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I'm Alina Moser and I'm from Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Three years ago I met a Catalan and I decided to learn his language.
Let's see, now in Catalan, I think I understand and speak it quite well
or that's what my friends say. Three months ago I moved to Catalonia.
I'm very interested in the language and the culture of this small country in southern Europe
and for 2 weeks I'll visit some places where Catalan is spoken.
I'm here to practice Catalan and by the way, no, I can't speak Spanish! People don't believe it
But, why? To live in Catalonia, isn't it enough to speak Catalan?
"Are these Catalans crazy!?"
I learnt that this language comes directly from Latin
whose origin is in the north, probably in the regions of Girona and Roussillon.
That's why I'll start here to learn about Catalan.
The first written documents in Catalan can be traced back more than 1000 years
There are many European languages that have way more speakers than Catalan
but some of them only started to have written documents a 100 years ago.
It is not yet clear to me how many people speak Catalan, but I think
it's between 8 and 10 million of people. I'm not sure but I think
it's the 9th most spoken language of Europe and that's a lot! By the way
German is the first one!
Maybe the inhabitants of Girona will solve my doubts.
- May I ask you a question? - Go ahead.
- How many official languages does Catalonia have? - How many? Two.
- Two, which ones? - Catalan and Spanish, right?
- Official languages? Two or three...
- Official languages? Catalan and Spanish.
- Catalan, right? - Old Catalan and modern Catalan.
- It's a question we ask to... - I don't know, I can't tell.
-Catalan, Valencian, the Catalan from Balearic Islands and Ripollès up north...
I'd say 4 or 5, I'm not quite sure.
-I think I know only Catalan, Spanish...
Moors' language and so on, African, Rumanian...
Everybody is sure that, at least, there are 2 official languages:
Catalan and Spanish. But I didn't quite understand if English is official.
And the Moors' language? And Catalan, Valencian and Ripollès are different languages?
I'd better use official sources: Wikipedia
Well, it seems that in Catalonia there are 3 official languages:
Catalan, Spanish and Occitan, called Aranès in Val d'Aran
Besides, the Statute of Catalonia recognises the Catalan Sign Language.
Today I'm starting my journey in Girona, but I will also visit
the rest of Catalonia, the Roussillon, the Franja and Andorra. I should
do some shopping. How do you say that in Catalan? «Carretera i manta», right?
I will enter a chemist's shop and buy the essentials for the journey.
- I'll be travelling for some days and I'll need a complete first-aid kit.
- Round here or further away? - Across Catalonia.
- Look, here in the posology... - But, isn't it available in Catalan?
- No, everything is in Spanish. - But, I can't understand Spanish
I can't read it either... - I'll write it down for you but...
- And is it like that for all drugs? - Almost for all drugs.
- But, why? - I guess it's an economic problem.
Drugs are distributed to all Spain and aren't available in Catalan, Basque, Galician, etc.
- But, Catalan is an official language, like Spanish, isn't it? - Yes, but unfortunately information pamphlets are only in Spanish.
First problems. Because I can't speak Spanish the chemist translated everything for me.
I hope I can remember everything. But can't I live here only in Catalan?
I have 2 weeks ahead of traveling. I have to fill my van's pantry.
Two to one, Spanish wins...
I mean, Catalan 0 - Spanish 2! This match is quite unbalanced.
In the supermarket I find that most products are labelled in Spanish
Desn't Catalonia have 3 official languages?
So, neither Catalan, nor Aranès. Only Spanish.
I understand neither the labels, nor how Catalans know what they buy.
In Germany I address the Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit
to solve the consumption problems. Here there is the Agència Catalana del Consum.
They said that the director will meet me. Yes, the boss! He'll explain everything well.
- Hi, good morning. - Hi, how are you?
-Fine and you? -Fine, too.
-May I ask you some questions? - I am at your disposal, whatever you need.
-Why is it so hard to find products labelled in Catalan?
-With the food industry we have a problem. On the one hand we are aware that
the language is our identity, the base of our culture but
on the other hand, there is a regulation of the European Union regarding food that
says that European products have to be labelled in the language that
a member state chooses as long as this language is
one of the European Union but unfortunately Catalonia is
neither a member, nor its language is official.
-You say that the law of the EU... -It's over.
-It's over ours. -Yes, it is.
-But this doesn't prevent local people or companies from
choosing to label in Catalan.
