Observatory of Spanish in Europe

The Observatory of Spanish in Europe - OSE is an interdisciplinary research unit for the study of the social, cultural, and linguistic dynamics of Spanish-speaking communities in Europe. As a space for innovative and evidence-based research at Heidelberg University, it aims to analyze the demographic, educational, communicative, and digital spaces of the Spanish language and its speakers in different European societies.

The research activities of the Observatory of Spanish in Europe focus on mapping and explaining the mobility patterns of Spanish-speaking transnational communities, the dynamics of intergenerational transmission of Spanish, and the ways in which they create spaces for the circulation of culture and knowledge and transcultural linkages. Information and language technologies are a transversal topic of the research program as digitalization is transforming mobility patterns, educational spaces, and the interaction of communities and cultures on the move. So the research interest of the Observatory orients towards exploring how the new digital and technological environments determine the social dynamics of Spanish, the Hispanic cultures and communities, and how they contribute to shaping the European societies connecting Europe with the Spanish-speaking world and re-signifying their cultural, social and economic relations.

The Observatory will launch by the end of the summer semester of 2023 with support from Heidelberg University and will align with other observatories and research units in the United States, Japan, India, and Spain.