[lg policy] Spain: A lost language twin. An Irishwoman=?utf-8?Q?=E2=80=99s_?=Diary about minority languages

Tue Apr 15 14:19:23 UTC 2014

 A lost language twin An Irishwoman’s Diary about minority languages
[image: Young dancers perform at a fiesta in Hernani in the Basque Country.
Photograph: Paddy Woodworth]

Young dancers perform at a fiesta in Hernani in the Basque Country.
Photograph: Paddy Woodworth

Kate Fennell

   - *Topics:*
   - Culture <http://www.irishtimes.com/culture>
   - Heritage<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?article=true&q=Heritage>
   - Basque Government<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Basque%2BGovernment&article=true>
   - University Of Deusto In
Bilbao<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=University%2BOf%2BDeusto%2BIn%2BBilbao&article=true>
   - Ireland <http://www.irishtimes.com/news>
   - San Sebastian<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?article=true&tag_location=San%2BSebastian>
   - Spain<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?article=true&tag_location=Spain>

  Tue, Apr 15, 2014,
02:00<http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/a-lost-language-twin-1.1761901#>

*First published:* Tue, Apr 15, 2014, 02:00

   -  2<http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/a-lost-language-twin-1.1761901#comments>
   -

   -
   -
   -
   <http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/a-lost-language-twin-1.1761901#>

  <http://www.irishtimes.com/cmlink/the-irish-times-culture-1.1319213>

Debate surrounding the Irish language has recently been bubbling up again
on this page. It is heartening, however, to remember that we are not alone
with our minority language challenge. As part of my research into
Basque/Spanish language policy with the University of Deusto in Bilbao
several years ago I discovered that the tapestry of people who had
passionate thoughts and feelings about Basque was as rich and varied as
that at home concerning Irish.

Living in an officially bilingual society abroad felt like encountering a
long lost twin with whom you discover you have much in common. Yet, as you
delve deeper, you realise there are differences.

Basque culture and language suffered repression under Franco’s regime; the
region experienced huge emigration in the 19th century, losing at least
three-quarters of its population to America; the language came to be
regarded as only fit for peasants; Spanish became the language of
sophistication and commerce; the cause became political and violent and the
language a symbol of identity and freedom. The sentiment behind the phrase
tiocfaidh ár lá is still cherished by many who want full independence from
Spain<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Spain&article=true>.

In contrast to the Gaeltachts, however, the Basque Country is a wealthy,
industrialised region; it already had a wealthy merchant class in the
1500s. Its language has been supported constitutionally by the autonomous
Basque government since 1978 and is required for a job in the civil
service. The exams are not a pushover. Most spend months and years
preparing for them.

One other very big difference is that the equivalent of our gaelscoileanna
– *ikastolas* – have been in existence since the 1980s and have proven such
a success that in a private university in San
Sebastian<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=San%20Sebastian&article=true>half
the degree courses are offered through Basque.

A strong government policy and a pride in culture and language have
obviously helped. Even the word to describe a Basque person – *Euskaldun* –
actually means “Basque-speaker”, so identity is intrinsically linked with
their language. Indeed, the Basque language is visible and audible on a
daily basis in all walks of life. The conundrum, however, is that while the
percentage of people who know Basque has increased the percentage who use
it with other Basque speakers in everyday life has decreased.

What’s the point in saying that a language is a way of expressing a nation
if the majority of the people who know it aren’t actively speaking it? And
how do we peacefully merge the native and non-native speakers without one
accusing the other of being a “language snob”? Surely, it’s using the
knowledge of the language that matters and not merely having it stored in
the language compartment of your brain?

What if we were trying to revive Irish traditional music but it was
confined to our classrooms? Why try to sustain such a thing as a native
language if it is not going to play an intrinsic part in shaping the
nation? And how possible is this if one tries to simultaneously remain open
to other nations and play a progressive part in our globalised world?

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. If this is true, and I feel it may be, then
there is still much work to be done to solve the riddle of how to
strengthen any minority language effectively. The Basques have some of the
answers, but not all of them. Many people there still feel obliged to learn
the language and so are put off by the sense of compulsion. It’s a
difficult language for many Spanish speakers to learn and speak. Part of
the language movement is politically motivated, which alienates still
others.

One of the Basque teaching academies, Zenbat Gara, believes in motivating
students to learn the language through enjoyment and concentrates on
getting them to experience the culture through activities while actively
using and learning the language. Their operation includes a thriving
restaurant and the best live music venue in Bilbao. The success rate is
high. They may be closer to solving the riddle than most.

We Irish, on the other hand, are in the Basque people’s bad books. The
official word on the street is that “the Irish gained their territory and
lost their language”, that “the Irish have no pride”. (This from the
diehards of the language who have not yet done their research in
Ireland<http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&article=true>as
I did there.) The only way I found to counter that was to give them a
good blast of the boggiest Connemara Irish I know, throw in a few almighty
mallachts and send them on their way. It’s at least one way of keeping the
sound of Irish alive.
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/a-lost-language-twin-1.1761901

-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its
members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or
sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who
disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write
directly to the original sender of any offensive message.  A copy of this
may be forwarded to this list as well.  (H. Schiffman, Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lgpolicy-list/attachments/20140415/db599455/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list