Juan Franco, the mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, and Raquel Ñeco, the councillor for Culture, recently met with Santiago Cano, a retired professor and local author. The meeting highlighted Cano's contributions to the preservation of the region's linguistic heritage through his book, El habla de La Línea, published by Imagenta and now in its fourth edition.
The mayor expressed his satisfaction in receiving Cano, noting the technical rigor of the work, which scientifically examines the linguistic characteristics of the city. Franco emphasized the book's value in documenting the local linguistic tradition, which is influenced by the area's border location and numerous English loanwords.
Franco particularly pointed out that Cano's book captures a way of speaking that is gradually fading, asserting that it will serve as an essential reference for future research. In response, Santiago Cano expressed his gratitude for the recognition and shared the origins of his volume, which began as a school project and evolved over the years into a published work to prevent the loss of this material.
Cano described his work as an open project for future generations, highlighting that language is a key element of identity, with unique traits specific to the municipality. He also noted that the proximity to Gibraltar has historically enriched the way residents communicate, stressing the importance of documenting the expressions and forms still preserved in everyday speech.
