Knowledge of Basque

Knowledge of the Basque language keeps on increasing but usage at home has dropped.

The population regarded as proficient in the language has increased 14.5 with respect to 1981. 'Euskaldunak' (People considered Basque speakers) are now 749.182*, which means 318.000 more than in 1981. This means that 36.4% of the total Basque population speak Basque, while 44% of the Basque population older than 5 admits they don't know the language.

http://person2.sol.lu.se/ArthurHolme...kaldunak2.jpeg http://www.euskalkultura.com/noticia.../image_preview

But while the knowledge has increased during these years, the survey has detected a slight decrease in the average use at home or in personal relationships, going down from 21.8% to 20.8%.

71.1% of Basques admit using Spanish at home.

The survey also shows a decrease of the use of Basque at home among the so-called 'euskaldun zaharrak' (old/traditional speakers) while the 'euskaldun berriak' (new speakers) are those who use it more often nowadays at home.

According to the deputy minister for Language Policies of the Basque Government, the fact that 44% of Basques lack any knowledge about the language is a matter of concern. The main challenge, he said, will be to strengthen the use of Basque in the area of personal and family relations.

The section referring to the evolution of the language reveals that more and more young people have Basque, as well as Spanish, as their first native languages.

The 750.000 Basque speakers in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country are 57.8% native bilinguals and 42.2% new speakers.


* The figures for Basque speakers don't include the Basque speakers in Navarre and France (Northern Basque Country).

I wish it won't die out. Basque is an extremely interesting language. The only non IE language which managed to survive in Western Europe.

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Originally Posted by curupira

The only non IE language which managed to survive in Western Europe.

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In a very Latinized way, but yes, the only one. And for more than, at least, 2200 years.

^ A jewel! :)

A very interesting language. :p

It's really interesting. It's a shame that Basque is not used at home. Not only the learning of Basque should be encouraged, but also the speaking of it outside the classroom!! :D

Gora Euzkadi! :biggrin:

It's good to see that the number of Basque proficient population is increasing, it's a shame instead that at home 71% of them speak Spanish, do they study Basque at school and revert to Spanish at home?

The situation in Sardinia is the opposite, our language is not taught at school and is spoken a lot at home, in family, or with relatives, and people we know; while outside, in offices, or addressing to unknown or stranger people we usually speak Italian

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Originally Posted by Mens-Sarda

Gora Euzkadi! :biggrin:

It's good to see that the number of Basque proficient population is increasing, it's a shame instead that at home 71% of them speak Spanish, do they study Basque at school and revert to Spanish at home?

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In Catalonian schools the language of teaching is Catalan. But in the Basque country they have three types of school: those where the teaching language is Basque, called ikastolas; those which teach some subjects in Basque and others in Spanish; and those in which everything is in Spanish except for the Basque subject. The first type is the most attended, though, specially in Gipuzkoa. This is probably why there are so many 'Euskaldunberriak', new Basque speakers.

What surprised me the most is the decrease of it being used at home by old traditional speakers. I'm guessing here, but that might be due to an increase in marriages between traditional Basques and non-Basque-speaking people.

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Originally Posted by Mens-Sarda

The situation in Sardinia is the opposite, our language is not taught at school and is spoken a lot at home, in family, or with relatives, and people we know; while outside, in offices, or addressing to unknown or stranger people we usually speak Italian

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But isn't Sardinian official since some years ago?

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Originally Posted by Comte Arnau

In Catalonian schools the language of teaching is Catalan. But in the Basque country they have three types of school: those where the teaching language is Basque, called ikastolas; those which teach some subjects in Basque and others in Spanish; and those in which everything is in Spanish except for the Basque subject. The first type is the most attended, though, specially in Gipuzkoa. This is probably why there are so many 'Euskaldunberriak', new Basque speakers.

What surprised me the most is the decrease of it being used at home by old traditional speakers. I'm guessing here, but that might be due to an increase in marriages between traditional Basques and non-Basque-speaking people.



But isn't Sardinian official since some years ago?

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yes, it's "virtually" official, the documents of Regional Government are also written in a fake Sardinian, an hybrid of Logudorese and Campidanese languages , which is disliked by both Logudorese and Campidanese speakers , but is not taught at school, except maybe 4 or 5 schools, this is mainly due to the lack of organization in the school system, bureaucracy, lack of funds and so on :picard1: