Describes the varied and changing Spanish language at the end of the twentieth century. By extracts from contemporary press and literary sources it provides a comprehensive overview of the varieties of the Spanish language.

Miranda Stewart is Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American studies at the University of Strathclyde

Part I Spanish as a world language; Chapter 1 The extent and status of Spanish in the world; Chapter 2 The standardization of Spanish; Part II Spanish: variation and change; Chapter 3 The phonetics, phonology and orthography of Spanish; Chapter 4 Spanish lexis; Chapter 5 Spanish morpho-syntax; Part III The Spanish language in use; Chapter 6 Tú, Vd. and forms of address; Chapter 7 Discourse and genre; Chapter 8 Conversation, pragmatics and politeness; Part IV Spanish in contact; Chapter 9 Spanish in contact;