Partido a partido

Overview & Synopsis

This book explores a range of pathways in the evolution and variation of the Spanish language across different communicative domains related to football. From press conferences to the language used by analysts and fans, from journalistic reports to media broadcasts and social networks, and from the very name of the sport to regional variants within Spanish football vocabulary, Partido a partido. La lengua del fútbol addresses a variety of linguistic research topics. These include lexical, discursive, and pragmatic phenomena, as well as diachronic, variational, sociopragmatic, comparative, and intralingual translation-based approaches. The book brings together nine papers, each with distinct aims, scopes, and analytical techniques. Despite this diversity, all the papers focus on the linguistic peculiarities of historical changes and contemporary variations in the Spanish language (across more than one country), which can be observed – though not exclusively – in the language of football. Although exploratory in nature, this volume encourages readers to view the communicative dynamics inspired by football as more than merely ‘mundane’ or ‘ephemeral’. While some phenomena arise solely within the football community under specific circumstances, certain linguistic innovations shaped by football references may eventually extend to other thematic domains. In sum, this book offers readers an overview of the features and complexities that characterise the Spanish language. Like football itself, these features spark interest and foster discussion among specialists.