Spanish Learning Community and Resources

The Other Spanish Languages 

One of the things that surprises foreigners the most when they arrive in Spain is the linguistic diversity of our country, of which we are very proud. Approximately 25% of the population speaks another Spanish language besides Castilian/Spanish. 

Curious to know which ones? ⏬ 

Let's start with a little legal framework 

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the most important law in Spain. Its approval was a significant milestone in the country's history, as it marked the beginning of democracy after almost 40 years of dictatorship. Regarding languages, what does the Constitution say?

Source: Bernat, OLS Community Manager

In short, Spain is a MULTILINGUAL country. 

Castilian/Spanish 

I have already addressed the Castilian/Spanish language in this article, but I would like to make a couple of remarks. Castilian/Spanish is the ONLY official language in the whole of Spain, and there is practically no one who doesn't know how to speak it. Wherever you are, wherever you go, worry not because everyone will be able to understand, assist, and respond to you. On the other hand, in Spain, it is common to refer to the language as "Castilian" to "respect" the other languages of the country, which, yes, are smaller but equally genuine and Spanish. 

The other Spanish languages 

Six out of the 17 autonomous communities have, in addition to Castilian/Spanish, other official languages. These are Catalan/Valencian, Galician, Basque, and Aranese. They are used in public administration, education, media, cultural activities, and virtually every other aspect of society. They are living languages that millions of Spaniards use (and sing) daily. For example, my entire education was in Catalan/Valencian, including my university studies. We also have other languages, such as Asturleonese or Aragonese, which are protected but currently do not enjoy full legal recognition. Perhaps in the future they will.  

Source: Bernat, OLS Community Manager 

CATALAN/VALENCIAN 

It is the second most spoken language in Spain, after Castilian/Spanish. It has a linguistic community of around 10 million people, with approximately 4 million native speakers. It is spoken in Catalonia, in the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian), in the Balearic Islands, in the eastern part of Aragon, in Andorra, in the French province of Roussillon, and in the Italian city of Alghero. This language is closely related to Aranese/Occitan. Oh, I nearly forgot. It is a Romance language, meaning it derived from Vulgar Latin. 

GALICIAN 

It is also a Romance language with a total of between 3 and 4 million speakers, of which 2.5 are native users. It is mainly used in Galicia, as well as in the western part of Asturias and some areas of León and Zamora. Galician shares many similarities with Portuguese, since they were the same language until the 14th century. This relationship is reflected in grammatical, lexical, and phonetic features, allowing mutual understanding between speakers of both languages. 

BASQUE 

It is a language isolate with no known origin or identified relationship with other languages in the world. It is spoken in the Basque Country, in northern Navarre, and in the French Basque Country. It has around 700,000 native speakers, and it is estimated that another 400,000 have some passive knowledge of the language. There are several theories about its origin, although a definitive consensus has not yet been reached. Unlike the other Spanish languages, I can assure you that you won't understand anything. 

ARANESE 

It is a Romance language considered a variety of Occitan, a language that was of great importance in Southern Europe during the Middle Ages. Currently, it is spoken by approximately 5,000 people. You will only hear Aranese in the Val d'Aran, although it is officially recognised throughout Catalonia. Aranese and Catalan/Valencian are mutually intelligible, which means that their speakers can understand and communicate with relative ease. 

Some practical considerations 

As established by the Constitution, the languages of Spain constitute a valuable cultural heritage that grants us uniqueness. Currently, the state protects and promotes the use and learning of the different Spanish languages, but this has not always been the case. During the Franco dictatorship, Castilian was imposed throughout the territory, and the other languages were persecuted and repressed. For their speakers, these languages represent a fundamental part of their identity, so it is vital to respect them. 

If you participate in a mobility programme in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Galicia, the Basque Country or Navarre, I advise you to not only improve your excellent Spanish but also learn some words or phrases in the local language. I can assure you that people will be delighted and will appreciate your effort. Generally, you should not encounter "linguistic problems" since everyone masters Castilian/Spanish. If someone speaks to you in Catalan/Valencian, Galician, Basque, or Aranese and notices that you don't understand, they will easily switch to the language of Cervantes. It could happen that you meet someone who maintains their language even though you speak to them in Castilian/Spanish. This can occur for two reasons: 

⚫ These regions are predominantly bilingual societies, where most residents speak and understand their respective official languages. It is common for individuals to express themselves in their mother tongue or the language they feel most comfortable with. For example, in my group of friends, some always speak in Catalan/Valencian while others favour using Castilian/Spanish. We understand each other, and it is completely accepted that everyone uses the language they prefer. It is not impolite at all. If you pay a little attention while walking through the streets, you will see it. It's a curious phenomenon. 

⚫ It could also happen that, initially, someone doesn't want to switch language due to linguistic activism. As I mentioned earlier, these languages were repressed for a long time, and now, with globalisation, they are losing significance. You can imagine that for a speaker of a minority language, this is hard to digest. I'm not justifying anything nor expressing my opinion; I'm simply providing information so that you can better understand the context. In any case, with respect, empathy, and a smile, there is nothing that cannot be resolved. 

Now, I propose a game/exercise: in this discussion topic, you will find five texts written in five different Spanish languages. What do you have to do? It's easy: guess which text corresponds to which language.

Long live the languages of Spain! ❤

Bernat, OLS Community Manager – Spanish