International Conference of the Spanish Language
{{Short description|Spanish-language conference}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = International Conference of the Spanish Language
| native_name = {{langx|es|Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española}}
| image = 2023-03-27 IX Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, 04.jpg
|caption=Official photo, in front of the Gran Teatro Falla Theater in Cádiz, at the inauguration of the Ninth Conference of the Spanish Language. Those present include the King and Queen of Spain, the President of the Junta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Mayor of Cádiz.
| frequency = Triennial
| first = 7–11 April 1997
| last = 27–30 March 2023
| next = 2025
| organised = Instituto Cervantes
Royal Spanish Academy
Association of Academies of the Spanish Language
| URL = https://congresosdelalengua.es/
}}
The International Conference of the Spanish Language ({{langx|es|Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española}}, CILE), is a forum for reflection on issues related to the Spanish language, such as the problems and challenges faced by its speakers. It is held every three years in a city located in either Spain or Hispanic America. Its organizers are the Instituto Cervantes—which serves as the permanent general secretariat—the Royal Spanish Academy, and the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, as well as the country in charge of each edition.{{cite web |title=Organización |url=https://congresosdelalengua.es/organizacion.htm |website=Congresos Internacionales de la Lengua Española |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}}{{cite web |title=CILE |url=https://www.rae.es/la-institucion/politica-panhispanica/cile |website=Royal Spanish Academy |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}}
The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the joint responsibility shared by governments, institutions, and individuals in the promotion and unity of the language, understood as the backbone of the Ibero-American community in all areas, in a dialogue with other languages that are part of its living common heritage. Participants include writers, academics, intellectuals, professionals, and experts related to the fields of linguistics, communications, and the Spanish language in general.
History
The International Conference of the Spanish Language was held for the first time in 1997 in Zacatecas, Mexico.{{cite web |title=Zacatecas 1997 |url=https://congresosdelalengua.es/zacatecas/default.htm |website=Congresos Internacionales de la Lengua Española |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}} Since then, it has been held in various Spanish-speaking countries.
= Versions =
Controversies
File:Congreso_de_laS_LenguaS_(1).jpg (note the official banner with the two capital letter Ss marking the plurals of las lenguas{{refn|group=lower-alpha|English: The languages, as opposed to just la lengua española or "the Spanish language" in the conference's title.}}).]]
Despite its brief history, the conference has not been without its share of bitter disputes. At the first conference in 1997, in Zacatecas, the presentation given by Gabriel García Márquez, titled Botella al mar para el dios de las palabras, advocated for la jubilación de la ortografía.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|English: The retirement of spelling}}{{cite web |title=Botella al mar para el Dios de las palabras |url=https://congresosdelalengua.es/zacatecas/inauguracion/garcia-marquez.htm |website=Congresos Internacionales de la Lengua Española |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}}{{cite web |last1=de Ardila |first1=Irina |title=Crónica de los congresos internacionales de la lengua española |url=https://aplengua.org.pa/cronica-de-los-congresos-internacionales-de-la-lengua-espanola/ |website=Academia Panameña de la Lengua |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish |date=13 April 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Stavans |first1=Ilan |author1-link=Ilan Stavans |title=Adiós a la ‘h’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/es/2018/03/02/espanol/opinion/opinion-stavans-adios-h-hache-espanol.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish |date=2 March 2018}}
In 2004, in Rosario, at the same time as the third conference was being held, Argentinian Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel inaugurated the 1st Congreso de laS LenguaS to demand that the memory and identity of the languages spoken by the indigenous peoples of the Americas be recovered.{{cite web |title=I Congreso de laS LenguaS |url=http://www.laslenguas.org.ar/ |website=Congreso de laS LenguaS |access-date=31 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051031050733/http://www.laslenguas.org.ar/ |archive-date=31 October 2005 |language=Spanish |date=31 October 2004}}
Moreover, the participation of linguist Nélida Donni de Mirande, a native of Rosario,{{cite web |title=Fallecimiento de la académica correspondiente Nélida Donni de Mirande |url=https://www.aal.edu.ar/?q=node/371 |website=Academia Argentina de Letras |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}} was cancelled due to her being accused by the National University of Rosario of having collaborated with the last military dictatorship in Argentina (1976–1983).{{cite web |last1=Veiras |first1=Nora |title=Los éxitos de facto dejaron fuera de agenda a una lingüista rosarina |date=3 August 2004|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-39117-2004-08-03.html |website=Página 12 |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}}{{cite web |last1=Friera |first1=Silvina |title=El límite democrático |date=26 August 2004|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-39117-2004-08-03.html |website=Página 12 |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish}}
Then, in 2016, in San Juan, there was an "unnecessary discussion" surrounding the inclusion in the dictionary of the term puertorriqueñidad.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|English: The character or condition of being Puerto Rican}} In addition, Víctor García de la Concha, at the time the director of Instituto Cervantes, mentioned that it was the first time that the conference was being held fuera del ámbito de la comunidad iberoamericana de naciones.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|English: Outside the scope of the Ibero-American community of nations}} While the King of Spain Felipe VI expressed his joy at "returning to the United States."{{cite web |last1=Díaz |first1=Carmen Graciela |title=Clausura Congreso de la Lengua que trajo a discusión la hispanidad de Puerto Rico |url=https://www.univision.com/noticias/congreso-internacional-de-la-lengua-espanola-cile-en-san-juan-puerto-rico/clausura-congreso-de-la-lengua-que-trajo-a-discusion-la-hispanidad-de-puerto-rico |website=Univision |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=Spanish |date=18 March 2016}}
== See also ==
Notes
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
- [https://cvc.cervantes.es/obref/congresos/ Congresos de la Lengua], portal at Instituto Cervantes
- [https://congresodelalenguaarequipa.pe/ X Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española], website of the 2025 conference in Arequipa, Peru
- [https://www.congresolenguacadiz.es/el-congreso/ IX Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española], website of the 2023 conference in Cádiz, Spain
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131022044410/http://www.cile.org.pa/ VI Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española], website of the 2013 conference in Panama City, Panama
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070607031927/http://www.congresodelalengua.gov.co/ IV Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española], website of the 2007 conference in Cartagena, Colombia
Category:Spanish language academies