The Basque People of Spain and Their Language
Euskal Herria is The Basque Country, Euskara is the Basque Language
Oct 19, 2009
Euskara could be considered the foremost symbol of the Basque identity, an ancient language that has survived in the Western Pyrenees while the rest of the country and some nearby provinces, accepted Latin as the dominant language. This only happened over many centuries, of course, but the language has been steadily making a comeback and in pockets of other provinces too, the old languages of Catalán, Asturiano, Gallego, and Aragonés are once more being resurrected and spoken.
The Basque speaking area was once considerably larger than it is today, stretching to the Catalonian Pyrenees in the East, to Burgos and Soria in the South and to the Garona River in the North, and a written form of Basque was first noticed in the 16th century.
Why Euskara (Basque) was Sidelined
The Romance languages, Latin, French and Castilian Spanish, became official languages of the Courts and the Church throughout Europe but the Basque Euskara was sidelined due to its lack of similarity with these. The wars of the 16th century and the reconquest of most of Spain by Isabel and Ferdinand meant that the Pyrenees became a border, with Basques living on one side or the other, some becoming isolated and others assimilated.
As Euskara was excluded from official use, it soon lost ground as other languages were imposed on people through education and administration. During the 18th and 19th centuries this was particularly apparent in places where the dominant language was much in use, places like Navarre and Alava. Yet at one time Navarre had been the Basque territory with the highest percentage of Euskara speakers.
The Basque Language Has Made a Comeback
Now the language is spoken on both sides of the Pyrenees, on the southern side in the Navarran autonomous community and in the North in the regions of Aquitaine and Labourd and Soule. The spread is not even however, as only 12% of Navarrans speak Euskara but in the region of Baztan, Bortziriak and Malerreka, it is estimated that between 80% and 90% speak Basque.
From Nursery school, through primary and secondary, all subjects are taught in Euskara and pupils can continue to study in Basque until they reach 18 years of age. (Adults can learn in adult education classes if they wish). The language’s recognition as an official language in 1986 has been a factor in its popularity and the Basque TV station, newspaper and magazines available, are proof of this.
The Basques and Their Land
The Basque people are a proud and generous people. Travelling through the regions of Navarre, visitors will be impressed with the spirit and the friendliness of these Euskaldunak, their pride in their ancient culture and determination to keep it alive, and their fierce strength to resist encroaching domination by another language.
One of the most beautiful valleys, the Baztan, is made up of 15 villages, composed of 23,000 people. They are mostly farmers with ancillary businesses carried on in the towns of the region, Elizondo the capital, Santesteban, Bera and Lesaka.
They live in one of the most beautiful parts of Spain, in houses that are both solid and stately, dry stone walls dividing the emerald fields on which sheep and cows graze. Restaurants serve locally produced meat and vegetables, recipes have often been handed down through generations, and the wines, the cider and the fiery aniseed liqueur are truly exceptional.
The writer's knowledge was augmented by facts from the leaflet produced by Navarre Tourisme, "Bienvenidos! Aquí vivimos en Euskara".
An excellent guide to some of the areas can be found by clicking on here.
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