By K. Kothari

In a recent article in The Guardian, commissioned by the newspaper from La Vanguardia, Quim Monzó discusses the future of the Catalan language. This short article states that despite the recent resurgence in the Catalan language, used as the primary language of education instruction, its value is still questioned by many across world and unlike many languages, has no official state to defend it.  Mr. Monzó notes that the Catalan language has been in decline since the early 18th century when Philip V of Spain “ordered the Spanish language to be introduced.” The article further describes the success of the Catalan education system with international bodies such as the EU taking note. The continued defense of the Catalan language, especially when answering questions abroad, has an effect on how Catalans view themselves, and as he says “Catalan speakers end up believing that they are to blame for their own maltreatment and humiliation.”

There are many things about this article that we must note to fully understand this article. First, the article was commissioned by the paper La Vanguardia, which is a Catalonian newspaper and known to promote secession from Spain. The article is passionately written and utilizes personal experiences to connect with the reader and experiences they may have had.  Phrases like “We’re not aliens with fluorescent green skin” raise emotions and a sense of discrimination for the reader. He then transitions to a poem where the loss of language is akin to the loss of one’s identity. Another facet of the Catalan identity is jauntily interspersed as Monzó references FC Barcelona to say that even when winning there is a need to be cautious, just as there is a need to be wary for the future of the Catalan language.

Source: Jordi Borr S Abell / Jordi Borr s Abell /Demotix/Corbis

The second thing to note about the article is the current political and economic context between Catalonia and Spain. Spain has a form of decentralized government, comprised of 17 autonomous regions.. According to a CNN article, “the regions administer key public services such as health and education, and in Catalonia’s case, also the police and prisons.”  The Catalonia region accounts for 16% of Spain’s population but 19% of its wealth, and tensions have been rising since Catalans believe they do not receive proportional funds as their wealth is being used to support other regions.  Spain’s regional and national debt has led to spending cuts in healthcare and education in Catalonia. On Sunday, November 25, 2012, the Generalitat government is holding elections and voting on whether Catalonia should secede from Spain and become an independent nation. Catalans seem split on the idea of independence; an important factor may be that admission into the Euro would not be guaranteed, and Spain would be a voting member on such a decision

Monzó’s article about the Catalan language on the precipice can be viewed differently in light of the recent political activity. Since the democratic constitution of 1978 brought back home rule, the Catalonia region only teaches in Catalan, and students are required to learn the language for school entry. Spanish is also taught and Barcelona’s education department says that students will be conversant in both languages upon graduation. An entire generation though, and many immigrants to the region, identify with the Catalan language and presumably, the Catalan identity. I expect that the current cuts to the education system will be seen as a threat to the cultivation and maintenance this Catalan identity. And Monzó’s concerns may not be too far-fetched. The Financial Times cites an incident this past October when José Ignacio Wert, Spain’s education minister, said that “he intended to “Spanish-ise” Catalan pupils he suggested were being brainwashed into separatism by the Catalan language.”  Without doubt, it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks.

Sources:

Burgen, Stephen. (21 November 2012). Immigration and Catalonian separatism. The Guardian. Reprinted in Dawn. http://dawn.com/2012/11/22/immigration-and-catalonian-separatism/

Goodman, Al. (25 November 2012). Spain’s Catalonia region votes; move for independence remains major debate . CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/25/world/europe/spain-catalonia-elections/?hpt=hp_c2

Gardner, David. (21 November 2012). Separatists reawaken Spanish nationalism. The Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b3e6cd00-2f52-11e2-b88b-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz2DFMSCyhd

Kuper, Simon. (23 November 2012). A question of identity. The Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/34783668-3370-11e2-aa83-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2DBjZWUTf

Monzó,  Quim. (23 November 2012). The Catalan language is still in danger, despite its resurgence. The Guardian.http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/23/catalan-language-in-danger

Readers’ Panel. (20 November 2012). Would Catalonia be better as an independent nation? The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/20/readers-panel-independent-catalonia-spain

RT Staff. (25 November 2012). Catalonia votes: President-elect to mull secession from Spain. RT. http://rt.com/news/catalonia-elects-new-parliament-485/