The Associated Press (AP) has recently launched their first Spanish language stylebook, in an ambitious effort to standardize universal Spanish language usage for journalists around the world. The American news agency, which boldly claims that over half the world’s population sees its news every day, hopes their book will promote correct and consistent use of Spanish in the international media and avoid regionalisms that often cause confusion.

The AP’s English version of the stylebook was first introduced in 1953 and has since been considered one of the most important reference guides for journalists communicating in that language. The goal of both the English and now the Spanish versions is to help those responsible for creating news pieces use language in a way that is understood by the widest range of people possible.   

The AP held a panel discussion on Nov. 19^th to officially mark the launch of the stylebook, where Spanish-language journalists talked about the need for the book and issues regarding its making, such as deciding which English loan words and new technology jargon to accept and which not to. Interestingly, the book already includes entries of new words that The Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) announced will appear in next year’s RAE dictionary, such as tuitear (to correspond on twitter) and tableta (a digital tablet). The RAE, traditionally reluctant to accept new words into their dictionary, is often accused of considering only Spanish spoken in the Castilian region of Spain when stipulating their own official language standards. It’s not clear how the conservative RAE’s royal preservers of proper Castilian feel about the AP’s stylebook, which includes a liberal helping of estadunidismos like picop for pick-up truck. It also suggests spelling CD ROM, cederrón. The AP’s manual however, purposely omits English loan words that could cause false-friendly confusion: carpeta for the English carpet (carpeta means folder in Spanish) or parada for the English parade (parada usually means a stop, like for a bus or a train), etc.

Perhaps the most engaging point of the panel discussion was the delicate topic of words used to describe people with unlawful resident status in a country, words such as indocumentado and inmigrante illegal. The AP suggests using the term illegal immigrant, but encourages journalists to use it with caution. Should children, for example, growing up in the U.S., whose parents brought them into the United States under illegal conditions, be labeled as illegal immigrants? Associated Press standard editor Thomas J. Kent doesn’t think so. He stresses the importance of using more precise terms to describe individual situations regarding legal status. Not only insensitive, words such as undocumented are usually inaccurate, as most of the people described as such do have documents in their own countries. Many major Spanish-language publications however prefer "undocumented" over "illegal immigrant". Defining a person as an illegal immigrant seems to suggest that the person’s existence is somehow against the law, not just his or her actions. Huffington Post Voces for example, carries AP Spanish language news pieces, but routinely substitutes the term inmigrante illegal for indocumentado.

The book is only available online, so that editors can update its content as needed –it offers standardized translations of new terms from current events such as suspension temporal de deportaciones for the recent “deferred action” policy. The current edition contains 3,500 entries of words and has special chapters on common press-topic vocabulary such as entertainment, arts and sports. For now, only AP Spanish news service clients can access its content. Beginning early next year however, anyone will be able to subscribe to the online guide for $26. A group of 10 people can subscribe for $210 a year. The more users that make up a group, the more economical the cost. The subscription allows users to take notes in the margins next to words, and the group subscription allows all users to view the notes. Subscribers can also ask questions to the editor and audio features allow users to hear standard pronunciations of words.

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Spain, the home of Spanish language or in original form Castilian (Castellano), can be the perfect location to start your language education. There are several options, as the country has 17 autonomous communities and each has its own characteristic features. For this reason most of the time the question “Where is the best Spanish spoken?” arises in minds. Spanish spoken in Spain differs in dialect and local language of some provinces so the answers vary as well. The history, culture and to be the source of the language are the biggest reasons in the process of selecting a Spanish course.

One of the most preferred destination in Spain is Castile and Leon (Castilla y León) region, might be the result of the common belief that the purest Spanish is spoken there. The purity is mostly about the accent since there has been no interaction with other dialects and it is clearer than the other regions. Accordingly public authorities and private tourism agencies have started collaboration to spread language tourism in Castile and Leon. The region has been selected one of the most popular destination by Spaniards and it is an important location for international students. Language tourism is not considered to be an ordinary travel type yet people who are dedicated to learn other languages have started to travel to other countries in order to realize this mission. Many universities in all over the world organize exchange programs for the students to learn Spanish in Castile and León.

There are 9 provinces to discover the beauty of Spanish culture and each one has a distinct importance. Valladolid once hosted the author of Don Quijote, Miguel Cervantes, the epic story of El Cid which is depicted in the oldest preserved poem "Cantar de Mio Cid" was born in Burgos, Salamanca has the 3^rd oldest university in Europe and is the center of DELE exams, Segovia, being one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is an amazing place to see the Roman and medieval architecture and Leon is an important stop on the way to Camino de Santiago, in Palencia you can see the fourth tallest Christ statue in the world and many more other details are awaiting to be seen.