- Catalan can always be included. This is a matter of will and of the conviction that Catalan isn't
just one more language, but an added value
for the product.
-And what about the rest of products? Because we have been talking
mainly about food, but there are drugs, manuals..., right?
-The government of the Generalitat and the Agència Catalana del Consum
could, tomorrow, force all companies that sell products in
Catalonia to label in Catalan. What can this cause? This can cause
a great shortage problem, even for the consumers, and why?
Because this process is long and, therefore, what we are doing
is working with sectors where we have signed agreements
to create an appropriate way for them to introduce Catalan
in their processes as the industrial process,
I mean, the manufacturing process, allows it.
Mr Conesa explains me that the Consumption Law of Catalonia
forces to label in Catalan. However, almost 3 years after the law
only 6% of products sold at the supermarkets obey the labeling law.
On the contrary, in 2009 the Agència Catalana del Consum fined 94 companies
for not labeling in Spanish. Since 2010, they haven't fined any company
for not labeling in Catalan.
-What's true is that we've imposed some sanctions in products
that arrived labelled in other languages different from
Catalan and Spanish, if they were food products we imposed
a sanction for not being labelled in Spanish according to
the European regulation. Regarding products
that arrived to Catalonia without being labelled
in Catalan or Spanish that are not food products, I don't know
if there were products like this because either they
were relabelled or, if they couldn't be, we started the pertinent proceedings.
-Thank you very much... -You're welcome, I hope it helps you.
-This way.
-Thanks. -Bye.
Mr Conesa told me that if I keep trying, I will certainly find
a supermarket with products in Catalan And yes, I have finally found one.
-Don't people ask for Catalan labelling? -Very few, very few
because we are used to receive the information in Spanish. What we do find
is that some people that claim to have some difficulties with Catalan
so Spanish would be also good for them -Why do you label in Catalan?
-Because for us it was normal, the place where we lived, the origin
of Bonpreu uses Catalan and it was the most normal thing.
As we have grown we've realized that many people accept it better
than if there were two languages in the product or only Spanish.
-Do you think labeling always in both languages would be accepted?
How would the rest of Spain react? -It's possible they accept it.
Many products are labelled like that and there's no problem. What happens is
that some manufacturers because of the fear and prudence don't do it.
If it's in Spanish and Portuguese it doesn't matter, if it's in Spanish
and English it doesn't matter, but if it's in Spanish and Catalan this
creates some conflicts. It makes no sense but not everyone likes that.
-Why? I don't understand. -Because of historical reasons that
have created a series of antagonism towards some languages and, therefore
these stigma weigh and as companies don't want to bother anyone and
as Catalans don't get upset, as we never got upset because
they label in Spanish and as we have already accepted it, so they do it.
The day in Girona is over. Today I have learnt that here there are
3 official languages and that in spite of the law that forces to label in
Catalan, what's important is good will. I do have good will! Good night!
Second day of my tour! I leave Girona and as I'm in the north of Catalonia
I will cross the border because on the other side of the Pyrenees
there's a part of Catalonia under French administration
where Catalan is spoken.
The territory belongs to France since the Treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659.
Nowadays the only official language is French.
Until the 1950s here Catalan was spoken on the streets.
As a survey says, here Catalan is the first language of the 6% of the population
4% of them use it as usual language, a 37% speak it
and a 65% assure to understand it.
Streets names are in French and Catalan and I find signs of Catalan identity
but I haven't heard Catalan or Rosellonès as they call it here.
Maybe they change the language as they see me. I'll try another strategy.
-Do you speak a little Catalan?
-We understand it very little.
-Maybe you can tell what this is? The word for this in Catalan?
-"La maison", yes.
-In Catalan? Maybe something else?
-"La casa", right? -"la casa" is in Spanish.
-"la casa","la casa"
-You don't speak Catalan, not even a little? How do you say this in Catalan?
-How is it in Catalan? -I don't know.
-Could you say what's this? -A house, a door.
The window. -Yes, the window, exactly.
-There are things I do know. -And this one?
-It would be a *** or a hen, right? -Yes, yes, a *** or a hen.
-Do you speak Catalan or Rosellonès?
-No. I can't speak Catalan.
-I read it, I understand it, but I don't speak it.
-How are you? I'm fine.
That's all.
-But, you know to say, for example, what this is?
No? Nothing? It doesn't matter, bye.
Some words and idioms. Is this all the Catalan spoken in Perpignan?
