The Royal Spanish Academy Examines Arturo Pérez-Reverte's Criticisms

Published on January 13, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Main facade of the Royal Spanish Academy building in Madrid, with its emblematic wooden door and light stone facade.

The Royal Spanish Academy Studies Arturo Pérez-Reverte's Criticisms

The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) announced that it will analyze in detail the public statements of writer and academic Arturo Pérez-Reverte. The author accused the institution of bending to external influences and promoting ambiguous rules for political and media interests. The RAE responded with a statement affirming that it will review the arguments presented. 📜

The Institution Defends Its Working Method

The Academy emphasizes that its main function is to study how the language changes over time. It explains that it does not invent rules, but describes the real use made by speakers. All its resolutions are made jointly with the other twenty-two academies of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, a process that seeks broad agreements. 🏛️

Key Points of the Institutional Defense:
  • Its work is based on observing the evolution of Spanish, not directing it.
  • Decisions are collegiate, involving all academies in the Spanish-speaking world.
  • The ultimate goal is to preserve the unity of the language while respecting its natural diversity.
"The RAE will rigorously study the arguments presented by academic Pérez-Reverte." - Official statement from the institution.

The Context of the Language Debate

The novelist's words are inserted into a broader discussion about inclusive language and how normative entities should react to social transformations. Pérez-Reverte suggests that the Academy yields to fleeting fashions, while the RAE reiterates that its mission is to ensure the coherence of the language. This public clash shows tensions about who should regulate Spanish and how. 💬

Central Elements of the Controversy:
  • The external pressure on linguistic institutions to modify rules.
  • The balance between describing common use and prescribing rules.
  • The internal dynamics of the RAE, where it is not unusual for its members to express disagreements.

A Recurrent Conflict Within the Learned House

This is not the first time that a member of the Academy itself has publicly questioned the direction of the institution. This episode demonstrates that, at times, the most intense debates about the future of the Spanish language occur within its historic walls. The RAE now must process these criticisms

Related Links