Aragonese and Bable

1. Aragonese and Bable By Cathryn Johnson, Emma Santoyo, Nicola Fellows, Francesca Hay and Andreas Pavlou

2. Lengua vs. Dialecto • Lengua: “sistema lingüístico caracterizado por su fuerte diferenciación, por poseer un alto grado de nivelación, por ser vehículo de una importante tradición literaria y, en ocasiones, por haberse impuesto a sistemas lingüísticos del mismo origen”(Alvar, 1996 12)

3. Dialecto: “un sistema de signos desgajado de una lengua común, viva o desaparecida, normalmente, con una cocreta limitación geográfica, pero sin una fuerte diferenciación frente a otros de origen común. De modo secundario, pueden llamarse dialectos ‘las estructuras lingüísticas, simultáneas a otras que no alcanzan la categoría de lengua.”(Alvar,1996 13)

4. Where is Aragón?

5. Where is Aragón?

6. Número de hablantes • Censo 1981. “¿Conoce o utiliza algún habla propia de Aragón?” 11.824 lo utilizaban. 17.653 lo conocían. poca fiabilidad (conciencia lingüística, no emigrantes, antigüedad)

7. Censo lingüístico de Monzón. 1997 14% conoce/habla el aragonés 21% conoce/habla el aragonés y el catálán • Estudio del Alto de Aragón encargado por el Gobierno de Aragón. 2000

8. Aragonese - History • Early Origins • Cartahgenic era • Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis • Muslim moors 714 • Carolingian Franks • Middle ages • Union of Aragon and Catalan • Uniting of Castile and Aragon • Modern Era • Civil War

9. Aragonese – The Language • Fabla = Speech • Origins – Ibero-Romance Language • Navarro-Aragonese Dialect • Western • Central • Eastern • Southern • Standardisation 16th/17th century • “un dialecto arcaico del castellano”(Herreras 2006: 111)

10. Aragón – Statute of Autonomy “Las lenguas y modalidades lingüísticas propias de Aragón constituyen una de las manifestaciones más destacadas del patrimonio histórico y cultural aragonés y un valor social de respeto, convivencia y entendimiento.”

11. Aragonese • Language bodies • Consello d'a Fabla Aragonesa • Ligallos de Fabla Aragonese • Academia de l’Aragonese • Magazines • Pedro Arnal Cavero Literary Prize • Televison • “The Aragonese, although a historic nation, are among the newest to create a national identity in southwestern Europe” (Minahan, 2001:167)

12. Fonética • GRANDE> gran (grande) • FILIU> fillo (hijo) • IUVEN>choven (joven) GELARE>chelar (helar) • FACTU > feito (hecho • COXU> coixo (cojo) MULIERE> mullé(r) (mujer) • ACUT’LA> agulla (aguja)

13. Acentuación paraxitónica: tendencia a deshacer los esdrújolos; medíco ‘médico’

14. Morfología • Pronombres • Yo, tu, él/er, nusatros/nusotros, busatros/busotros, ellos/ers • Con tu, con yo.. • Iste, ista, istos, istas, isto • Ixe, ixa, ixos, ixas, ixo • ¿Qui ye ixe? ‘¿Quién es ese?’

15. Determinantes - Artículo: o, a, os, as lo, la, los, las - Bel can ‘Algún perro’ Bella mujer ‘Alguna mujer’ - ueito ‘ocho’; nuéu ‘nueve’, bente ‘veinte’.. • Conjugación verbal - Morfemas personales fez ‘hacéis’ cantáz ‘cantáis’

16. - Morfemas temporales Pretérito imperfecto: ‘-ba’ vs. ‘-ía’ quereba ‘quería’ faba ‘hacía’ dizíba ‘decía’ Subjuntivo- pretérito imperfecto bebese ‘bebiera’ diziese ‘dijera’ Participio: amáu, partíu /amato, partito

17. 7 • Adverbios - Lugar: adebán, debán ‘delante’;dezaga ‘detrás’; astí ‘aquí’, ‘ahí’ - Tiempo: uey/ue ‘hoy’; à boníco/ amonico ‘despacio’; dillá/dellá ‘más allá’ - Modo: millar ‘mejor’; asinas ‘así’ - Cantidad: muito ‘mucho’; pro ‘bastante’ • Preposiciones - enta ‘hacia’; dica ‘hasta’

18. Sintaxis • Artículo + posesivos: O mio fillo ‘Mi hijo’ • Complementos en/ne ‘de ello’; bi/i ‘aquí, allí’ Damene ‘Dame (de ello)’ Bi ha chen ‘Hay gente (allí/ahí/aquí) • Partitivo: ne/en Ya en tiene de comida

19. Conclusion • Very few speakers • Dialect rather than a language • Protected by Statute of Autonomy but few provisions for promotion of language • Survival • younger generations • Institutional provisions and language planning measures

20. BABLE

22. Bable – An Introduction • Romance language spoken in Asturias and parts of Castilla y León and Zamora • Also known as Asturian (although in official documentation referred to as Bable) • A language (not a dialect) with 3 dialects of its own – Western, Central and Eastern Asturian (Central Asturian has most speakers so is the basis of its standard form) • Does NOT have official status in Asturias or anywhere else.

