Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy

Host: SER Podcast
Episode: La mirada | Ignacio Peyró: "El Woodstock del español"
Date: 17 October 2025

1. Episode Overview

This episode features Ignacio Peyró offering his reflective segment "La mirada" from Arequipa, Perú, at the close of the X Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española. The main theme is the celebration, significance, and global power of the Spanish language, described by Peyró as a kind of "Woodstock del español," emphasizing its vibrant diversity, current challenges, and cultural wealth.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Geographical and Cultural Context
  • Arequipa, Peru, serves as the backdrop, drawing a parallel between its unique geography (notably, the looming presence of a 6,000-meter volcano) and its cultural significance as the birthplace of novelist Mario Vargas Llosa [00:08].
• The Congress: A Woodstock of Spanish
  • The X Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española brought together 300 speakers over four days—a "Woodstock del español".
  • The event celebrated the diversity of the Spanish language, gathering "en feliz batahola todos sus acentos” (in a happy chaos, all its accents together).
• Themes and Topics Explored at the Congress
  • Key subjects included:
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Language and Science
    • Digital Journalism
    • The relationship between language and power
    • The role of translation
  • The congress served as a reminder of the privilege and responsibility of sharing the Spanish language.
• Spanish as a Global Asset
  • Spanish is the world's second-most spoken native language, with 600 million speakers.
  • Peyró reflects on both the spiritual and material wealth that the language represents: "Nuestra lengua es nuestra gran riqueza" (Our language is our great wealth).
  • He emphasizes Spanish as not only a cultural treasure but also a major export, providing global visibility to Hispanic culture and lifestyles.
• Institutional Support and Future Aspirations
  • References to existing support from institutions like the Instituto Cervantes and the various academies of language.
  • Peyró expresses hope that governments will one day fully support the promotion of Spanish, rather than giving it only partial support.

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ignacio Peyró on Arequipa’s uniqueness:

  “Para decir que Arequipa, en Perú, es un lugar extraordinario bastará con señalar que al salir de ella lo que tenemos es un volcán de 6.000 metros de altura.”
  [00:12]

• On the Congress’s atmosphere and diversity:

  "Han sido cuatro días y 300 ponentes, una especie de Woodstock del español que ha reunido en feliz batahola todos sus acentos."
  [00:27]

• On the Spanish language as collective fortune and responsibility:

  "Pero sobre todo hemos podido recordar la mezcla de fortuna y responsabilidad que es compartir nuestro idioma."
  [00:39]

• On the global scope of Spanish:

  "El español es la segunda lengua nativa del mundo tras el chino mandarín, con 600 millones de personas. Nuestra lengua es nuestra gran riqueza."
  [00:44]

• On institutional and governmental support:

  "No faltan instituciones serias del Cervantes a las Academias de la Lengua para fomentarlo y será extraordinario el día que también nuestros gobiernos decidan no apoyarlo solo a medias."
  [01:23]

4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:08] Opening and description of Arequipa, local context, and introduction to the Congress
• [00:27] The Congress as the "Woodstock del español"; celebration of Spanish accents and diversity
• [00:39] Reflections on sharing the Spanish language: fortune and responsibility
• [00:44] Spanish as the second-most spoken native language and its global significance
• [01:23] Call for stronger government support and closing

5. Conclusion

Ignacio Peyró’s segment vividly summarizes the vibrant dynamism and global potential of the Spanish language, using the metaphor of "Woodstock" to describe the joyful, diverse, and energetic gathering in Arequipa. Through his remarks, listeners are reminded of both the privilege and duty that comes with being members of such a widespread linguistic community, and the ongoing need to champion and support the language at all institutional and governmental levels.

For an insightful perspective on the cultural power of Spanish and the highlights of the X Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, this brief but evocative segment is essential listening.