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Norms and Use in Spanish

Code: 106372
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Spanish Language and Literature OB 2
English and Spanish Studies OB 2
Catalan and Spanish Studies OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Irene Renau Araque
Email :
irene.renau@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Cristina Buenafuentes de la Mata

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

This subject requires a command of oral and written expression in Spanish equivalent to that obtained at the end of bachelor studies. Therefore the ability to express correctly verbally and in writing is essential. You are strongly advised to carefully read the regulations for Spanish (the equivalents to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages/CEFR).

Objectives

The course has the following objectives:

1. To establish the differences between norm and usage in Spanish.

2. To critically reflect on the relationship between norm and usage.

3. To solve practical problems related to norm in Spanish.

After completing this course, students should master the essential normative aspects of Spanish, understand the current state of Spanish usage worldwide, and the relationship between Spanish norm and usage.

Learning outcomes

  1. Analyse inequalities due to sex or gender and gender bias in the field of social-historical knowledge.
  2. Communicate using a non-sexist use of language.
  3. Relate the linguistic norm with other grammatical disciplines.
  4. Learn the necessary skills to carry out discourse analysis of oral and written texts.
  5. To gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the linguistic diversity of Spanish.
  6. Know the current geolectal varieties of Spanish in the world, with special attention to the sociolinguistic varieties of Spanish in America.
  7. Recognise the processes of linguistic change.
  8. Place linguistic changes in their chronological context.
  9. Know the linguistic phenomena according to the social, geographical and stylistic variability of the Spanish language and know how to relate them to the normative.
  10. Learn to use linguistic terminology related to norm and variation accurately.
  11. Acquire techniques and methods of linguistic analysis related to variation.
  12. Solve problems of the Spanish language, and carry out linguistic analysis and commentary, from both a synchronic and historical-comparative perspective.
  13. Identify different theoretical and methodological perspectives in discourse analysis.
  14. Describe and analyse pragmatic variation taking into account verbal, paraverbal and non-verbal communication.
  15. Apply the knowledge and methodological uses of discourse analysis and pragmatics to interpret texts and communicative intentions and argue accordingly.
  16. Acquire knowledge of techniques and methods of dialectal linguistic analysis for their application in the learning and teaching of the Spanish language.
  17. Be able to solve problems related to discourse analysis in professional linguistic situations (political communication, electoral campaigns, business interaction, language teaching, etc.).
  18. Be tolerant of linguistic diversity and richness.
  19. Appreciate the importance of the Pan-Hispanic norm in the international context.
  20. Use discourse analysis to take a critical stance on different social linguistic uses (discourse of power, discourse of gender and sexism, etc.).
  21. Manage databases and Internet sources or materials for the analysis of linguistic variation in Spanish.
  22. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  23. Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
  24. Use appropriate metalanguage to describe the knowledge acquired in relation to the subject.
  25. Express oneself fluently, correctly, appropriately and effectively, both orally and in writing, in an academic environment.
  26. Express oneself in English orally and in writing in a formal register and using the appropriate terminology in relation to the characterisation of academic discourse.
  27. Produce academic written and oral speeches at advanced higher-proficient-user level (C2) and adapting them to the conventions of the different genders.
  28. Modulate written and oral discourse in order to express oneself respectfully and ethically in a context of academic interaction.
  29. Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.
  30. Accurately drawing up normative texts.
  31. Analyze properties phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical and semantic language that current problems arise.
  32. Apply the principles of correctness required in the standard language and the different registers and variants.
  33. Use technological resources (digital and audiovisual) to acquire knowledge and apply it in language and literature.
  34. Communicate using non-sexist language.
  35. Write text commentaries from a critical standpoint.
  36. Explain spelling rules.
  37. Correctly draw up a previously analysed non-regulatory text.
  38. Interpret regulatory information regulatory institutions localized websites on the Internet.

Contents

Module 1. Introduction to the norm and usage in Spanish

Description and prescription in Spanish. The concept of standard language. Norm and variation: the norm(s) of Spanish. The institutions that establish the norm in the Spanish-speaking countries. Critical reflection on the norm. Types of reference works for consulting the norm of Spanish. Corpora and other tools for analyzing the use of Spanish. Generative artificial intelligence and the norms of Spanish.


Module 2. Central problems of norms in Spanish today

Central problems of norms in the spelling, grammar, lexicon, and discourse of Spanish: adaptation of loanwords, punctuation, lexical errors, ungrammatical structures, and others. Non-sexist language. Comparing the norms of Spanish with those of other languages.


Module 3. Practice in corpus analysis and other resources for studying the norms and usage of Spanish

Corpora as source of data for studying the norms and usage of Spanish. How to interpret corpus data. Corpus data and lexicographical data. The web (and social media) as a corpus. Software and GenAI for writing support: advances and problems.


