Third International Congress of the Spanish Language

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The Third International Congress of the Spanish Language (Tercer Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española) was a cultural event that took place in Rosario, Argentina, on November 17-19, 2004.

The main topics of the Congress were three: ideological and sociological aspects of linguistic identity; identity and language in literary creation; and the internationalization of Spanish.

It was the first time this Congress was celebrated in South America; the previous ones were held in Zacatecas (Mexico) and Valladolid (Spain). Given its importance, the governor of Santa Fe, Jorge Obeid, decreed a public holiday for the opening day.

The main base of the activities of the Congress was

. A dictionary of linguistic doubts (Diccionario Panhispánico de Dudas) was introduced, and the Cervantes Institute presented a new linguistic competence certificate for Spanish as a foreign language.

Commemorating the fourth centennial of the first publishing of

and Editorial Santillana, with the support of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language. Its 12,000 copies were reported sold out in less than a month.

Guests and lecturers

Representing

Juan Carlos I and the Queen Sofía; Argentine President Néstor Kirchner represented the national government. The presidents of Colombia and Mexico

, as well as other important representatives of Spanish-speaking countries, were also present.

As guest lecturers there were the writers

Ernesto Sábato. The Rosario-born novelist, comics artist and humorist Roberto Fontanarrosa

broke the ice in a debate about the importance of insults in interpersonal communication.

Criticism

See also:

Black legend (Spain)

The Congress met opposition on the part of

demonstration

.

In line with these protests, there was another gathering, the Congreso de laS LenguaS, to discuss linguistic and cultural diversity in the region. It was presided by Nobel Peace Prize Adolfo Pérez Esquivel.

Sources

In Spanish unless otherwise noted:

• Educ.ar – Educational portal of the Argentine State.
• Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española in the website of Liceus.com.
• Diario Hoy, La Plata, Argentina, 18 December 2004.
• Rosario en el éxito soñado, RosarioNet, 21 November 2004.
• Por el Congreso de la Lengua, habrá asueto administrativo. SinMordaza.com, 12 November 2004.
• Congreso de laS LenguaS.