What defines a language — the number of native speakers, the territory where it’s spoken, or its political power? This complex question raises multiple problems, especially in ethnically and linguistically diverse countries, where national identity and minority politics occasionally clash.
As the voices of ethnic and linguistic minorities have recently gained momentum in Spain, the Catalan case illustrates that the purpose of language often goes beyond communication, possessing the power to influence identity narratives in the context of politicisation. Besides acting as a strong cultural symbol and vehicle of a centuries-long literary tradition, Catalan has acquired a rather controversial status in contemporary Spanish society, being associated with political separatist ideals.
With over 9 million speakers worldwide, amongst which 6 million of them reside in the province of Catalonia, the Catalan language has as many speakers as Danish or Finnish, raising the question of whether it can officially be granted minority language status. Compared to other languages in Spain, Catalan is highly standardised — one of the main reasons why it has gained international success. In order to honour its special status, however, the Catalan authorities have introduced several measures to protect the language on a national level while also promoting it internationally.
Interestingly, the Catalan linguistic identity has always been challenged by external events. Roman and Visigoth cultural legacy, an autonomous feudal system, and heavy influence by the French, have all made an impact on the language, which emerged around the city of Barcelona.
The Spanish unification of 1469 marked a turning point in the evolution of Catalan language and culture. Queen Isabella I of Castile proclaimed Spanish as the primary language for administrative matters. As the French Bourbon dynasty came to power, the idea of “one nation, one language” began to take root within Spanish society. It was not until the 1879 Constitution that the recognition of Catalan was substantially solidified with legal status, however in 1939, it was banned again under Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. After the fall of Franco’s regime, the language once again regained legal status in 1983 with the establishment of the autonomous region of Catalonia and introduction of the Llei de normalitzacío lingüística.
The new legal framework sought to normalize and promote the use of Catalan both in everyday life and media. Despite that, however, the overall status of the Catalan language still remains unclear. Since education has the potential to consolidate power dynamics within a state, Catalan became the primary language of instruction in schools. While this policy has ensured that students acquire the language, many teachers report challenges in encouraging younger students to use Catalan in everyday conversation, as Spanish remains their preferred option. This has also gradually deepened a sense of alienation, with Catalan being regarded as “the language of school” or “the language of grandparents”.
ALMOST A UNIVERSAL FACT, IDENTITY FEEDS INTO POLITICS.
The rise of social media platforms further proves that several Spanish expressions have already made their way into the Catalan language, which tends to be oftentimes considered rather antiquated. Nevertheless, there is also a brighter perspective for Catalan enthusiasts: a rising number of young Catalans are more than willing to use new media as an opportunity to popularise their language and culture. This, however, has encountered a wave of criticism, surprisingly also within the conservative Catalan nucleus that views the purity of their language as partially tinted by a casual “bueno”. Another potential reason for this internal friction is represented by migration, which created a power imbalance among the communities of Catalonia. While Catalans adapted themselves to the lengua común (common language), Spanish-speaking immigrants are usually only passive speakers of Catalan, worsening internal tensions.
Almost a universal fact, identity feeds into politics. Therefore, education plays a significant role in shaping electoral patterns. This is not just about the level of education, but also the way (in this case, the language) in which subjects are taught. The shared identity nurtured by Catalan has empowered the independence movement, propelled by a common desire to preserve ethnic identity and culture. Although the Catalan legislation, also known as Llei de normalització lingüística, advocates for bilingualism, statistics highlight that those experiencing greater exposure to Catalan are more likely to identify themselves as Catalan rather than Spanish. Adding to this sentiment is the perception that taxes paid to the Central Government in Madrid are considerably higher than the amount of return, reinforcing regional separatism. On the international level, the European Union (EU) does not recognise minority languages such as Catalan, Galician, or Basque as official languages. While citizens can use these languages to write petitions to European institutions, Catalan is still not close to attaining official status. This is not only because of the territorial question in Spain, but also due to economic costs.
Proclaiming another official EU language would require approximately €1 billion per year for translation services, equating to €2 extra per EU citizen. Therefore, the inclusion of Catalan would need a unanimous vote from all 27 member states, some of which remain hesitant due to concerns about their own linguistic minorities.
The pro-Catalan movement has also faced its share of criticism. Just like Spanish governments strived for linguistic unification, some might argue that the pro-Catalan movement pursues the very same thing under the guise of ‘safeguarding’ the language. Interestingly, there is also the question of linguistic prevalence: Joan Maria Serra, author of the book L’ús parlat del català: En un tombant decisiu notes that Catalan is increasingly seen as the language of the “independentistes” (independence supporters). Moreover, he challenges the figure of 10 million speakers, distinguishing between actual and potential speakers. 94% of the population in Catalonia understands the language, while 81% can actually speak it. However, only 32% start a conversation in Catalan and 36% use it as their day-to-day language.
In the end, why does it matter so much? Or does it even matter at all? Ultimately, what we consider important is determined by what we choose to value. While most people can live their lives perfectly content without ever knowing of the existence of Catalan, the question remains: who exactly decides what is significant and on what basis? In fact, it is precisely this “basis” that has the greatest impact. If a decision was made based solely on the number of speakers, it would imply the exclusion of other languages for not having “enough speakers”. Including Catalan in the European Parliament would surely elevate the language’s prestige and enhance its visibility, especially online, naturally paving the way for greater political influence. Furthermore, the Catalan case itself already has political influence that exceeds territorial borders, with Spain being reluctant to recognise Kosovo precisely for that reason.
Nevertheless, putting politics aside, it’s important to remember that Catalan is a language that holds a special place in the hearts of its speakers. This emotional connection is precisely the main reason why Catalonia managed to endure decades of repression, making it a crucial element in understanding the impact of regional disparities, as well as its impact across borders.
