The International Conference of the Spanish Language (, CILE), is a forum for reflection on issues related to the Spanish language, such as the problems and challenges faced by its speakers. It is held every three years in a city located in either Spain or Hispanic America. Its organizers are the Instituto Cervantes—which serves as the permanent general secretariat—the Royal Spanish Academy, and the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, as well as the country in charge of each edition.
The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the joint responsibility shared by governments, institutions, and individuals in the promotion and unity of the language, understood as the backbone of the Ibero-American community in all areas, in a dialogue with other languages that are part of its living common heritage. Participants include writers, academics, intellectuals, professionals, and experts related to the fields of linguistics, communications, and the Spanish language in general.
History The International Conference of the Spanish Language was held for the first time in 1997 in Zacatecas, Mexico. Since then, it has been held in various Spanish-speaking countries. Versions VersionDate City Country Slogan I (1997)7–11 April 1997ZacatecasLa lengua y los medios de comunicación (2001)16–19 October 2001ValladolidEl español en la sociedad de la informaciónIII (2004)17–20 November 2004RosarioIdentidad lingüística y globalización (2007)26–29 March 2007Cartagena de IndiasPresente y futuro de la lengua española: unidad en la diversidad (2010)2–6 March 2010; suspended due to the 2010 Chile earthquakeValparaísoAmérica en lengua españolaVI (2013)20–23 October 2013Panama CityEl español en el libro: del Atlántico al Mar del SurVII (2016)11–19 March 2016San JuanLengua española y creatividadVIII (2019)27–30 March 2019CórdobaAmérica y el futuro del español. Cultura y educación, tecnología y emprendimiento.IX (2023)27–30 March 2023CádizLengua española, mestizaje e interculturalidad. Historia y futuro.X (2025)2025Arequipa
Controversies
Despite its brief history, the conference has not been without its share of bitter disputes. At the first conference in 1997, in Zacatecas, the presentation given by Gabriel García Márquez, titled Botella al mar para el dios de las palabras, advocated for la jubilación de la ortografía.
In 2004, in Rosario, at the same time as the third conference was being held, Argentinian Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel inaugurated the 1st Congreso de laS LenguaS to demand that the memory and identity of the languages spoken by the indigenous peoples of the Americas be recovered.
Moreover, the participation of linguist Nélida Donni de Mirande, a native of Rosario, was cancelled due to her being accused by the National University of Rosario of having collaborated with the last military dictatorship in Argentina (1976–1983).
Then, in 2016, in San Juan, there was an "unnecessary discussion" surrounding the inclusion in the dictionary of the term puertorriqueñidad. In addition, Víctor García de la Concha, at the time the director of Instituto Cervantes, mentioned that it was the first time that the conference was being held fuera del ámbito de la comunidad iberoamericana de naciones. While the King of Spain Felipe VI expressed his joy at "returning to the United States."
See also Third International Congress of the Spanish Language Congreso de laS LenguaS Association of Academies of the Spanish Language Hispanism Panhispanism Notes
References
External links Congresos de la Lengua, portal at Instituto Cervantes X Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, website of the 2025 conference in Arequipa, Peru IX Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, website of the 2023 conference in Cádiz, Spain VI Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, website of the 2013 conference in Panama City, Panama IV Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, website of the 2007 conference in Cartagena, Colombia