Spanish is one of the most used languages in the world. It is estimated that there are around 600 million people on the planet who are Spanish speakers. It is the official language in 22 countries, most of them in the American continent. Furthermore, it is one of the most living languages in the world. This means that it has a high number of words that are used, understood and accepted in the language itself. According to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), Spanish has around 100,000 words.
So we shouldn’t lack the right terms to express ourselves by improving our forms of communication, avoiding the inappropriate or unnecessary use of some words or phrases. In our environment, the word ‘theme’ can be considered overused in many and diverse cases. It is defined by the RAE as ‘subject or matter of a speech’. But it has become almost an idiomatic vice to quote it backwards and forwards. An example goes as follows: “The issue of the economic crisis is worrying.” It is inserted as a filler, voice or phrase that someone repeats a lot out of habit.
A ‘cultured pearl’ of our way of speaking to eliminate before its misuse spreads as an epidemic, is the well-worn expression “in what comes to be.” Ex: “A viaduct will be built on what will be the double track to La Guardia.” Another: “In the Piraí cabins we can eat in what is “Soso and fried empanadas.” As heirs of Cervantes’ language, let us avoid mistreatment of him so that we can express ourselves in the best terms. It does not cost much.
