* Latin: The foundation of Spanish is Vulgar Latin, the spoken language of the Roman Empire, which evolved differently in various regions.
* Arabic: After the Moorish conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, Arabic words and grammatical structures influenced the developing language.
* Other languages: Over the centuries, Spanish absorbed vocabulary and influences from other languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula (such as Basque, Galician, and Portuguese) and later, from indigenous languages in the Americas and the Philippines.
Instead of a single founder, consider the following:
* The Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula: The Roman Empire's influence, particularly through the spread of Vulgar Latin, provided the initial foundation for what would become Spanish.
* The Reconquista: This centuries-long process of retaking the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors led to linguistic mixing and the development of a unique language.
* The Spanish Empire: Spanish spread rapidly during the colonial era, evolving further as it came into contact with various indigenous languages and other European languages.
So, while there's no single "founder" of Spanish, its evolution involved a complex interplay of historical, cultural, and linguistic forces.