I have to find someone to talk with.
-Hi, I'm German and I'm looking for someone who can speak Catalan with me
Whoever speaks Catalan, come here, please. Is there anybody who
speaks Catalan? Is Catalan dead here? Is there anybody who speaks Catalan?
Come here please, everything is ok. I'm not from here and
I want to practice my Catalan. Is there someone who can speak
Catalan with me, please? No Catalan speakers here? I was told
that here Catalan was also spoken and not only French, is that true?
Do you understand Catalan?
-I understand Catalan, but I can't speak it. I don't speak Catalan.
-Do you understand me in Catalan?
-You do understand me in Catalan.
-Good morning! -Good morning, yes!
-What's going on, did they send you here?
-No, I'm german. I came here to look for people that speak Catalan.
-They sent you and Catalan isn't spoken. -I speak Spanish.
-I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish.
-Spanish is more spoken than Catalan.
-Catalan is spoken here?
-Yes but it's a Catalan that...
-Well, thanks. I'll keep looking for.
I just spoke Catalan with some people but they told me who can help me.
-I'm at Ràdio Arrels, right? -Exactly.
-Well, I came here to know a little, well, what you do here.
-We are an associative radio from the Arrels association that has
a school and since 1981 we started to do broadcastings in Catalan, at
first in a clandestine way in private homes and later it got bigger
until now that we have this studio.
-It was really difficult for me to arrive here, because I
was asking people in Catalan and nobody could say me how to arrive.
-Many people speak Catalan, but they say no because the complex
they have of speaking Rossellonès and not the real Catalan that they
listen in the media from Catalonia.
-They are ashamed because of not having the same accent.
-Here we find every day people we want to interview and who say they
don't speak the real Catalan and they explain it to you in Catalan.
-How do you see the situation of Catalan language in Perpignan?
-Here the language is less protected, people cares less about it that's
for example, Ràdio Arrels comes from an association and a lot of
iniciatives come from associative world, we have to work like that.
Rafel explain me that after the arriving of the High-speed rail
from Barcelona, it seems that Perpignan business and administrations
use a little more Catalan and that companies look towards to the south.
I came to find answers and they want to interview me because of my trip.
-Alina Moser, good morning! -Good morning!
Mum! I'm on the radio!
-I ask how this thing of Catalan is and I came expressly to Perpignan...
People from Ràdio Arrels were very kind and said where I can find
more Catalan speakers: the district of Sant Jaume, the gypsy district.
-The best Catalan is the one we speak. -Ok.
-Because I travelled to Catalonia and to Barcelona and it's another Catalan
it's not the same. -And it's...
-Our Catalan is clearer.
-Where does this Catalan come from? Have you always talked in Catalan?
-We've always talked in Catalan, well, that the old people...
-Yes. -This comes from 200 years ago.
-So time ago? -Yes, yes, yes.
-My children speak Catalan and my grandchildren speak Catalan too.
-All right -And the same Catalan.
-The same that was spoken before. -A tradition I don't know if will last.
As they said me in Ràdio Arrels, I've insisted with the people and
I found someone to speak with. The books I studied were right
but I don't remember that they said anything about the gypsies or maybe
they were advanced and knew that the TGV would be a boost for Catalan.
Time will tell.
I didn't know that to follow the clue of Catalan I had to travel so much.
I decided to visit a country where Catalan is the only official language
Andorra. I'm sure here I'll have no problems to practise Catalan.
It's impressive that only 80,000 people, like one district of Frankfurt
have a country for themselves. Many German people know Andorra
but don't know Catalan is spoken.
How is living in a country where only Catalan is spoken? Because, it's
the only valid language, right?
The placards are in Catalan, but I hear other languages different
from Catalan! Spanish maybe? Aranès? Portuguese? Russian?
I'll do some shopping to investigate. By the way, I will use a small camera
that a friend lent me.
-Hi, I want to buy a camera. Well, to look a little what you have here.
-And the difference?
-Two hundred ninenty nine or three hundred ten.
The price: two hundred ninenty nine or three hundred ten euros.
-I don't understand Spanish, I'm from Germany, sorry, I just speak
Spanish. Could you speak a little Catalan?
-No, but I explain you: 299... It's Nikon, warranty for 5 years
with objective Dix-Huit-Cinquante- Cinc and photo. This one the warranty
5 years and the other one 3 years.
