Humberto Hernández Challenges Linguistic Prejudice in New Book on Canarian Spanish
In his new book No hay dialecto pequeño, linguist Humberto Hernández advocates for the validation of Canarian Spanish and challenges the prejudice of "glottophobia" by highlighting the cultural importance of linguistic diversity.
The new book No hay dialecto pequeño (Pie de Página, 2026), a collection of articles by Humberto Hernández, brings the importance of linguistic diversity in Spanish to the forefront. In a recent interview, the professor and former president of the Canarian Academy of the Language argued for a critical look at "glottophobia"—the prejudice against certain accents—which has long unfairly shaped how people view southern dialects, particularly those from the Canary Islands.
Featuring a prologue by philologist Lola Pons, the book gathers nearly fifty journalistic pieces where Hernández defends the equal value of all language variants, regardless of how many people speak them. He points out that Canarian Spanish has played a vital role in shaping speech across the Caribbean. Recognizing this history has helped islanders move past the long-standing inferiority complex that once pressured them to abandon their local identity in favor of mainland Spanish models.
From a sociolinguistic view, Hernández explains that globalization and migration haven't weakened the Canarian dialect; instead, they have encouraged a vibrant exchange of words. Terms from the Americas, like "arepera" or "palo de agua," are now naturally part of daily island life, proving that language is a living, evolving organism. He believes this vitality is the best way to protect local dialects, provided speakers take pride in preserving them.
The Canarian Academy of the Language, founded in 1999, has been instrumental in this shift. Through school outreach programs and resources like its dictionary of Canarianisms, the institution has helped ensure that local features—such as the seseo accent or the use of "ustedes" in informal settings—are now seen as correct and valid, rather than "incorrect."
Finally, the honorary professor at the University of La Laguna reflects on the role of the media in maintaining high standards. He notes that professional journalism has improved by moving away from the sloppy, rushed language often found on social media. While acknowledging the pressures of modern news cycles, Hernández urges journalists to find a balance between being accessible to the public and maintaining linguistic precision.