History of the Catalan Language: 1890-1975
History of the Catalan Language (1890-1975)
Catalan in the Early 20th Century
Brief Periods of Autonomy
Catalonia experienced two brief periods of political autonomy within Spain during the first third of the 20th century:
- Commonwealth (1914-1923): Governed by the Regionalist League, led by Enric Prat de la Riba.
- Second Spanish Republic and Civil War: Governed by Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, chaired by Francesc Macià and Lluís Companys.
These periods saw economic development and significant migration from other Catalan and Spanish-speaking areas, leading to social conflict and the consolidation of a new mass culture.
Standardization of the Language
The revival of Catalan literature highlighted the need for language standardization. Pompeu Fabra and his colleagues developed a modern standard, rooted in tradition, applicable to all Catalan-speaking territories.
- Progress (1890-1892) facilitated spelling reform.
- The Philological Section of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (1911) acted as a language academy.
- Key publications: Rules of Spelling (1913), Catalan Grammar (1918), and the General Dictionary of Catalan (1932).
Social Normalization of the Language
From the late 19th century until 1939, Catalan underwent a process of overcoming diglossia and expanding its social uses.
- Popular literature flourished.
- Catalan publications increased (e.g., La Veu de Catalunya).
- Catalan education was primarily present in Church schools.
Franco’s Linguistic and Cultural Repression (1939-1975)
The Franco regime aimed to systematically eliminate Catalan language and culture, replacing them with Spanish. This period can be divided into three phases:
- Post-War (1939-1959): Intense persecution of Catalan, marked by economic hardship and consolidation of the regime.
- Development Policy (1960-1969): Economic liberalization led to some openness, which the opposition and pro-Catalan groups utilized.
- Crisis of Dictatorship (1970-1975): The regime’s crisis coincided with democratization efforts in Spain and a resurgence of Catalan identity.
Significant immigration from other Spanish regions to Catalonia occurred during this period.
Linguistic and Cultural Resistance
Despite repression, much of the population remained loyal to Catalan, engaging in progressively tolerated or clandestine initiatives:
- Creation of Catalan publishing houses.
- Private institutions promoting Catalan language and culture.
- Publication of pro-Catalan journals.
- The Nova Cançó (New Song) movement emerged in the late 1950s.
- Establishment of Catalan schools by parents and teachers’ unions.
- Symbolic efforts to maintain Catalan presence in cultural spheres.
End of the Regime and Recognition of Catalan
Following Franco’s death, Spain transitioned to democracy. Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Valencia regained political autonomy. The Constitution and autonomy statutes established Catalan’s official status.
Normalization of Catalan
Catalan is the primary language of slightly over half the Catalan population, while Spanish is the other official language and widely understood. Normalization aims to restore Catalan’s rightful place in society, involving a shift from Spanish dominance while respecting individual language rights.
Legal Framework of Catalan
- Andorra: Catalan is the official language.
- Catalonia and Balearic Islands: Catalan and Spanish are co-official.
- Valencia: Catalan (Valencian) and Spanish are co-official.
- Franja de Ponent and L’Alguer: Protective legislation promotes Catalan.
- Northern Catalonia and El Carxe: No official recognition. Catalan instruction is tolerated but faces discrimination in France.
Catalan is recognized by the United Nations due to its official status in Andorra. Within the European Union, it is not an official language but is used by the EU in Catalonia.