-Hi, I look for a Reflex camera and I don't know a lot about cameras...
-The camera 1,100 costs 335.
-Any model or brand?
-Can you speak Catalan or maybe German?
-Are the instructions in Catalan?
-No, in Spanish. They don't have them in Catalan. Neither in
one brand, nor in the other.
-I'm not from here, I'm from Germany, I don't speak Spanish.
-They are in German.
-Perfect!
Let's try to understand: in Andorra Catalan is the only official language
but many shopkeepers addressed to me in Spanish and it seems that
some of them didn't have either Catalan or Spanish as first language.
Like always I have to talk with someone who explains me everything.
-What language is more spoken?
-Here we've detected after the last study we did that, for example
in small business with the time the use of Catalan and the customer
in the last study we did in 2009 that in the department stores
the use of Catalan and customer service in Catalan have decreased
compared with other studies we did in previous years. You've the right
of being served in Catalan, but this doesn't mean you have the warranty.
When you go to a shop, in the moment that a person serves you, maybe
you can't talk in Catalan. Depending on the sector, you can find
these situations, but it's obvious you have the right of being served
in Catalan and the companies have this duty. The businessman have
to look for some worker that serves you in Catalan because you have
the right. We have to bear in mind that Spanish is a language that
in the family context, in our state, is over the official language, with
regard of the use, I mean, in homes Spanish is more spoken because of
the origins of people living here.
Joan talk me about the language indicator, used to know the languages
that people from Andorra speak and Catalan indicator is a 2.9 over 5.
He says that there are 3 education systems: the one from Andorra with
the most students; the Spanish one, and the French one and explains that
thanks to Andorra, Catalan is official in some international institutions.
In Andorra the Law of Language Use Planning of 2000 establishes the duty
of label in Catalan, but the government of Andorra came to an agreement
with the tobacco manufacturer from Andorra to exempt them from obeying
the law. Tobacco is one of the few products made here
and one of the few sectors that could have obeyed this law.
Today I come back to Catalonia that, unlike Andorra, hasn't its own state.
But, before I'll go to the Franja, some regions that belong to Aragon.
There Catalan is also spoken altought it's not an official language.
This doesn't seem Fraga. I'm in Guissona and that's Catalonia.
With this fog it's hard to get my bearing!
I don't get my bearing either with the data from the Generalitat that say
that most of the Catalans change to Spanish when talking with Spanish
speakers. Almost all speak Spanish with their foreign friends and talk
in Spanish with people from the rest of the Spanish state. Even then,
most people from Catalonia understand Catalan, then, why do they
change of language so much?
-How do you speak with people newly arrive? Usually in...
-In Spanish. -Because they don't speak Catalan.
-Because they don't understand it.
-Is it more in Catalan or...?
-With them it's mostly in Spanish because if not they don't understand.
-First of all I ask if they speak Catalan because it's easier
and if they say yes I speak Catalan and if not then I have to change.
-I speak Spanish all my life.
-And it's your mother tongue, but what about you?
-Me in Catalan. -You address them in Catalan.
-Well, if they don't understand me in Spanish but if not...
If I think they are enough time here I speak in Catalan because I guess
that they have already mixed with somebody, but if I see they are
pretty clueless then it's normally because there in their countries
and here, they are said here we speak Spanish.
-Ok, thanks. -You're welcome.
So if I look like a foreigner, it will be harder for me to practise.
Sometimes I don't understand these Catalans But now on my way to Fraga
and the fog have scattered.
In the Franja, almost 9 from 10 persons speak Catalan.
I don't understand that here or in Perpignan, there are places where
Catalan isn't official. Let's see if someone explains me this mess.
-The situation of Fraga language is complicated because of us.
But people from Fraga is really... People from Fraga, you know?
-Is it still spoken a lot? -Yes, it is.
Well, there are a lot of people that aren't from Fraga, but I think
it is spoken,. It is sopoken and recently willingly.
-And I have heard that in the school is not taught a lot.
-Yes, my grandchild studies Catalan.
-But the school is in Spanish. -Of course.
-The rest in Spanish. -We're in Aragon.
As it should be.
-I don't understand Spanish, but...
-So you have to, especially if you interview people. Badly done!
-It's our dialect, it's the dialect of Fraga, there's no other.
I feel really from Aragon, from Aragon 100%, but I speak
Fraga language.
