Language
The Basque language (Euskara) is unique. It is the only European language that remains from before the arrival of indo-European languages. This means that it pre-dates the languages that arrived in Western Europe around 1.000 years BC.
Basques have occupied the land where they now live since prehistoric times. The fact that the Basque language is so old and that it has survived until today makes it an ideal tool for studying Europe's ethnolinguistic past.
Many theories have been put forward regarding the origin and relation of the Basque language, but none of them have yet been proven. The hypotheses most often used are those that relate Basque to Caucausian, pre Indo-European and North African languages.
Short description of organisation represented in project
Office of Linguistic Policy Politics is the organ of direction, planning, coordination and execution of the linguistic policy of the Basque Goverment.
Territory where language is spoken
The Basque language is spoken in an area which covers 20.742 sq. Km. and where 3.000.000 people live. It is currently spoken in Araba, Biscay, Gipuzkoa and Navarre (in Spain) and Lapurdi, Lower Navarre and Zuberoa (France).
Due to diverse political and administrative situations and also as a result of the ups and downs of history, the extent to which Basque is known varies a great deal from one area to another.
After difficult former times, marked especially by Franco's dictatorship, in recent years Basque has gained quite a number of new speakers, especially in the region known as the Basque Autonomous Community and (although to a lesser degree) Navarre.
Around 750.000 people speak the language and a further 400.000 understand it and are able, with certain difficulties, to speak some Basque.
The area where the language is spoken is spread over two countries (Spain and France) and three different administrative areas (the Basque Autonomous Community, the Autonomous Community of Navarre and the Department of the Atlantic Pyrenees).
Sociolinguistic data available for language
Sociolinguistic Data
Legal status of language
Basque is an official language (together with Spanish) in the Basque Autonomous Community and in some parts of Navarre but has no official status under French law. This has determined and surely will carry on determining to a large extent any process to revitalise the language.
Spanish Constitution (article 3): The duty to know Spanish
- Spanish is the official language of Spain.
- All Spaniards have the duty to know it and the right to use it The other language which exist in Spain will be officially recognised in their corresponding autonomous region
Statute of Autonomy : The right to use Basque
- The Basque Language, the language of the Basque people, shall, together with Spanish, be recognised as an official language in the Basque Country, and all the inhabitants of the Basque Country will have the right to know and use both languages.
- The public institutions of the BAC will guarantee the use of both languages and regulate the measures and means necessary to guarantee their knowledge
Basic Law number 10 of November 24th 1982 on the Standardisation of the use of Basque Language (Euskara)
- The Preliminary Title recognizes the Basque Language as a language belonging to the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Basque and Spanish languages as oficial languages within its territory.
- It also purgues the normalization of the use of Basque.
- The First title deals with the rights of citizens and the duties of the Basque public authorities in language matters.
Basic Law of Navarre, Basque is partially recognised as official:
Over twenty years have passed since the Law on the Normalization of Basque Use was passed in the Basque Autonomous Community. This law specifies the public’s language rights and the language obligations of the administration. It led to action being taken to normalise Basque language use in different fields, permitted the creation of language institutions and the earmarking of budgets for language planning, etc. The following are some of the main areas where effort has been concentrated over recent years:
- Standardisation and modernisation of Basque.
- Basque as a medium both in compulsory and university education. Adult Basque language learning programmes.
- The media… the creation of radio and television stations in Basque, the fostering of newspapers and magazines in Basque, etc.
- Promotion of culture in Basque (literature, music, improvised poetry, theatre)
- Basquisation of the administration.
- Development of Basquisation plans in private companies.
Many current figures lead us to be optimistic – there has been an increase of over 200.000 Basque speakers in recent years. However, others are worrying- there has been a loss of intergenerational language transmission in the French Basque Country. The present historical moment provides us with a unique opportunity for Basque to carry on being the language of the Basque people and something which remains a treasure for all the citizens of modern Europe.
Common challenges facing the language
- Language transmission
- Education
- Information and Communication Technology
- Marketing