Observatory of Spanish in Europe
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Observatory of Spanish in Europe | OSE
The Observatory of Spanish in Europe is a research center founded in 2023 at Heidelberg Center for Ibero-American Studies (HCIAS), Heidelberg University. Its main goal is to offer data that can help tackle the emerging trends related to Spanish and its speakers in Europe.
News
Dr Charlotte Blattner participates in the II Conferencia Internacional de Observatorios de la Lengua, la Cultura y la Comunicación
On 5-6 November 2026, Dr Charlotte Blattner participated in the II Conferencia Internacional de Observatorios de la Lengua, la Cultura y la Comunicación, held at CILENGUA in San Millán de la Cogolla, La Rioja, Spain.
Organised by the Observatorio Global del Español (OGE) and the Fundación para la Transformación de La Rioja, the conference brought together representatives of international language observatories to share their areas of work and geographical perspectives.
Dr Charlotte Blattner took part in the roundtable “Presentación de observatorios. Áreas geográficas”, alongside representatives of observatories focusing on Spanish in Latin America and the Caribbean, the United States, Eastern contexts and Africa.
Presentation of the book Understanding the Spanish Language in Europe: Current Migration and Educational Trends
On 27 October 2026, the book Understanding the Spanish Language in Europe: Current Migration and Educational Trends was presented at Universidad Nebrija in Madrid.
The presentation featured Prof. Dr. Rodolfo Gutiérrez, Prof. Dr. José Luis García Delgado, and Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández. It also included a roundtable discussion entitled “El español que se hereda y el español que se aprende”, moderated by Dr. María Xesús Bello Rivas.
The full book is available here.
Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández speaks at the I Seminario: Tendencias en investigación en lingüística de la lengua española
On 27 October 2026, Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández delivered a talk entitled “El español de herencia en Europa”, as part of the I Seminario: Tendencias en investigación en lingüística de la lengua española, organised by the Departamento de Lengua Española y Teoría de la Literatura at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM).
The talk provided an overview of the situation of Spanish as a heritage language in Europe, focusing on its geographical distribution and the educational support available to its speakers. It also examined differences between countries in the presence of Spanish-speaking communities, opportunities for language learning and maintenance, and the challenges posed by the lack of dedicated programmes and unequal access to Spanish heritage-language education.
New publication: Understanding the Spanish Language in Europe: Current Migration and Educational Trends
The Observatory of Spanish in Europe is pleased to announce the publication of Understanding the Spanish Language in Europe: Current Migration and Educational Trends, edited by Prof. Dr. Óscar Loureda Lamas, Prof. Dr. Rodolfo Gutiérrez Palacios, Prof. Dr. José Luis García Delgado, and Dr. Pilar Valero Fernández, and published by De Gruyter Brill.
The volume offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the presence and development of Spanish in Europe. Exploring topics such as demolinguistics, migration, education, intergenerational transmission, language policies, translation, and digital communication, it examines the factors shaping the future of Spanish beyond traditionally Spanish-speaking countries.
Find out more about the publication here.
Recent publications
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Awarded the first Prize for International Hispanism
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