Universität Jena - Erklärvideo des Instituts für Romanistik "Los distintos idiomas de España"

Summary

The video explores Spain's linguistic diversity, highlighting its four main languages: Spanish (Castellano), Catalan, Basque (Euskera), and Galician. It discusses the historical, cultural, and political significance of these languages, their evolution, and their status in modern Spain. The video explains how regional languages were suppressed under Franco's dictatorship but have since regained prominence. The Constitution of Spain acknowledges the importance of linguistic diversity, with co-official languages protected in various regions. This fascinating look at Spain’s languages emphasizes both the unity and complexity of the country's multilingual identity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Spain is home to several languages, with Castilian Spanish as the official language and Catalan, Basque, and Galician as co-official languages in certain regions.
• 😀 Castilian Spanish is spoken by over 570 million people worldwide, making it one of the most widely spoken languages after English, Chinese, and Hindi.
• 😀 The roots of Castilian lie in Latin, and it evolved significantly after the Muslim conquest of Spain in the 8th century, with influences like 'almohada' and 'alfombra'.
• 😀 The standardization of Castilian in the 15th century by Antonio de Nebrija contributed to its widespread use across Spain.
• 😀 Catalan, spoken by 11 million people, was suppressed during Francisco Franco's dictatorship but has seen a revival since his death in 1975.
• 😀 The Catalan government introduced a system called 'normalization' to encourage widespread use of the language, particularly in public institutions.
• 😀 Basque (Euskera) is a unique pre-Roman language spoken by around 1 million people, mainly in the Basque Country, and has survived despite historical suppression.
• 😀 Galician is spoken by 2.5 million people, primarily in Galicia, and shares roots with Portuguese. It underwent a literary renaissance in the 19th century.
• 😀 Other regional languages, such as Asturleonese, Aragonese, and Aranese, are also derived from Latin but are spoken by a small number of people.
• 😀 Spain's Constitution guarantees the protection of linguistic and cultural diversity, with regional languages enjoying co-official status alongside Castilian in their respective areas.

Q & A

What are the four main languages spoken in Spain, and how are they classified?

The four main languages spoken in Spain are Castellano (Spanish), Catalán, Euskera (Basque), and Gallego (Galician). Castellano is the official language of Spain, while Catalán, Euskera, and Gallego are co-official languages in their respective regions.

How many people speak Castellano (Spanish) worldwide, and what is its global ranking in terms of the number of speakers?

Castellano (Spanish) has 570 million speakers worldwide, with 440 million being native speakers. It is the second most spoken language in the world after English, followed by Chinese and Hindi.

What historical events influenced the development of Castellano?

Castellano originated from Latin and was influenced by the Muslim conquest of Spain in the 8th century. Words like 'almohada' (pillow) and 'alfombra' (carpet) showcase this influence. After the Reconquista in 1492, the Catholic Spanish developed Castellano in central Spain, particularly in Castile.

What is the role of institutions like the Royal Spanish Academy and the Instituto Cervantes?

These institutions play a crucial role in protecting and promoting the Spanish language. The Royal Spanish Academy helps standardize and preserve the language, while the Instituto Cervantes promotes the global use and teaching of Spanish.

How did the political environment in Spain affect the use of Catalán during Francisco Franco's dictatorship?

During Francisco Franco's dictatorship, Catalán was repressed, and its use was forbidden in public institutions. However, after his death in 1975, Spain became more tolerant, and Catalán regained its place in society.

What is the 'normalization' system implemented by the Catalan government?

The 'normalization' system, created by the Catalan government, aimed to ensure that all inhabitants of Catalan-speaking regions spoke Catalán at least as a second language. It has been instrumental in the revival and usage of Catalán in public life.

What are the debates surrounding the Valencian language?

There is a debate over whether Valencian is an independent language or just a variety of Catalán. However, it is spoken by around 4 million people, primarily in the Valencian Community.

What makes Euskera unique, and how did it survive through history?

Euskera is a very ancient European language, spoken by about 1 million people, mainly in the Basque Country. It is unique because it is not a Romance language and predates the Romanization of Spain. It survived through history despite repression during Franco's dictatorship.

What is the historical significance of Gallego, and how did it evolve?

Gallego, spoken by around 2.5 million people, originated from Iberian Romance languages and is derived from Latin. It was once part of the Galician-Portuguese language but gradually diverged. After a decline in status, it was revived in the 19th century and regained official status after Franco's dictatorship.

Why is the constitutional protection of regional languages in Spain important?

The Spanish Constitution ensures that regional languages like Catalán, Euskera, and Gallego are protected and recognized as co-official languages in their regions. This supports cultural diversity and the right of people to preserve and use their native languages.