Castile and Leon is a must go place to understand history, culture, gastronomy and most importantly Spanish language. Why don't you select your next travel destination among these cities and start to live Spanish!

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When the rain and the first cold spells arrive, we feel like trying "comfort" recipes that can recharge our energy and fill our stomachs… and our spirits. Below, you'll find three of our favorite Spanish recipes, which can help you confront the rainy autumn and the cold winter. Keep on joining us on our blog - soon you will discover more traditional Spanish dishes of other Spanish regions.

Besugo al horno (Baked Sea Bream)

Ingredients

1 kilo sea bream, 4 potatoes, 1 green onion, 1 green pepper, 6 cloves of garlic, Spanish Olive oil, salt, chopped parsley, ½ guindilla pepper

Preparation
Cut 4 of the garlic cloves in slices, the green onion and the pepper in thin strips and the potatoes in thick slices. Cook it all in a pan on low heat. When it's almost done, transfer it to a cooking tray, covering the bottom surface. Put it in the preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes. Clean the bream, remove the head and the tail and save them. Separate the fillet meat, removing the spine. Salt as desired and place the bream fillet, with the skin side up, over the mattress of potatoes on the cooking tray. Also place the head and the tail here. Moisten with a little more oil and put the tray in the hot oven for 10 minutes. Serve in a serving dish with the skin side down. Chop the other two cloves of garlic into small cubes. Sauté them in a pan with oil and the guindilla pepper without the seeds (they're too spicy). Add some of the juice from the bream left in the cooking tray. Add the chopped parsley, mix well and pour the sauce of the fish.
Serve with the baked potatoes to one side and the fish with the skin side down.

Cocido madrileño (Madrilenian Stew)

Ingredients
250 g of garbanzo beans, 300 g of beef sirloin tip, ¼ chicken, 100 g of tocino entreverado (a type of bacon), 100 g of blood sausage, 100 g of chorizo sausage, 50 g of Serrano ham, 4 small beef marrow bones, 1 kg. of cabbage, 4 medium sized potatoes, 100 g of noodles for the soup, 2 carrots,  1 onion, 1 turnip, 1 clove of garlic, olive oil, salt

Preparation
Soak the garbanzo beans the night before in warm water and with a little bit of salt. In the morning, drain them. Place the meats, the tocino, the cleaned bones and the Serrano ham all in the pressure cooker and cover with water. Place it on the stove top and close it. When it starts to boil, the foam will rise to the surface. Remove the foam with a skimmer and add the garbanzos. When the water boils again, add the carrot, the onion and the turnip. Cook under pressure for 30 minutes to soften the garbanzos.
Open the cooker and add the potatoes (peeled and cut into pieces that aren't too small). Try it and salt to taste. Remove the vegetables and the garbanzos and put them to the side, leaving the broth to prepare the noodle soup. At the same time, in another cooking pot, cook the chopped cabbage for half an hour. Drain, and lightly fry with the garlic. Cook the chorizo sausage and the blood sausage in a separate pan so the color won't mix with the broth.

Presentation: Cocido Madrileño is eaten in three steps. First, the noodle soup is served (noodles must be cooked in the broth for 5 minutes). Then, the garbanzos are served in a serving dish with the vegetables: the lightly fried cabbage, the carrot, and the sliced turnip (about 2 centimeters). The onion is added to the broth to give it flavor, but then it's removed. In the third step, serve the meats cut into pieces, the chorizo and the blood sausage, the tocino and the bones pieces. The marrow spread over toast is delicious.

Patatas a la riojana (Rioja style potatoes)

Ingredients

6 potatoes, 3 chorizo sausages, 1 onion, 1 green pepper, 2 bell peppers, 1 head of garlic, Water, olive oil, salt, 2 bay leaves, 1 guindilla pepper (optional)

Preparation
Place the chopped onion and green pepper in a pressure cooker along with a little oil. Add the entire head of garlic, the bay leaves and the guindilla pepper (this is optional, depending on if you want it spicy or not). Add the sliced chorizo and the potatoes which must be broken into pieces using a knife and your hands (this makes the broth thicker). Cover with water and add salt. Cook for 5 minutes beginning from the time the cooker is pressurized. Soak the bell peppers in warm water after removing the seeds. When they've rehydrated, scrape off, chop up and save the pulp. Open the pressure cooker, take out the head of garlic and the guindilla pepper (if you added it). Add the bell peppers, stir and cook for two more minutes (so the flavors mix). Salt to taste.

