Spanish is a common language, but not a uniform one. This book explores how Americanisms - those words born and transformed in America - have challenged, enriched and renewed the normative tradition of the Real Academia Española.From the first entries in the Diccionario de Autoridades to the publication of the Diccionario de americanismos de la ASALE, the text traces the history of the inclusion (and sometimes exclusion) of American words in the academic work. Through examples such as guagua, papa, coger or chamba, it shows how language not only names the world, but also reflects identities, resistance and cultural belonging.Aimed at researchers, teachers, students and language lovers, this book offers a critical and current look at the tension between norm and usage, and at the future of Spanish in a globalized, digital and diverse world.