-Fraga Language is ours and Catalan is another Language, like Valencian
something similar to Valencian.
-Do you think young people learn it, more or less than before?
-Less. They use words in Catalan and Spanish that aren't Fraga language.
-The most famous ones, those that Catalans find so funny are:
"segallosa" that it's fog and "niebla" in Spanish;
"mullarero", "melócotón" and peach;
and that's all, well, "plloure", well "llet", "leche"...
And that's all. -Ok.
What a mess! How can it be that all these people I understood say me
they don't speak Catalan? Maybe I can write in my CV I know other languages.
As I didn't know what I would find in Fraga, I'll meet with a person
that can solve my doubts. He's member of the Institut del Baix
Inca that promotes the cultural heritage from this territory.
-Why do they say that Fraga language and Catalan are not the same?
-Maybe there is not the humility that one acquire when studying.
The ignorance is really daring, that, some people. Other people
have knowledges but as they are anticatalans they look for
the confrontation and finally there are other people that listen
to what other people say but later you speak with them and you talk
about the Spanish from Andalusia and so on... I mean the most
important thing is what science say and here there's no doubts.
-Do you understand me? -Of course!
-So I do and I mean that's because we work the same registers.
It is normal, of course, to have slight variations.
-How do you see the current state of the Catalan here in Fraga?
-I see that people is a little confused, because maybe today
there are a sector that use it more, but it's not transmitted
to children, you know? The Children... I think...
I think the worst problem we can reach is not
the educational issue. Not the educational issue but
the social use and the social use is failing a little.
-All right. -See you, bye.
With Guissona and Fraga the day has flown. Now it's really time
to come back to Catalonia to keep traveling. Next station: Lleida.
Since 4 days I travel from place to place and I think I deserve
a relaxing moment. I have an idea, I will go to the cinema to enjoy
a film and to get back the forces. Let's see, which films are there?
Which films do you have in Catalan, at the moment.
-I think there's any in this program, from today.
Maybe in Alpicat, but not.
Sometimes we have but today the films aren't in Catalan, neither in Alpicat.
-And isn't the films subtitled?
-No, because they are dubbed.
-Aren't there films in Catalan in Lleida? Because I looked and...
-Sometimes there are, but not now.
-Sorry? -Today there're any.
-Well, I don't understand you but I guess there's any.
-Why are there so few films in Catalans?
-Sometimes we have, sometimes not, it depends... There aren't for some time
and there are very few dubbed films.
-But Catalan is spoken a lot...
-Until Thursday I'm sure not, from Friday I don't know.
-And why? -This week we don't have any.
-Is it always like that? I'm from Germany and I only speak Catalan.
-Yes, not always there are a film.
-And aren't there any film in Spanish with Catalan subtitles?
-There's one in English. -Ok.
19 films are shown and any of them is in Catalan! I can't believe it!
The Law of Cinema of 2010 say that the 50% of the films shown here
has to be dubbed or subtitled in Catalan, but they are less than 3%.
I'll stay in the van. Good night!
I woke up a little nervous. Today I'll meet what was my Catalan teacher
these three years I've learnt it from Frankfurt. I followed it
by Internet and I liked it a lot. Now I'll meet it personally. TV3!
Televisió de Catalunya is the Catalan public television and since 30 years
has played an important role in the Catalan standardization. If TV3
didn't exist the Catalan knowledge would be very different. As I talked
with people with so different Catalan, I want to know what TV3 does.
-Good morning. -Hi.
-How are you? -Fine, I'm Alina.
-I'm Eugeni Sallent, director of TV3. -Could I ask you some questions?
-Yes, we can go there.
-Ok. -Let's go.
-It would be good tho show more dialectal variations in TV3?
-Well I think that there isn't a statement in this sense so
we are very respectful with all dialectal variation, I mean
with the Catalan of Northern Catalonia, Balearic Islands or Valencian Country
so usually if we have correspondents in these areas
that participate in programs or in information, logically
they speak in their Catalan, in the dialectal variation they have.
But it's true that the influence of Barcelona and the fact that
the central studios are here and the news and sport areas are here
force to use the central Catalan or this one with influence of Barcelona.
-I have a problem and it's that I don't speak Spanish
why TV3 don't subtitle or dub into Spanish?
-Because we have not detected this as a need and perhaps your case is
a bit especial, because all Catalan speakers understand Spanish and
Spanish speakers living in Catalonia, almost all, understand
Catalan, as in any case we keep the original version
this is not a problem and it has never been a problem.
