Concept in Definition ABC

If someone hears the word falencia in Spain, it is very likely that they do not know its meaning, since it is a term typical of old Castilian Spanish and that currently is not used in the language current. However, among Latin American speakers it is a word in common use. For this reasonIn most dictionaries, flaw is considered an Americanism.

Falencia comes from the Latin fallentis and originally meant "the one who deceives". It is worth pointing out that fallacy and fallacy share the same etymological root (fallacy is a lie with appearance really). When it joined the DRAE in the 18th century, the flaw was defined as "error or deception" with respect to a claim. Interestingly, deficiency is also used in the Portuguese language, meaning deficiency of functioning.

Particularities in its use

A language is a living and changing entity. An illustrative example of this idea is the use of the word falencia in its different contexts and countries in which Spanish is spoken. An Argentine, a Peruvian or a Paraguayan uses this word as a synonym for lack or lack of something. In this way, one could say "there is a lack of environmental measures to protect endangered species" or "in public hospitals there are great shortcomings of advanced equipment." If we move to the Nicaraguan context, the word acquires another meaning, since it is equivalent to bankruptcy or bankruptcy of a

establishment (the shortcoming of Commerce traditional in the capital represents a significant loss of jobs).

In the use of Spanish that is spoken in Chile, we find another variant of meaning; in this case it is synonymous with insolvency and is normally used in the legal field. In the Mexican context, flaw is synonymous with error, so it could be said "flaw in the lead of the team caused a zero draw" or "there were flaws in the team's lead. strategy from communication".

A brushstroke of Americanisms in our language

The philologists consider that the Americanisms are the own terms of the Spanish that is spoken in the Latin American context. The origin of the Americanisms is diverse: the old Castilian that was spoken in Spain until the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age, as well as some terms of the Amerindian languages ​​that have been incorporated into Spanish (hamaca, cacique or canoe) or even some English words adapted to our language and that are commonly used in America (apartment, bluyín, car or crack).

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