Association of Academies of the Spanish Language facts for kids
 |
|
Countries where Spanish-language academies exist.
|
|
| Abbreviation | ASALE |
|---|---|
| Formation | 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.
Contents
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:
| 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
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