-Why TV3 shows adverts in Spanish if it could, in theory, choose that
these were only in Catalan?
-Although we recommend that the advertiser dub and produce
the adverts in Catalan, we don't obstruct or put
any barrier of the fact that the adverts come directly in Spanish
and therefoere the advertiser ends up being who decide because it's him
who, by our media, address his futur or possible clients
and, therefore, in this sense there are campaigns that come
in Spanish and others that come in Catalan. More or less about
between the 8% and the 9% of the adverts we show are in Spanish.
-By the way, in German television it's spoken a very correct German
almost always, even in fiction series and I realised that, sometimes
not always, in TV3, in TV3 series... It's used Spanish words
or things that are not correct, very standard Catalan. Why?
Why is this happening?
-This mustn't happen, you know? This mustn't happen because we have
to care the language, isn't it? One thing is to speak an academic
Catalan version, very correct, and the other is to come closer
to a more popular Catalan, but also correct. Then, I think
we have to find this equilibrium, you know? Especially in
fiction and series that intend to come closer to people's reality.
In other aspects like the more informative or editorial part
we have to try to be very, very, very precise and very delicate with
the formal or official version, but the idea is that always, whatever
we do, fiction or information, we speak a correct Catalan.
-Thank you very much. -You're welcome.
TV3, mine, and it will be always mine.
As I see, in Catalonia Catalan is spoken, but there aren't drugs
in this language, shops sell food labelled only in Spanish, there's
no film I can understand and now the director of TV3 say that here
everyone uses Spanish and Catalan equally. I'll investigate more.
-Do you speak Catalan?
-I speak Catalan because when I was young I was taught Spanish
Spanish and also a little Catalan, but Catalan... My parents came from
abroad and as I was here so I just understood a little, like now,
I understand it, but I can't speak it, I would like to speak it but...
-Usually I speak Spanish with all my family, with my sister...
At my sister's place, her husband is a farmer and speaks Catalan
he always spoke Catalan and, there everyone speaks always Catalan.
-At my place we normally speak Spanish and before in my school
we learnt Spanish, in those times...
-You don't speak Catalan and, how many years do you live here?
-40 years.
-Really? And have you never needed Catalan?
-No, I haven't.
-We understand it but we feel embarrassed to speak in Catalan.
As we can't speak it, stuttering it makes me not to feel good.
I could say some words but... -We're here 40 years.
-My children are Catalan.
-I was in Germany and I learnt more German than Catalan here.
There I had more the need of learning because here I Speak Spanish.
-Do you need Catalan to live here?
-I think so, it's a nice and pleasant language, isn't it? And
learning several languages is good.
-Don't you need Catalan daily?
-No, because my daughters speak it and when I need it, I go with them.
I didn't understand some things they said because they talked in Spanish
but I understood that not all the people living here speak Catalan.
Maybe I should have learnt Spanish.
The key have to be in education. People will speak the language
they learnt as children, so I want to visit a high school in Barcelona.
A friend of mine studied in a high school of Nou Barris, a working
class district where people from outside Catalonia live.
-All the schools of Catalonia have the vehicular education in Catalan?
-Yes, of course. -Are there schools that mustn't?
-No, in principle all the schools obey the law of the Parliament
of Catalonia and almost all have adopted Catalan as language.
-Ok. -There will be some exceptions like
the French or German institute, but all the centres have to obey the law.
-Most of the classes are in Catalan, but how do the students speak?
-Students speak Spanish. -Really?
-Yes, even those coming from further that have not Spanish
as their first language, there is a spontaneous Spanish learning
because it's the language with more power between the students
and the school role is like a counterweight because if we let
the students to follow the stream, even those who speak Urdu or those
who speak Armenian, they just would speak Spanish at the end.
In this district, maybe in another district this is not like this
because near from here, in 150 m it can be very different, but here
they would speak Spanish, so Catalan in the school is like a counterweight
so they to speak both languages.
-To standardize Catalan is there enough with the school?
-The school plays an important role because a language has to be learnt
and guaranteed in some places if we want people use it. That's why
in Catalonia we voted 30 years ago, so people could learn Catalan.
The difference betwen this generation and former generations is that
before it wasn't learnt and now we offer a security that allows children
to learn both languages equally.
