Voices en Español

A brand new Wiki focused on the Spanish language is now up and running. It’s called Wikilengua and it will be an ideal place to go to clear up questions or doubts you have about many aspects of practical usage of Spanish. If you’re familiar with Wikipedia, the idea behind Wikilengua is similar: an online resource that many people can contribute to and edit as a group.

Here’s what Wikilengua is:

• A style guide that can help you write and speak correctly in Spanish.

In every language there are certain norms that must be followed in writing the language. This Wiki aspires to become a style guide for journalists, teachers, linguists or any other people who need this type of guidance to improve the nuts and bolts of their writing (and speaking) in Spanish.

For example: Is it correct to say “a menos de que“? Or is it “a menos que”? What about “a menos de”? [See answer below.]

Is the city of the 2008 Olympic Games in China called Beijing or Pekín in Spanish? (Pekín is the correct answer.)

What Wikilengua is not:

• It’s not a dictionary nor an online verb conjugator.
• It’s not a Spanish language forum or online chat where people can post questions and others can respond with an answer.
• It’s not a blog, where people are going to post their daily musings or observations about the language.

That said, I’m still excited about the launch of this new online tool. It’s another way in which Spanish is extending its reach on the Internet. Yay!!

[*Answer: This is an example of “dequeísmo,” i.e. an excessive or incorrect use of the preposition “de.” “A menos que” and “a menos de” are correct. “A menos de que” is incorrect.”]