Ideology and linguistic patterns: Andrés Bello and the South American Enlightenment

Abstract

In this work we will try to show, through the linguistic conceptions of Andrés Bello, expressed in his writings and in his Grammar, the models and linguistic ideals that existed in the South American Enlightenment at the end of the 18th century and first half of the 19th century. We will focus specifically in the main ideas of the South American Enlightenment concerning language and the linguistic norm, for they constituted the foundation of some approaches that Bello developed and put into practice in a systematic way. At the same time we will suggest a new perspective of some problems as the first step in a wider and exhaustive investigation of this period in order to understand the configuration of the different American Spanish norms, and the origin of linguistic attitudes in 19th century South America.