Canal #castellano

Castilian is the official language of Spain and all countries that have been colonized by Spain. The term 'Spanish' (español) is totally incorrect. WRONG!

The language we speak is called Castilian (Castellano). Don't forget that Spain relies on 4 languages (Spanish languages): Castilian (Official one) Galician, Catalan, and Euskera.

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 uses the term castellano to define the official language of the whole State, as opposed to the other Spanish languages. Article III reads as follow: "Castilian is the official Spanish language of the State. (…) The other Spanish languages shall also be official in their respective Autonomous Communities…"

Castilian is one of the official languages of the Organization of American States, the United Nations, the Union of South American Nations, and the European Union.

At the national level, Castilian is the official language of 20 independent countries: Spain, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama , Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Castilian is also the official language (co-official language English) in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Though the state has no formally designated "official languages," Castilian is officially used and formally recognized at the state level, alongside English, in the U.S. state of New Mexico, where it is spoken by nearly half the population (many of who claim direct descent from Spanish colonists).

Castilian has become increasingly important in Brazil due to proximity and increased trade with its Spanish-speaking neighbors. In 2005, the National Congress of Brazil approved a bill, signed into law by the President, that makes Spanish available as a foreign language in the country's secondary schools. Castilian, is also the most widely taught foreign language in the United States. In total, the U.S. contains the world's fifth-largest Castilian speaking population.
In Africa, Castilian is spoken in the territories of Peñón de Alhucemas, Isla Perejil, Ceuta, the Chafarinas Islands, Melilla, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Western Sahara, and in the autonomous community of Canary Islands.