The King’s Lisp: A Linguistic Myth
As Spanish TV shows gain increasing popularity on Netflix, viewers may notice characters speaking with a distinctive and charming lisp. According to lore, this phenomenon traces back to a historical inclination not to embarrass a king who had a lisp—a captivating linguistic myth with roots in historical events and linguistic evolution.
In the early 19th century, King Ferdinand VII of Spain grappled with a pronounced speech impediment, shaping the court’s pronunciation of certain words. Over time, this royal influence could have contributed to the development of regional accents and dialects. However, the Spanish lisp or “ceceo” predates Ferdinand VII and wasn’t a deliberate choice; rather, it’s a natural linguistic phenomenon where “s” and “z” sounds are articulated with a th-like “th” sound.