| Hablas Espanol? Well, in Spain the predominant | | | | that Valencian is a language in its own right. |
| language spoken is Castillian or Espanol, however | | | | However, Catalan is considered a Romance |
| there are several other languages spoken which | | | | Language. Euskara Batua (unified Basque) Euskara |
| are now are officially recognised by the Spanish | | | | is mainly a rural language and is widely spoken |
| government. | | | | throughout the Basque region of Northern Spain. |
| Three of these languages are Catalan, Euskara | | | | The majority of Basque speakers live in Spain |
| Batua and Galician. By allowing these languages to | | | | whilst others live over the border in Pyrenean |
| gain full status and be officially recognised and | | | | France. The Basques are a fiercely proud people |
| accepted, the Spanish people have safeguarded | | | | and have an extremely developed sense of |
| their place in Spanish history. | | | | regional identity. The language itself has 600,000 |
| Catalan Catalan is spoken in some parts of Spain, | | | | speakers on both sides of the Franco-Spanish |
| isolated areas of France & Sardinia and is also the | | | | border. This language has always proved to be |
| national language of Andorra. Approximately 4 | | | | something of a mystery to linguists as it does not |
| million speakers worldwide use Catalan as their | | | | appear to be related to any other language. |
| first language and a similar number who use it as | | | | Euskara bears no relationship to the indo-European |
| a second language. Some linguists stress that | | | | family of languages which includes all of the other |
| Catalan has more in common with Italian in terms | | | | languages of Europe. There are several regional |
| of grammar and syntax, whilst the spoken form | | | | variations of Eushara, however a standardised |
| is reminisce of a cross between French & Spanish. | | | | version, Euskara Batua, has been established for |
| There are also several other dialects of Catalan, | | | | use in the media and in schools during the last |
| eg: Valencian. Many in the "Pai Valencia" still claim | | | | few decades. |