New thread in response to this post because i completely agree with it:
<<Yes, please stop fighting and say somethings useful, for example, Why is your language usually regarded as such an important or helpful one. Thanks! >>
“Apply yourself to the study of the Spanish language with
all the assiduity you can. It and the English covering
nearly the whole face of America, they should be well
known to every inhabitant, who means to look beyond the
limits of his farm”
Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to Peter Carr” (1788)
Spanish is not only an American Language but Pacific Language as well.
Some relations of the spanish with Australia:
** The Australian merinos have their origins in Spain, some of them directly, the "Spanish merinos". The first twenty six merino type sheep were introduced in Australia in 1797 from Cape Hope, South Africa. Merinos are originally the typical Spanish sheep; bred five thousand years ago by the Tartessos at the valley of the river Guadalquivir, southern Spain.
** The first camels to arrive in Australia came from Spain. The first ones were brought to Port Adelaide from Tenerife, Canary Islands, in 1840 in the ship Appoline. Out of six only one survived, its name was "Harry". The famous explorer John Horrick bought it.
** The Spanish dollar (eight reales coin) was an international currency during the XVI-XVII century. The USA and Australian dollar take their names from it. The symbol $ may come from the Spanish heraldic signs of the columns of Hercules printed in the coins.
** In 1792 the British brought Spanish dollars to Australia and from 1813 to 1828 this coin became the legal currency of Australia, but making a hole in the centre (the holey dollars).
** There are more than 320 places in Australia with Spanish names.
** Guitars began to be made in Australia in the 1950s.
** Spanish Jesuit priest, St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)is the patron saint of Oceania, including Australia.
Spanish sailors
Pedro Fernández de Quirós(was Portuguese at spanish-crown service), in 1606, was the first European to arrive to Vanuatu. He named some of the islands, such as Torres (the second in command of his expedition), Espíritu Santo, Santa María and Pentecostés. The 14th May 1606 he gave the first official European name to what he thought to be the Great South Land and turned to be present Espíritu Santo: Austrialia del Espíritu Santo.
Luis Váez de Torres, in September-October 1606, was the first European to cross the Straits that bear his name, and the first Spaniard to land in Australian islands (Yam, Long, Mount Ernest and Twin) and to meet its Aboriginals. He proved to Europeans that Papúa New Guinea was an island.
It's also true that spanish is not widely spoken in this area but the good news is that Australians don't have any prejuice against spanish language.
<<Yes, please stop fighting and say somethings useful, for example, Why is your language usually regarded as such an important or helpful one. Thanks! >>
“Apply yourself to the study of the Spanish language with
all the assiduity you can. It and the English covering
nearly the whole face of America, they should be well
known to every inhabitant, who means to look beyond the
limits of his farm”
Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to Peter Carr” (1788)
Spanish is not only an American Language but Pacific Language as well.
Some relations of the spanish with Australia:
** The Australian merinos have their origins in Spain, some of them directly, the "Spanish merinos". The first twenty six merino type sheep were introduced in Australia in 1797 from Cape Hope, South Africa. Merinos are originally the typical Spanish sheep; bred five thousand years ago by the Tartessos at the valley of the river Guadalquivir, southern Spain.
** The first camels to arrive in Australia came from Spain. The first ones were brought to Port Adelaide from Tenerife, Canary Islands, in 1840 in the ship Appoline. Out of six only one survived, its name was "Harry". The famous explorer John Horrick bought it.
** The Spanish dollar (eight reales coin) was an international currency during the XVI-XVII century. The USA and Australian dollar take their names from it. The symbol $ may come from the Spanish heraldic signs of the columns of Hercules printed in the coins.
** In 1792 the British brought Spanish dollars to Australia and from 1813 to 1828 this coin became the legal currency of Australia, but making a hole in the centre (the holey dollars).
** There are more than 320 places in Australia with Spanish names.
** Guitars began to be made in Australia in the 1950s.
** Spanish Jesuit priest, St Francis Xavier (1506-1552)is the patron saint of Oceania, including Australia.
Spanish sailors
Pedro Fernández de Quirós(was Portuguese at spanish-crown service), in 1606, was the first European to arrive to Vanuatu. He named some of the islands, such as Torres (the second in command of his expedition), Espíritu Santo, Santa María and Pentecostés. The 14th May 1606 he gave the first official European name to what he thought to be the Great South Land and turned to be present Espíritu Santo: Austrialia del Espíritu Santo.
Luis Váez de Torres, in September-October 1606, was the first European to cross the Straits that bear his name, and the first Spaniard to land in Australian islands (Yam, Long, Mount Ernest and Twin) and to meet its Aboriginals. He proved to Europeans that Papúa New Guinea was an island.
It's also true that spanish is not widely spoken in this area but the good news is that Australians don't have any prejuice against spanish language.