CH and LL were removed from the Spanish alphabet because they are no longer considered distinct letters, but rather combinations of other letters.
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CH and LL were removed from the Spanish alphabet in 2010 because they are no longer considered distinct letters, but rather combinations of other letters. This change brought the Spanish alphabet down to 27 letters. The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) stated that “CH and LL ceased to be unique graphic units with individual meaning,” and that they are now “two letters that represent a single phoneme.”
The removal of CH and LL sparked controversy among Spanish speakers, particularly in Latin America where the letters are still commonly used. Some argued that eliminating the letters would erode the cultural significance of the Spanish language.
Interestingly, the removal of CH and LL from the Spanish alphabet was not a new idea. In fact, the RAE first proposed the change in 1741, but it was met with opposition and never implemented.
According to the RAE, the change aimed to simplify the Spanish language and bring it in line with other languages that only use one letter to represent the sound that CH and LL make. The RAE also noted that the change would make it easier for Spanish learners to navigate the language.
While some may mourn the loss of CH and LL as distinct letters, it’s important to remember that language is constantly evolving. As the RAE stated, “Language is not a museum piece, but a living organism that evolves and adapts to the needs of its speakers.”
Table: Comparison of Spanish alphabet before and after the removal of CH and LL
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| A | A |
| B | B |
| C | C |
| CH | D |
| D | E |
| E | F |
| F | G |
| G | H |
| H | I |
| I | J |
| J | K |
| K | L |
| L | LL |
| LL | M |
| M | N |
| N | Ñ |
| Ñ | O |
| O | P |
| P | Q |
| Q | R |
| R | S |
| S | T |
| T | U |
| U | V |
| V | W |
| W | X |
| X | Y |
| Y | Z |
| Z |
In the words of linguist Mario Livio, “Languages are not human artefacts that we learn as we do other things; they are inherent parts of the biological and cultural makeup of our species.” The removal of CH and LL from the Spanish alphabet is just one example of how language is shaped by cultural, historical, and political factors.
On the Internet, there are additional viewpoints
But in 1994, the Spanish Royal Academy eliminated the LL and CH from the Spanish language alphabet. They made this change to make Spanish more computer and keyboard friendly. This change also streamlines the Spanish alphabet.
The Spanish Royal Academy eliminated the LL and CH from the Spanish language alphabet in 1994 to make Spanish more computer and keyboard friendly. This change also streamlines the Spanish alphabet, making it two letters shorter. The move does not change pronunciation, usage, or spelling. In 2010, the Academies of the Spanish Language, the Real Academia Española in Spain and the Latin American ones, decided to remove the digraphs Ch, Ll and Rr from the alphabet, making the Spanish alphabet 27 letters long.
For example, there used to be a double L and a CH, too. But in 1994, the Spanish Royal Academy eliminated the LL and CH from the Spanish language alphabet. They made this change to make Spanish more computer and keyboard friendly. This change also streamlines the Spanish alphabet. After all, it’s two less letters!
But in 1994, the Spanish Royal Academy eliminated the LL and CH from the Spanish language alphabet. They made this change to make Spanish more computer and keyboard friendly. Why did they remove letters from the Spanish alphabet? The move does not change pronunciation, usage, or spelling.
In 2010, the Academies of the Spanish Language, the Real Academia Española in Spain and the Latin American ones, decided to remove the digraphs Ch, Ll and Rr from the alphabet. So now the Spanish alphabet has 27 letters. This caused a problem for Innosanto Nagara, who was in the middle of creating a children’s alphabet book Spanish.
“Ch” used to be considered a separate letter. In modern Spanish, I understand that it is now considered two letters.
Video related “Why was CH and LL removed from the Spanish alphabet?”
The video explains that several letters including CH, LL, RR, and i griega disappeared from the Spanish alphabet in 2010, after the Real Academia Española decided to consider them as big raffles, a combination of two letters that make one sound, instead of separate letters. This decision was made to take Spanish to the next level. Although people may still be used to the old version of the alphabet, it is important to note that these letters are no longer considered part of the Spanish alphabet.
You will most likely be interested in these things as well
- Ch & Ll. In 2010, the Royal Spanish Academy (Real Academia Española) officially removed the letters ch and ll from the Spanish alphabet.
- Letter Y. They also made some other important changes that parents and teachers should know.
- B & V.
- Diacritical Marks.
In 2010, the Royal Spanish Academy officially removed two letters (ch and ll) from the alphabet, making it 27 letters instead of 29. Fortunately for English speakers, the official Spanish alphabet now only has the one additional letter that does not appear in the English alphabet: ñ.
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