topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.44 0.28
DAX 6339.94 0.38
IBEX 30 6543 0.13
CAC 40 3047.94 0.32
FTSE 100 5351.53 0.03
AEX 292.76 0.23
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13154.8 0.36
TSX Composite 11576.47 0.09
ASX 4096.9 0.38
Hang seng 18713.41 0.25
Straits Times 2772.75 -0.24
ISEQ 20 500.94 1.55
You are here: Home News Spanish News Spain’s regional languages squeezing out Spanish

Spanish News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


25/06/2008Spain’s regional languages squeezing out Spanish

The rampant use of Catalan and Basque in schools and public services discriminates against Spaniards who can only speak Spanish, say intellectuals.

25 June 2008

MADRID - Spanish is the first language of up to 400 million people worldwide, but, according to a group of writers, historians and philosophers, it is coming under threat in its homeland.

The creeping use of Catalan and Basque for education and in practically all public services in Catalonia and the Basque Country has led a group of intellectuals to publish a "Manifesto for a common language" in a bid to goad the government into defending people's right to use Spanish anywhere in Spain.

"For several years there have been growing reasons to worry about the institutional status of the Spanish language in our country," the manifesto warns. It goes on to demand that parliament approve legislation to ensure "unequivocally" that Spanish is the single, common and official language" nationwide.

In Catalonia, practically all classes in public and many private schools are taught in Catalan, with Spanish offered only as a second language as English and French are elsewhere.

Similar changes are also making progress in the Basque Country, while in both regions it has become common practice to stop people taking public jobs - even as garbage collectors or gardeners - if they cannot speak the regional tongue.

Spain's Socialist government has so far failed to intervene in the defence of Spanish - a taboo issue after decades of linguistic repression in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and to a lesser extent Galicia, under the Franco regime.

Now, the authors of the manifesto argue, the discrimination flows in the opposite direction, particularly affecting Spaniards from other areas of Spain and foreign immigrants who take up residency in regions where another language is spoken.

"It is one thing to promote knowledge of the regional language and another to impose it at the expense of the common language," philosopher Fernando Savater declared at the presentation of the manifesto in Madrid on Monday. "This discrimination... hurts the least fortunate the most, including immigrants, by denying them social and job opportunities," he added.

The manifesto is supported by around 20 noted intellectuals, including historian Carmen Iglesias and writer Álvaro Pombo.

[El Pais / E. Granda / Expatica]


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Technology in Spain

Sat phones/internet links

English in Spain

What is the best travel insurance cover to Spain?

American in Spain

U.S. citizens, plan to vote in 2012? Did you know...

Relocation to Spain

thinking of moving to madrid

Jobs in Spain

Job Agencies or how to find work.

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.

Groups and Clubs around Spain

Groups and Clubs around Spain

A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.