The Spanish spoken in the Canary Islands is marked by distinctive phonetic traits, most notably the phenomenon known as ‘seseo’—the pronunciation of ‘c’ (before e, i) and ‘z’ as ‘s’. This feature is systematically present in the popular speech of the islands [1].
Pablo Artiles, in his glossary of popular words and expressions used in the novel “Las campanas son de bronce…”, documents numerous examples of this phonetic trait. He notes that many of these words, though of Castilian origin, have evolved phonetically in the Canaries, preserving archaic forms or adapting to the insular pronunciation [1].
A notable example is the frequent replacement of the letter ‘p’ with ‘f’ or ‘b’, as seen in terms like “bico” (for “pico”) and “fisco” (for “pizco”). Artiles observes: “Los canarios cambiamos mucho la P en B o F: pico = bico; pizco = fisco… ¿Sería por dificultad de pronunciar la P? En el lenguaje indígena, canario antiguo, hay muy pocas palabras con la letra P” [1]. This phonetic phenomenon affects both pronunciation and the written form of these words.
Seseo, together with other features such as the aspiration or loss of final ‘s’ and the tendency to soften sounds, gives Canarian Spanish its unique rhythm and musicality. The glossary includes words like “cho” (for “tío”), where ‘t’ becomes ‘ch’, and “gofio”, where the pronunciation is distinctly insular [1].
Artiles emphasizes the vitality of these phonetic forms in the daily life of Gran Canaria: “Estas voces son del habla viva de los grancanarios. Muchas saltaron de labios del interlocutor a las páginas del libro, ‘vivitas y coleando’” [1]. Seseo and other phonetic traits are not merely linguistic curiosities but are markers of identity passed down orally through generations.
The glossary also features expressions where Canarian phonetics are especially pronounced, such as “bien de…” to express abundance, or “estoy sin una rubia” to indicate lack of money, highlighting the musicality and rhythm of island speech [1].
In summary, Pablo Artiles’ analysis demonstrates how seseo and other distinctive phonetic traits are integral to the Canarian popular lexicon, reflecting the linguistic history and character of the islands. Seseo is not just a phonetic phenomenon but a living element that continues to define everyday speech in the Canaries [1].