Philological study of the use of archaisms in the speech of México

Abstract

Introduction: This study explores the use of archaisms in the speech of Colima, Mexico, and other Hispanic regions. Archaisms are words from old Spanish that have fallen out of use in Spain but remain common in these regions. Methodology: A comparison was made between the archaic vocabulary of everyday speech in Colima in the 21st century and the words used by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in "El Ingenioso Hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha" (1605). This comparison allows observing the similarities and persistence of these terms over time. Results: The comparison showed that many words used by Cervantes, such as alacena, lindo, alberca, amagar, anteojos,  cincho, enmarañarse, dilatar, dizque, fidalgo, fogón, guarro, haragán, liviano, mandil, antier, asadura, aventarse, prieto, platicar, raspar, and rendija are still used in the everyday speech of Colima in the 21st century. Discussion: The findings suggest a notable preservation of old Spanish lexicon in certain regions of Mexico, which may be due to specific historical, social, and cultural factors that have favored the persistence of these terms. Conclusions: This study highlights the richness and diversity of Spanish in Hispanic America, demonstrating how old Spanish words have endured in regions like Colima. The comparison with "El Quijote" emphasizes the continuity of the use of archaisms in contemporary Mexican speech.