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A Spanish study, which was published in an international online journal, showed that the fossils of a giant panda bear were found in the northeast of Spain; in fact revealed the first panda remains outside of Asia.

Unlike popular belief the birthland of panda might not be China, instead Iberian Peninsula might be the very initial place for those lovely creatures. The fossils were found in Zaragoza and Barcelona including two jars and several teeth which are almost 11.6 million years old. It has been the oldest ancestor link to giant panda ever found. The previous findings of panda lineage had demonstrated that the oldest predecessor is 7-8 million years old that were discovered in China.

It is surprising to see the first traces of panda bear in Spain as they are always thought to have existed in Asia mainly in higher parts of China. Bamboo, which grows in humid and warm environment, is the main food of their nutrition; so it has brought a theory into light that million years ago there must have been similar plants and the climate was different back then in Spain.

There is still no clear explanation how the ancestors of panda bears got into interaction with other species and migrated to China or whether it is possible that they lived in Europe and Asia at the same period million years ago. Panda bear is a rare animal, originally was considered to be a member of racoon or cat family, even in ancient times it was called "the large bear cat". Genetically they are closely related to bears and have carnivorous digestion system yet they adjust themselves on vegetarian diet, eating fibrous plants mostly bamboos. Due to lack of humid area and scarcity of plants they face extinction and their fur is so precious that Chinese government put severe penalties on hunters and dealers however it does not seem a sufficient solution.

Spain has many historical treasures dating back to old ages but this scientific discovery comes a bit more forward by revealing an amazing fact. Still it is not a concrete fact whether they are the ancestors but the idea of panda bears once resided in Iberian Peninsula itself is enough to fascinate. There might be other uncovered fossils in the future and we will be able to learn the truth behind giant panda bears in Spanish history.

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Have you ever thought of experiencing the holiday cheer of another culture while immersed in rich traditions, sweet aromas of seasonal treats and the vibrant textures of another language? don Quijote would like to take you on a unique two-week adventure in Spain, where you’ll learn Spanish in a land of exciting Christmas festivities, lively New Year’s Eve celebrations and fun King’s Day traditions.
The don Quijote Christmas Course runs from December 24^th to January 4^th and is offered in a variety of dynamic Spanish destinations: Barcelona, Madrid, Tenerife, Salamanca, Valencia and Granada. In addition to Spanish classes taught by experienced language teachers, the course also offers exciting cultural activities specific to the region of each course destination. Considering the activities programmed for each city may help you decide on which setting to choose for the Christmas in Spain experience that awaits you.

If you choose to take the course in Madrid, get ready to learn the passionate moves and spirited rhythms of Spain’s very own flamenco tradition. Discover the floor stomping, castanet clicking, hand clapping, intense singing and graceful steps of this uniquely Spanish art and learn why dance and music lovers from around the world make special pilgrimages to Spain just to absorb its flamenco traditions. The Tenerife program offers a salsa dancing course that showcases the island’s special connection to the Caribbean and its tropical atmosphere; a perfect destination for students hoping to escape the icy chill that often accompanies the holiday season. Elsewhere, get lost in the enchanting legends of Granada and drift to a different era, a time when Muslim Emirs and their courts occupied the Alhambra fortress, or learn about the modern neighborhoods of Barcelona, a Spanish cosmopolitan city where you’ll also discover its artistic legacy in special courses on Catalonia’s most celebrated artists Gaudí and Dalí. In Salamanca and Valencia, you’ll learn about the Christmas traditions of these incredible cities.    

Christmas courses offer the exciting opportunity to participate in excursions to nearby places of interest. In Salamanca, students get the chance to check out historic Ciudad Rodrigo. Originally a Celtic village until the Romans took it over, today the border town (located just 25 km from Portugal) still proudly displays the city walls erected in the 12^th century to protect it, along with the medieval castle and cathedral. Students taking the course in Granada, Tenerife and in Valencia will get the chance to visit a wonderful Spanish-style nativity scene that recreates the biblical tale of Christmas’ origins. In Valencia, you’ll also see the Oceanografic of the City of Arts and Sciences, Europe’s largest aquarium, where playful dolphins and adorable sea lions will capture your heart and show you their aquatic habitat. Students taking the Madrid Christmas Course can take an organized excursion to Segovia, where the ancient Roman aqueduct, the Gothic Cathedral and the scenic Alcazar of Segovia invite visitors to behold in awe the city’s fairytale-like beauty.