Jordi and Sònia also say that the Catalan model of linguistic
immersion is supported by the European Community and have global prestige.
but its continuity depends on politicians. It isn't that dangerous!?
It's funny the linguistic immersion. In Frankfurt or Madrid do they also
do it or do they teach the language of their territory? This is
a linguistic conjunction system applied in Catalonia and the sovereign states
what perhaps bothers someone.
-You are Matthew, aren't you? -Yes.
-Can I take a seat? -Yes, of course.
-Do you think you can live in Catalonia without knowing Spanish?
-I used Catalan here for 28 years with everybody, with everybody,
and the only times I don't use it expressaly is when I try to get
my identity card, because there, you know, they look at you
in a bad... In a bad way if you speak Catalan, and some times that I had
to treat with the National Police, I also translated then, I took
the effort of speaking Spanish, but apart from that I had no problems
but with a taxi driver of Tarragona that was nuts, saying he was
a "unionist" is not enough, he was from the extreme right of Mussolini
and didn't want to hear Catalan but apart from that I had no problems.
-When you entered a shop or you asked something in Catalan and they
answered you in Spanish, didn't you ask: are these Catalans crazy!?
-I thought that they were strange, you know? That they had a situation
here that is not very normal.
Matthew Tree, what a surprise! I liked a lot to find a person like
me that came to Catalonia speaking Catalan and without knowing Spanish.
He says that when he came many people thought Catalan was a dead language.
That was 30 years ago and now I couldn't say if it's alive or not...
The visit to Barcelona is almost over but I still have pending matters.
My German education taught me to be ready to face any situation.
-I would be interested to know, if I had a trial in which language
could it be done? Could I ask to do it in Catalan?
-You could ask it, according to our laws a Catalan citizen can
choose the Spanish speaker or plaintiff or the Catalan one.
-Me, as I from German, could I ask it too? I mean
because I'm not exactly a Catalan citizen.
-If you're from Germany, it would be easier for you to speak German
than Catalan, why? Because although in the law the linguistic right
is admitted in the Ciutat de la Justícia, almost the 90% is in Spanish
at least the written documents. Only the 13% of sentences are in Catalan
and only the 3% or 5% of writings that lawyers hand in are in Catalan.
-But, if I can choose the language in which the trial will be,
why the figures of trials in Spanish are so high?
-Most judges, public prossecutors and judicial law clerks come from
outside. They come here because of public vacancies and the judiciary...
Public competitions are centralized so you do the exam to work in
in any place of Spain so you can work in Galicia, Catalonia, etc.
and the language isn't a requirement, and when you arrive to Catalonia
the Statute of Autonomy of 2006 says that a law will say what level
of Catalan and Catalan right judges should have. This law doesn't exist
then all is in the air and the judges have to guarantee the Catalans and
Spanish's lingustic right, then everything collapses, I mean, they
have to guarantee the right, but no one knows which level they should have
and people come here with fear and as judges talk in Spanish so do they.
-But, is this fear justified? Can the sentence be influenced by
the language you choose?
-We are convinced the judge does justice over the evidences, not
over the language. The problem is that isn't the same that you always speak
Catalan as that you speak Spanish, because some people translate...
Better if I learn some words in Spanish in case I have a trial.
How would be it's my buttler fault?
Last day of travel. I visited several places where Catalan is spoken.
I was in Girona, Northern Catalonia, Andorra, la Franja, Lleida
and Barcelona. So I have to finish this adventure in Tarragona.
I'm thinking about staying longer here. It would be interesting to
register in any university course so in Tarragona I want to ask for
information. I have to make sure I will follow the classes in Catalan.
-I would like to know how is the use of Catalan in this uni.
-Well, I think it is pretty normal. For some time we have started
what would be a linguistic policy related to the Catalan language not
only in Catalan, because today the European universities have
to speak other languages, but Catalan was always prioritary.
What we do is trying, by our means, to guarantee the student's right
of receiving the class in Catalan.
-Is there a number or, simply, who decides the language of the class?
-The professor decides, because he is the one who teaches.
We started a concept that I think have a lot of sense and it's called
linguistic security and means that everyone has to be able to guarantee
his rights of expressing himself in the language he wants, there are
normal logics, right? If someone teaches an English class, it will be
in English, but in other subjects the professors decides the language.
What we do have to guarantee is that the student know in advance
the language of the class and that this language will not change
during the year. So when we publish the subjects for the academic year
it is specified the language of the class.
