian Academy of the Language 1927
Dominican Republic Academia Dominicana de la Lengua Dominican Academy of the Language 1927
Nicaragua Academia Nicaragüense de la Lengua Nicaraguan Academy of the Language 1928
Argentina Academia Argentina de Letras Argentine Academy of Letters 1931
Uruguay Academia Nacional de Letras National Academy of Letters 1943
Honduras Academia Hondureña de la Lengua Honduran Academy of the Language 1949
Puerto Rico Academia Puertorriqueña de la Lengua Española Puerto Rican Academy of the Spanish Language 1955
United States Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española North American Academy of the Spanish Language 1973
Equatorial Guinea Academia Ecuatoguineana de la Lengua Española Equatoguinean Academy of the Spanish Language 2013
Israel Academia Nacional del Judeoespañol en Israel National Academy of Judaeo-Spanish in Israel 2020

Even though people in Israel mostly speak Hebrew, Arabic, English, and Russian, an ASALE meeting in 2015 discussed creating an Israeli branch for Judaeo-Spanish. This led to a group of academics being formed by ASALE in 2018. This group is working to get official recognition from the government of Israel. Once recognized, the National Academy of Judaeo-Spanish in Israel can ask to become a full member of ASALE. There are currently no plans for Belize, Gibraltar, or Andorra to have their own academies, even though many people there speak Spanish. Also, many Spanish speakers live in Brazil and Western Sahara.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española para niños

  • Autoridad Nasionala del Ladino – a group in Israel that used to regulate Ladino, a language related to Spanish.
  • Cervantes Institute – a Spanish organization that promotes the Spanish language and culture around the world.
  • Panhispanism – the idea of promoting unity and cooperation among all Spanish-speaking people.
  • List of language regulators
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