Leísmo
Encyclopedia
Leísmo is a dialectal variation in the Spanish language
that occurs largely in Spain. It involves using the indirect object
pronoun
le in place of the (standard) masculine direct object
pronoun
lo, especially when the direct object refers to a male person.
Leísmo with animate objects is both common and prescriptively
accepted in many dialects spoken in Spain
, but uncommon in most others. Leísmo is always rejected in Linguistic prescription
when the direct object to which it refers is not an animate object.
Examples:
The use of le in dialects where leísmo is common typically correlates with the use of the preposition a for animate direct objects. That is, if a dialect features leísmo, le replaces masculine direct objects that would have been preceded by a if expressed in full. (For this "personal a", see Spanish prepositions.)
Le is properly speaking the epicene
indirect object pronoun, used for both masculine and feminine referents, whether animate or inanimate. In certain dialects it can be replaced by lo or la, i.e. — dila que la quiero – but this usage is restricted to informal speech.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
that occurs largely in Spain. It involves using the indirect object
Object (grammar)
An object in grammar is part of a sentence, and often part of the predicate. It denotes somebody or something involved in the subject's "performance" of the verb. Basically, it is what or whom the verb is acting upon...
pronoun
Pronoun
In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a pro-form that substitutes for a noun , such as, in English, the words it and he...
le in place of the (standard) masculine direct object
Object (grammar)
An object in grammar is part of a sentence, and often part of the predicate. It denotes somebody or something involved in the subject's "performance" of the verb. Basically, it is what or whom the verb is acting upon...
pronoun
Pronoun
In linguistics and grammar, a pronoun is a pro-form that substitutes for a noun , such as, in English, the words it and he...
lo, especially when the direct object refers to a male person.
Leísmo with animate objects is both common and prescriptively
Linguistic prescription
In linguistics, prescription denotes normative practices on such aspects of language use as spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and syntax. It includes judgments on what usages are socially proper and politically correct...
accepted in many dialects spoken in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, but uncommon in most others. Leísmo is always rejected in Linguistic prescription
Linguistic prescription
In linguistics, prescription denotes normative practices on such aspects of language use as spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and syntax. It includes judgments on what usages are socially proper and politically correct...
when the direct object to which it refers is not an animate object.
Examples:
- Veo al chico ("I see the boy") → Lo veo (standard Spanish, with lo)
- Veo al chico ("I see the boy") → Le veo (leísmo, common in Spain; other regions prefer lo veo)
- Veo el árbol ("I see the tree") → Le veo (not accepted in linguistic prescriptionLinguistic prescriptionIn linguistics, prescription denotes normative practices on such aspects of language use as spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and syntax. It includes judgments on what usages are socially proper and politically correct...
— the tree is not a person)
The use of le in dialects where leísmo is common typically correlates with the use of the preposition a for animate direct objects. That is, if a dialect features leísmo, le replaces masculine direct objects that would have been preceded by a if expressed in full. (For this "personal a", see Spanish prepositions.)
Le is properly speaking the epicene
Epicene
Epicene is an adjective for loss of gender distinction, often specific loss of masculinity. It includes:* effeminacy — a man with characteristics that are traditionally feminine...
indirect object pronoun, used for both masculine and feminine referents, whether animate or inanimate. In certain dialects it can be replaced by lo or la, i.e. — dila que la quiero – but this usage is restricted to informal speech.
- Le voy a dar un regalo ("I am giving him/her a present")
- La voy a dar un regalo ("I am giving her a present", in some dialects; see laísmo)
- Le puse más memoria al ordenador ("I installed more memory in the computer"; standard, even if the computer is inanimate)
See also
- LoísmoLoísmoLoísmo, with its feminine counterpart laísmo, is a feature of certain dialects of Spanish consisting of the use of the pronouns lo or la in place of the pronoun le...
- Discussion of le/les in Spanish pronouns
External links
- Leísmo in the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas of the Real Academia EspañolaReal Academia EspañolaThe Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
(in Spanish)