Espagne / Euskadi – Payis baske / Pays basque

Mercator Research, 126, 2011

Remarkable increase in number of Basque speakers, new survey data reveal

There have never been so many bilingualspeakers in the Basque country. This is one of the key findings of the latest 6th Sociolinguistic Survey published recently by the Government of the Basque country. According to the latest figures presented (2016), 33,9% of the population in the Basque Country over 16 years of age claim to be Basque speakers (631,000 people). “These are remarkable figures if we consider that today, there are 212,000 more fluent speakers of Basque than in 1991” – stated Patxi Baztarrika, Vice-minister for Language Policy at the Basque Country and Chair of NPLD, referring to the data presented.

One of the most interesting changes is the increased number of young speakers. Back in 1991, only 25% of speakers between 16 and 24 years of age claimed to be Basque speakers. Today, that figure has skyrocketed to 71,4%. “There is no doubt that we see these figures with enthusiasm. This is a merit of the Basque society as a whole” – stated Baztarrika – “but we must continue working at least as good as we have done so far”.

Baztarrika presented these figures along with Mr. Mikel Arregi, Director of Euskarabidea, the Institute for the Basque language in Navarre, and Mr. Mathieu Bergé, President of the Public Office for the Basque Language in Iparralde (the French Basque territory). The full survey will be published in 2017.

Source: NPLD

France / Breizh – Bretagne

Mercator Network Newsletter 76

New media portal in Breton language launched

France Télévisions has recently launched the Breton-language website France 3 Bretagne, a site dedicated to programs in Breton and news of that Celtic country. The aim of the website is not only to provide information through the medium of Breton, but also to help Breton speakers to improve their knowledge of the language. That is why the site offers Breton lessons (in partnership with Edubreizh) and contains a small interactive atlas of the language.

Irlande – Eire

Dublin: Thousands call for their right to use Irish on equal footing with English

On Saturday 16 February, thousands of protesters marched in the Irish capital of Dublin calling governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to fulfil citizens’ rights to use the Irish language.

The demonstration, called by the Conradh na Gaeilge organization, is the first major event after last December’s resignation of Commissioner for the Irish language, Seán Ó Cuirreáin. Ó Curreáin left office saying that Irish is increasingly marginalized, especially “within much of the public sector.”

Protesters issued a list of demands, including the issue of state services, which they want to “be made available in Irish to the Irish-speaking community at the same standard as they are provided in English”. As the crowd marched they chanted, “tir gan teanga tir gan anam” (a country without language is a country without soul).