The main aim of this thesis is to explain and describe the basic aspects of the language situation in Gibraltar. In the introduction is briefly summarized the cultural and historical context in which the question of Gibraltarian nationality and linguistic identity are developed. The theme of the other chapters is the issue of the concept itself. Llanito, Yanito or Gibberish are some of the terms that are used in linguistics to refer to a typical speech used by habitants of Gibraltar only. In this chapter are presented the linguistic theories on the origin and development of the specific terminology. The following chapter contains phonetic, morphosyntactic and lexical characteristics of the analysed language structure. The description of each plane is connected and put into the context. The fourth chapter explores the influence of the major European languages in Gibraltarian speech. Other chapters describe dictionaries Yanito and the influence of this language structure on literature and media. Key words: llanito/yanito, bilingualism in Gibraltar, language code-switching, morfosyntactic structures, linguistic and social interaction, dictionaries.

The aim of this thesis is to introduce the linguistic situation in Gibraltar. Main attention will be paid to the special local speech, which is traditionally called llanito. To describe this phenomenon in all contexts, it must be set in the historical-cultural and linguistic context. The thesis is structured in order to clarify this context. The introductory chapter outlines the history of Gibraltar, including a comprehensive overview of the most influential ethnic groups who greatly contributed to the origin and development of the specific Gibraltarian speech with their distinct languages and cultures. Topic of the third chapter are the problems associated with the very concept of llanito. Attention is paid to the questions of terminology - alternative names for llanito are gradually analyzed, namely yanito or gibberish etc., and also hypotheses associated with these names. The fourth chapter describes the language layers in which we find the most specific features of llanito (syntax, phonetics, vocabulary and phraseology), and the nature of these features. The next chapter focuses on two Yanito dictionaries, both dictionaries containing Gibraltar terms and fixed expressions. These dictionaries are the only existing data base for llanito. The final chapter describes the current linguistic...