The Spanish Language Today describes the varied and changing Spanish language at the end of the twentieth century. Suitable for introductory level upward, this book examines:* where Spanish is spoken on a global scale* the status of Spanish within the realms of politics, education and media* the standardisation of Spanish* specific areas of linguistic variation and change* how other languages and dialects spoken in the same areas affect the Spanish language* whether new technologies are an opportunity or a threat to the Spanish language.The Spanish Language Today contains numerous extracts from contemporary press and literary sources, a glossary of technical terms and selected translations.