So come join us to learn Spanish during this festive time of year and enjoy a memorable holiday season discovering the traditions of Spain. You’ll make new friends from Spain and around the world with whom you’ll share your unique holiday experience. Take the uvas de la suerte challenge at midnight on New Year’s Eve, then get caught up in Spain’s animated nightlife and dance your worries away. Witness the three kings as they charm children, promising to journey the world on camel-back personally delivering gifts to kids’ homes on January 6^th, King’s Day. Indulge on delicious spanish specialties such as turrón (nougat candy) and mantecados (sweet holiday buns). Afterward, instead of wondering what the holidays are like in Spain, you’ll cherish your special memories and firsthand experiences of its rich cultural traditions.  

 

 

 

 

 

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The Boom Movement in Latin America could be the turning point that lead to an innovation in literature. Between 1960’s and 1970’s, Latin America was suffering from the authoritarian military regimes and most of the writers had to leave their countries. Their literary works became the voice and the protest of their people.

The Boom Movement became widely known in Paris and Barcelona after publishing the works of the exiled Latin American authors like Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez. Thanks to this movement Latin American literature came into prominence and many books were translated into other languages. Some critics claim that the very finest literary examples of Latin America were written during this period and on the 50^th anniversary of the Boom, let’s remember the authors and their famous novels.

Gabriel García Marquez: Beyond doubt Marquez is one of the most notable novelists along with Llosa among the Latin American writers. One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien Años de Soledad) has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and his other works are No one Writes to the Colonel (El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba) and The Autumn of Patriarchy (El Otoño del Patriarcha).

Mario Vargas Llosa:  In his first novel The Time of the Hero (La ciudad y los perros literally must be The City and the Dogs) showed an excellent narrative skill. Later he wrote The Green House (La Casa Verde), Conversation in the Cathedral (Conversación en La Catedral).

Carlos Fuentes: The Mexican writer used to travel a lot because of his diplomat father so he witnessed the difficulties of Latin American people and the experiences of Mexican immigrants in USA. He wrote The Death of Artemio Cruz (La muerte de Artemio Cruz), Where the Air is Clear (La region más transparente), Aura and Terra Nostra during Boom age.

Julio Cortázar: Must be the most famous Argentine writer after Borges and his novel Rayuela(Hopscotch) added a different perspective on literature. There are numerous ways of reading it. The author suggests two options. Either the conventional way and reading from the start to the end of chapter 56 or starting from Chapter 73 and jump to another chapter according to a table of instructions.

Augusto Roa Basto: Some theorists thought that the movement started with Paraguayan writer’s Son of Man (Hijo de hombre).

José Donoso: Chilean writer spent most of his time in exile in Mexico, US and mostly in Spain. The most known works are Hell Has No Limits (El lugar sin limites), The Obscene Bird of Night (El obsceno pájaro de la noche).
 

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Appearances Can be Deceiving: The Dresses of Frida Kahlo is the intriguing name of a new exhibition at the home-turned-museum Casa Azul, where Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo once shared a residence and a very public marriage characterized by dramatic ups and downs. The exhibition, scheduled to open November 22, will display a collection of Frida’s clothing, accessories, and other personal belongings that has remained hidden from public view since the mexican painter’s death in 1954.

Rivera, hoping to protect the little privacy that the couple shared in life, stipulated in his will that Frida’s belongings be sealed in dressers, closets and the home’s bathroom for 15 years after his death in 1957. Frida’s stuff however sat there much longer, shrouded in a vague cloud of mystery, awaiting the right time to sprinkle intimate detail on her tale of suffering and uncompromising expression. Dolores Olmedo, rumored to have been one of Kahlo’s many rivals for Diego Rivera’s romantic affections, was in charge of carrying out the final 15 year request. She kept the belongings locked up however, for nearly half a century until her death in 2002, leaving curious observers wondering just what type of secrets Appearances Can be Deceiving will reveal.

In 2004, when a team of specialists finally cracked open doors and sifted through layers of dust, they discovered 6,000 photos, nearly 200 articles of clothing, piles of jewelry, medicine and documents, much of which the Casa Azul Museum will display in Mexico City. The exhibit’s two central themes are “ethnicity” and “disability”, and it will show how Frida effectively employed fashion to celebrate the indigenous cultures of Mexico while concealing physical pain and imperfection.   