-How is the use of Catalan? -Well, majority.
-Around the 70% of subjects are in Catalan. There's also a difference
between the first university learning level: the degree
and the second level: master and PhD, where there's in the university
a higher incidence for the internationalisation and for
choosing classes in English.
-English, but not Spanish? -No, but here it's more distributed.
I've understood that professors are who decide the language of the class
and that they don't change it, but I want to prove it first-hand.
-Excuse me, I'm from... I'm from Germany, I come from Germany and
I don't understand Spanish, don't you do this class in Catalan?
-The class is in Spanish, if you have any problem I'll change but
I'll speak Catalan only with you. -Ok.
-Not exactly this one but I'ill show you several films, some films...
-Excuse me, I'm not from here and don't speak Spanish. Could we do
this class in Catalan?
-Don't you understand?
-I've learnt Catalan, but not Spanish, maybe... Maybe
there are other classes, another psychology class.
-There isn't another professor.
-All right, fine. I will go... I will ask someone.
Maybe I will do another… another class, right?
-As you want, if you want I can change to Catalan but if we have
to explain data I will change to Spanish again without meaning it.
-Ok, it doesn't matter.
-I'm sorry. -Don't worry.
They don't change from Spanish to Catalan. What about the other way?
This time I'll talk in Spanish with 4 words I've just learnt.
-And I will also show you what it would be the first practical activity
of this subject...
-Excuse me, could you do the class in Spanish? Because...
-I should have said it, the Spanish group is the one in the afternoon.
-Ah... -I teach in Spanish in the afternoon.
-Ah, perfect. -Do yo know the timetable?
-No. -From five to seven in the afternoon.
-Perfect, thank you.
So, before registering for any subject I'll check the language.
I found professors who could speak in Catalan and Spanish, but are there
any professor who can't Catalan? If there are, how do they choose freely
the language? Do they earn the same as those who can both languages?
And speaking about 2 languages, it's funny that, in this country where
most of the inhabitants can Catalan, there are so many books in Spanish.
The person in charge in the bookshop said me who can explain this fact.
-Hi. -Jordi Ferrer?
-That's me, how are you? -Fine, could I ask you something?
-Of course. -What's the percentage of books
sold in Catalan and in Spanish?
-In Catalonia the data we have are that from each 4 books sold
1 is in Catalan, then we are being defeated 4 to 1. Other data
say that the percentage is 5 to 1, but, in any case, we are
between 4 to 1 and 5 to 1, so we are being defeated in this sense.
This question has many explanations, one is that here in a year we edit
around 8,000 books in Catalan, and this in Spanish, the figure
we are talking about is between 50,000 and 60,000 books so
the pressure Spanish can apply on Catalan at the point of sale makes
that we have problems. On the other hand in Catalan there are
some topics that books are not edited about: gardening, computers...
This doesn't mean we should publish about everything but this creates
an imbalance, I mean in Catalonia 8000 titles are published in Catalan
and it's a normal number for a country with the inhabitants
we have and that would have its own state. The number is correct.
What's not normal is the competition we have in the point of sale over
another language that is a very important language in the world.
To choose the language of the book, the person should find the product
under the same conditions at the point of sale. It's true that
here independent or small bookstores treat the books in Catalan
as a priority but in the supermarkets or even in the big chains
the difference in the treatment is greater and it depends on oneself.
I, personally, prefer to read the original version of a book from
an autor that writes in Spanish but there are authors
whose work is really good after being translated into Catalan.
Jordi Ferrer say that there are more Catalan readers than ever but he
recommends positive discrimination policies to face the pressure that
Spanish apply. He said: "reading is the food of the mind, and like
the food, reading should be treated like a first necessity good".
This is almost over, I saw Catalans have an ambiguous relationship
with their language. I learnt that they worked a lot in recent years
to make live again this language oppressed for so much time, but they
don't realise that a great part of their life needs Spanish. Wherever
I was the message was: "learn Spanish, if you want to live here".
Even so, for me Catalan is important because it was useful for me to
communicate and do many things. In the XXI century the "useful" concept
extends to all the fields of life and not only to one, like it was
100 years ago. Otherwise, Catalan could lose some registers or don't
create a certain vocabulary in some sectors so people will see it
as a limited or not valid language and we'll lose it, then I still wonder:
"are these Catalans crazy!?".
Subtitles: Liz Castro