Module 4: Applying the norm in professional practice

The norm of Spanish in the media, the publishing industry, the practice of law, the film industry, and other professional fields. Style guidelines, ISO standards, plain language guidelines, and other documents for an up-to-date Spanish norm. How to proofread other people's texts. The different types of professional proofreading. Language planification.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theory and practice classes 76 3.04
Class and exam preparation 63 2.52
Tutorials 5 0.2

The students' activities are distributed as follows:

-Teacher-directed activities (35%): they include classroom classes, practical classes and seminars, with a combination of theoretical presentations and discussion of all kind of texts.

-Tutorials (10%): devoted to the comment and correction of problems and exercises.

-Autonomous and cooperative activities (50%), which include individual study, the elaboration of reports and exercises and the resolution of problems, as well as the preparation of an oral presentation.

-Evaluation activities (5%): the evaluation of this subject will be carried out through written tests and other evaluative actvities.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theorical test 30% 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38
Exercise of linguistic revision 30% 2 0.08 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36
Theoretical and practical test 30% 2 0.08 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 18, 24, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37

The faculty will evaluate this subject on an ongoing basis by developing three evaluation activities on theoretical and practical aspects. The evaluation will be distributed as follows:

  • 1 individual theoretical-practical test (30%)
  • 1 group corpus analysis assignment (30%, of which 5% corresponds to a 5-minute oral presentation in class on the assignment)
  • 1 individual text revision exercise (or several shorter exercises) (30%)
  • Completion of exercises and class participation (10%)

0.25 points of penalty will be given, without limits, for each error of spelling, expression, lexicon and syntax committed on the final grade of the different tests.

To pass the subject, the student must achieve a minimum average of 5. The final grade, once all the notes have been added and the percentages indicated above applied, must be equal to or greater than 5.

While it is the responsibility of the students to bring the subject up to date, the faculty will indicate with sufficient notice the date of each test.

Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 1/3 of the assessment items.

All evaluation activities are recoverable. However, the student will lose the right toreassess if the average of the tests performed with the corresponding percentage is less than 3.5 points. Moreover, it should be taken into account that in order to be eligible for re-evaluation, students are obliged to attend 2/3 of the evaluable tests.

In case of requesting anwers for exams or presentations of activities, papers, etc., everything must be original and the total or partial copy of materials already published in any medium is not allowed. In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student willbe given a zero as the final gradefor this subject.

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies for the writing of papers or any material submitted by the students. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

Erasmus students who request to advance a qualifying exam or test must submit a written document from their home university with due justification

Bibliography

Aleza Izquierdo, Milagros (coord.) (2011): Normas y usos correctos del español actual. Edición corregida y actualizada. Valencia: Tirant Humanidades.

Aleza Izquierdo, Milagros y José M.ª Enguita Utrilla (coords.) (2010). La lengua española en América: normas y usos actuales, Universitat de València, págs. 95-132. [Disponible en línea: http://www.uv.es/aleza/esp.am.pdf ].

Demonte Barreto, Violeta (2003). «Lengua estándar, norma y normas en la difusión actual de la lengua española», Circunstancia: revista de ciencias sociales del Instituto Universitario de Investigación Ortega y Gasset, 1. [Disponible en: https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/13074 ].

Demonte, Violeta (2001). «El español estándar (ab)suelto. Algunos ejemplos del léxico y la gramática». II Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española. RAE / Instituto Cervantes, Valladolid, octubre de 2001. [Disponible en: http://cvc.cervantes.es/obref/congresos/valladolid/ ].

Gómez Torrego, Leonardo (2011). Hablar y escribir correctamente. 2 vols. 4.ª edición actualizada. Madrid: Arco/Libros.

Lázaro Carreter, Fernando (1997): El dardo en la palabra. Barcelona: Galaxia Gutemberg.

Lebsanft, Franz y Tacke, Felix (eds.) (2020): Manual of Standardization in the Romance Languages. Berlín/ Boston: De Gruyter.

López Morales, Humberto (2004): «La actuación de las Academias en la historia del idioma», en R. Cano (coord.), Historia de la lengua española. Barcelona: Ariel, pp. 919– 944.

Millán, José Antonio (2005). Perdón, imposible. Guía para una puntuación más rica y consciente. Barcelona: RBA Libros

Moreno de Alba, José G. (2007). Introducción al español americano. Madrid: Arco/Libros.

Moreno Fernández, Francisco (2017). Las variedades de la lengua española y su enseñanza. Madrid: Arco/Libros.

Real Academia Española (2005). Diccionario panhispánico de dudas. Madrid: Santillana. [Disponible en: https://www.rae.es/dpd ]

Real Academia Española (2018). Libro de estilo de la lengua española según la norma panhispánica. Madrid: Espasa.

Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2009). Nueva gramática de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa.

Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2010). Ortografía de la lengua española. Madrid: Espasa.

Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2014). Diccionario de la lengua española. Barcelona: Espasa.

Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2013). El buen uso del español. Barcelona: Espasa Libros.

Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (2021). Nunca lo hubiera dicho. Barcelona: Taurus.

Sánchez Lobato, Jesús (coord.) (2006). Saber escribir. Madrid: Aguilar.

Software

No specific software is required.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 Spanish second semester morning-mixed