At a time when intellectuals and academic artists unquestionably looked to Europe for a sense of fashion and for cultural influence in general, Frida Kahlo appeared in public and at events dressed in wide ruffled skirts, vivid colors, and intricate embroidery that showcased a decidedly indigenous identity and affirmed a strong preference for Mexicanidad. The effect was nothing short of revolutionary. Frida’s vibrant, hand crafted designs captured the attention of Mexico and went on to reverse the movement of style transaction inspiring generations of designers and pop culture icons around the world including Jean Paul Gautier and Madonna. Kahlo’s sense of fashion and the bold statement it makes recalls the color, style and message of her paintings and those of Diego Rivera and the Mexican muralist movement.

Kahlo’s long flowery dresses with striking colors also diverted observers’ attention and covered physical imperfections caused by unfortunate events that would plague the painter with a lifetime of physical pain. As a child, she had polio, which shriveled her right leg. Later, she was in a near fatal cable car accident. The loose clothing that characterizes the Tehuana styles she wore also concealed customized corsets designed to straighten her back. She underwent countless medical operations throughout her life in attempts to correct back problems and control back pain.

Frida Kahlo lived much of her life in the quiet shadows of her husband’s massive murals and larger than life presence. The world however has slowly developed a growing fascination with her story, image and artistic legacy. Appearances Can be Deceiving: The Dresses of Frida Kahlo promises to treat viewers to an intimate glimpse into the life of a woman whose bold charm and uncompromising expression continues captivating observers and inspiring special interest in Mexico more than 50 years after her death. We will also see how the colorful cheer of flowery clothes can conceal a lifetime of unforgiving pain, reminding us that appearances can indeed be deceiving.

 

 

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At the end of last year, Disney announced a new character that represents the Latin community: Princess Sofia! Yet the arguments have not stopped since two weeks ago with the first debut of the movie which is called “Sofia the First Once Upon A Princess”.

Having blue eyes, light skin and red hair, the Princess Sofia does not seem to come from a Latin heritage in contrast to what Disney had told. It was designed first as a movie and TV series which is going to broadcast on 18^th of November on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.  Ariel Winter from Modern Family gives the voice of Princess Sofia and Sara Ramirez from Grey’s Anatomy is the voice of Queen Miranda.

Considering Hispanic community’s consumer share and the great influence in society, the misrepresentation of the princess caused big conflicts and most of the people expressed their concerns about how the series can be misleading to tell a Latin character’s story and naturally the Latin culture. After the oppositions, Disney representatives have responded back about the background of Princess Sofia and revealed the fact that she was not primarily created as a Latin character. Her mother, on the contrary, with her dark skin and hair seems like more Latina that comes from a fictional world named Galdiz which was inspired from Spain and her father was a Scandinavian man. Sofia was born in a country called Enchancia, therefore; there is no clear reference to any Latin country or heritage of the princess.

So why did they announce they are going to create a Latin Princess in the first place? Whatever the answer is, they must have known that it would drag lots of kids from Hispanic community besides non-Spanish speaking population. When we go through the cartoon characters which are based on Latin culture, are generally funny like Speedy Gonzales or educational like Dora the Explorer. It is quite interesting and open to discussion why Disney, which is famous to create fantastic worlds, has not presented any Latin princess or a member of a Royal family so far. We’ve seen the adventures of Pocahontas –a Native American historical character- or Tiana who is the first African American princess character designed by Disney.

Fairy tales are the portals which take us to amazing stories with an endless imagination, in addition we can learn many things about life, good and evil. Showing the differences and the diversity in a society will teach the kids how to respect others and get to know other cultures. In this respect, Hispanic community is looking forward to more Latin characters from Disney.

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It is time again for a spooky atmosphere and to be scared, and absolutely waiting for candies. Spain is also ready to dress up their most terrifying costumes to celebrate Halloween (La Noche de Brujas).

It means “Hallows Eve” which falls on the 31st of October, before the evening of “All Hallows Day” and on this very frightening day people wear costumes to disguise themselves as evil spirits so that they cannot be spotted by the real spirits.

Spanish people also live the time of dead and evil, they love to go outside with costumes but not with the same reason as in the other countries. They love to “disfrazar”, which is a very common thing to do in Spain among young people not only on holidays like Halloween but also just solely to have fun. But on Halloween it becomes more challenging and exciting to have the most terrifying make up and have the best dress. Parents sometimes accompany to their kids to enjoy this moment. They visit other houses and say “Truco o Trato?” which is the same tradition in other countries, asking for some candies or else it might not be good for you to see the trick.

