International Conference of the Spanish Language

The International Conference of the Spanish Language (Spanish: 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.

International Conference of the Spanish Language
Spanish: Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española
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.
FrequencyTriennial
Inaugurated7–11 April 1997
Most recent27–30 March 2023
Next event2025
Organised byInstituto Cervantes
Royal Spanish Academy
Association of Academies of the Spanish Language
Websitehttps://congresosdelalengua.es/

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. Since then, it has been held in various Spanish-speaking countries.

Versions

Version Date City Country Slogan
I (1997) 7–11 April 1997 Zacatecas  Mexico La lengua y los medios de comunicación
II (es) (2001) 16–19 October 2001 Valladolid  Spain El español en la sociedad de la información
III (2004) 17–20 November 2004 Rosario  Argentina Identidad lingüística y globalización
IV (es) (2007) 26–29 March 2007 Cartagena de Indias  Colombia Presente y futuro de la lengua española: unidad en la diversidad
V (es) (2010) 2–6 March 2010;
suspended due to the 2010 Chile earthquake
Valparaíso  Chile América en lengua española
VI (2013) 20–23 October 2013 Panama City  Panama El español en el libro: del Atlántico al Mar del Sur
VII (2016) 11–19 March 2016 San Juan  Puerto Rico Lengua española y creatividad
VIII (2019) 27–30 March 2019 Córdoba  Argentina América y el futuro del español. Cultura y educación, tecnología y emprendimiento.
IX (2023) 27–30 March 2023 Cádiz  Spain Lengua española, mestizaje e interculturalidad. Historia y futuro.
X (2025) 2025 Arequipa  Peru

Controversies

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.

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.

Moreover, the participation of linguist Nélida Donni de Mirande, a native of Rosario, 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).

Then, in 2016, in San Juan, there was an "unnecessary discussion" surrounding the inclusion in the dictionary of the term puertorriqueñidad. 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. While the King of Spain Felipe VI expressed his joy at "returning to the United States."

See also

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