Catalan Language: History, Regulation, and Current Status
Linguistic Regulation
The ortografia (orthography) of the Catalan language is regulated by the Normes Ortogràfiques (Orthographic Norms).
Normalization
Normalization refers to the consistent use of the Catalan language in all fields.
Renaissance
The Catalan Renaissance was a cultural movement that began in 1833 with the publication of L’Oda a la Pàtria (Ode to the Fatherland) by Bonaventura Carles Aribau. This movement was influenced by European Romanticism and led to a rediscovery of the Catalan language and culture.
One of the goals of the Renaissance was to establish Catalan as a literary language. In the 1880s, poets such as Jacint Verdaguer and novelists such as Narcís Oller emerged, contributing to the success of the movement.
Frankisme
The military rebellion of 1936 led to the Spanish Civil War, which ended with the victory of Francisco Franco in 1939. Franco’s regime suppressed the Catalan language and culture, forcing many Catalan writers into exile.
Despite the repression, Catalan continued to be used in hidden ways, such as in folk songs and informal contexts.
Current Status of the Catalan Language
After the death of Franco in 1975, the Catalan language was restored as an official language in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands.
In recent years, Catalan has gained increased presence in education, public life, and the media.
However, challenges remain, including the continued use of Spanish in some social contexts and the influence of non-Catalan-speaking immigrants.