Maybe the most important tradition is missing in Spain which is carved pumpkins used as lanterns in other words "jack-o’-lanterns". These lanterns were designed to keep away the spirits from the house by putting at the door or on the window. It can be a bit difficult to find the pumpkins suitable for Halloween, yes there are pumpkins in Spain but may disappoint you if they are not big, round and orange enough.

Generally, Spaniards celebrate All Saints’ Day (Día de todos los Santos) on the 1st of November and Mexico celebrate Days of the Dead (Días de los Muertos) on the 31st of October instead of Halloween. Everyone dress up like evil creatures and have a parade on the streets. Though it has turned into a commercial holiday, still offers a lot of fun and terror. If you are around in any Spanish speaking country these days, a little bit of vocabulary might be handy to celebrate Halloween in a Spanish way.

Spanish Halloween vocabulary:

Calabaza: Pumpkin
Disfraz: Costume
Caramelo: Candy
Bruja: Witch
Duende (Espritu): Spirit
Fantasma:Ghost
Demonio: Demon
Araña: Spider
Sangre: Blood
Esqueleto: Skeleton
Gato negro: Black cat
Murciélago: Bat
Vampiro: Vampire

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The Royal Spanish Academy or RAE (Real Academia Española), an institution that has been dedicated throughout three solid centuries to maintaining the correct usage of the Spanish language, is making a timid and somewhat belated entrance into the age of text messages, facebook and twitter communication. The RAE is the official authority on the Spanish language; its members literally wrote (and are writing) the book on correct Spanish usage. In the last decade, royal members have watched on in helpless frustration as countless cell phone users and facebook fans around the Spanish speaking world have busied themselves with butchering long standing spelling and grammar standards.

It seems that interest in economizing on time and on button-pushing finger effort has inspired widespread language carelessness. Many internet users also feel that writing on non-traditional supports justifies non-traditional writing habits, in other words invented rules that consider only users’ convenience, and may compromise comprehension or even courtesy and professionalism in certain contexts. The RAE, traditionally reluctant to make royal modifications to proper Castilian, has taken only dainty stabs at addressing the overwhelming spread and influence of communication technologies on the language. It has made a modest smattering of additions to the recent royal dictionary, taking something of an if you can’t beat them, join them attitude with entries such as tableta (referring to an electronic tablet), and tuitear (to correspond on twitter).

The Urgent Spanish Foundation (Fundación del Español Urgente [Fundéu BBVA]), a group that recognizes the urgent need to protect the Spanish language, has produced a new guide on writing in these new technological contexts, confirming many users’ opinions that the new media does indeed require a new set of writing rules. The book, entitled  Escribir en internet. Guía para los nuevos medios y las redes sociales (Writing on the Internet. A Guide to New Media and Social Networks” was presented at the Royal Spanish Academy’s headquarters in Madrid.  

The guide to writing on the internet collects recommendations from more than 40 experts on a variety fields related to Spanish in the technological age, such as web courtesy, social networks and even emoticons (cleverly devised pictograms made of keyboard symbols to express emotions or even activities such as  d [*_*] b  which of course means listening to music). Royal Spanish Academy President José Manuel Blecua has expressed the opinion that this new book is the premier reference guide on the use of Spanish in cyberspace. Mister Manuel Blecua went on to say that he believes this book will permit us to communicate better in cyberspace.

It seems unlikely that many will pick up this manual to consult proper twitter grammar for casual personal communication. It is difficult to imagine the legions of teenage texters out there making an independent effort to analyze the spelling rules outlined in the manual before texting text friends. These forms of communication however are becoming more prevalent on a professional and academic level. The use of facebook and twitter in business to advertise and maintain clients informed on company offers and news has become standard.

The guide may serve as an important rule book, for example, for professionals in charge of managing those types of accounts. An endless number of possible situations arise in which this guide could be handy. What if, for example, a client requests a text message? Would you know how to adopt an appropriate tone and writing style called for by the situation? The book also gives important advice on email writing in Spanish. If you have to write an email to a teacher, a supervisor, a client, a potential employer, the list goes on, you may want to consult this new, one of its kind guide. The book should also prove valuable to writing educators responsible for instructing new generations of technology users on standardized writing rules in updated contexts.

Young folks should at least know proper texting grammar before engaging in discourse altogether unintelligible to everyone except each other. This guide fills a need that has been largely ignored up to now, to address the correct use of written Spanish in digital support systems.

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