23. Early Middle Ages • Fragmentation of Vulgar Latin + influences from the pre-Roman language spoken in Asturias, León, Zamora and Miranda before arrival of Latin = Bable (a Romance Language) • Spoken first in Kingdom of Asturias before spreading to remainder of Asturias • 10th century - first documents known to contain Asturian grammar and lexicon (although rare)

24. 12th, 13th and 14th Centuries Long-term diglossic situation with Latin and Asturian Asturian was the chosen language for official documents (evidence found of wills, commercial contracts, agreements etc) Literature in Asturian not yet present

25. Introduction of Castilian Castilian administration, backed by Trastámara Dynasty, came to occupy areas of political and ecclesiastic power  Castilian replaced Bable as language of official documentation Bable/Asturian reduced to oral, private, informal use only

26. 17th, 18th, 19th Centuries 17th C - start of Bable literary tradition (Antón de Marrireguerra (1605) key founding figure - works include fables Dido and Eneas) 18th C – literary importance continued (poetry - Xeneración del Mediu Sieglu) AND Intellectuals began to realise the importance of Asturian history and development (Jovellanos is a key figure – suggested grammar, dictionaries and Academy in late 1700s, although not enforced at the time) 19th and early 20th C – this double process (literature and intellectuals) continued

27. 20th Century – Introduction of Asturian Academy Before Civil War – Asturian theatre grew in popularity, first Asturian newspaper published (IXUXU), first version of Asturian Language Academy permitted in 1920s ------ Despite artistic and intellectual usage, lack of use of Asturian/Bable in official documentation for centuries meant that people gradually favoured the use of Castilian. Asturian perceived as rural, primitive, useless, second-class ------ During Franco regime– literature and intellectual research continued clandestinely Democracy - Conceyu Bable (or Asturian Language Council) (1974), Academia de la Llingua Asturiana (1981) for standardization and promotion and protection of Asturian/Bable but still not official language.

28. ARTICLES masculin feminine neuter singular el la lo plural los les Contractions: EL LA LO LOS LES A al DE del PA pal SO sol CON col cola colo colos coles EN nel na no nos nes PER pel pela pelo pelos peles POR pol pola polo polos poles The language itself: VERBS Falar Dir Ser falo voi/vo soi/so fales vas yes fala va ye falamos vamos somos faláis vais sois falen van son ALPHABET A, a a /a/ B, b be /b/ C, c ce /θ/, /k/ D, d de /d/ E, e e /e/ F, f efe /f/ G, g gue /g/ H, h hache I, i i /i/ L, l ele /l/ M, m eme /m/ N, n ene /n/ Ñ, ñ eñe /n/ O, o o /o/ P, p pe /p/ R, r erre /r/, /r-/ S, s ese /s/ T, t te /t/ U, u u /u/ V, v uve /b/ X, x xe /s/ Y, y ye, y griega /y/, /i/ Z, z zeta, zeda /θ/ Diagraphs ch che /ˆc/ gu + e, i — /g/ ll elle /l/ qu + e, i cu /k/ rr (btw vowels) erre doble /r-/ Sample text in Asturian Tolos seres humanos nacen llibres y iguales en dignidá y drechos y, pola mor de la razón y la conciencia de so, han comportase hermaniblemente los unos colos otros. Translation All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

29. Statutes and Laws STATUTE OF AUTONOMY • Art. 4.1. El bable gozará de protección. Se promoverá su uso, su difusión en los medios de comunicación y su enseñanza, respetando en todo caso, las variantes locales y la voluntariedad en su aprendizaje. .2. Una ley del Principado regulará la protección, uso y promoción del bable. • Art. 10.1.15 El fomento y protección del bable en sus diversas variantes que, como modalidades lingüísticas, se utilizan en el territorio del Principado de Asturias LEY DE USO Y PROMOCION DEL BABLE/ASTURIANO 1998 • Art. 3. Es objeto de la presente Ley: a) Amparar el derecho de los ciudadanos a conocer y usar el bable/asturiano y establecer los medios que lo hagan efectivo. b) Fomentar su recuperación y desarrollo, definiendo medidas para promover su uso. c) Garantizar la enseñanza del bable/asturiano, en el ejercicio de las competencias asumidas por el Principado de Asturias, atendiendo a los principios de voluntariedad, gradualidad y respeto a la realidad sociolingüística de Asturias. d) Asegurar su libre uso y la no discriminación de los ciudadanos por este motivo. • Recognises Asturianu/Bable as traditional language of Asturias, and also to Asturian/Galician • Aims to : enable use of Bable, extend peoples knowledge of it, guarantee education in Bable

30. Education • Almost 90% of Asturians showed themselves favourable to the idea of the indigenous language being taught in schools • “Bable nes escueles” • Teaching Bable linked to state education • Use of Asturian Act establishes the possibility of using Asturian as a medium of instruction • However reality is offer the teaching of the Asturian language, • Tool of communication for complementary academic activities: school press, theatre, festivals and recitals, cultural daytrips,etc.

31. Pre-school Education • “Asturian language is slight at this level of education, the majority of teaching unions in Asturias demand the inclusion of Asturian within their syllabuses and the option to use it as an instrument, particularly where the home language of pupils is Asturian.” Mercator • Language integrated into teaching, not a separate subject • Pupils taught in Spanish, but cultural aspects taught in Bable, especially in rural areas • PUPILS IN PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION(2001/02) • TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS IN STATE EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS 13,448 • Number of pupils taught Asturian in state educational establishments 1,370 • TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS IN PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS 6,244 • Number of pupils taught Asturian in private educational establishments 0 • TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS 19,692

32. Primary Education • Asturian not language of instruction • 2 hours a week of Asturian language • optional subject • Concentrated in industrial, urban areas • Rural areas teach Asturian to a higher level PUPILS IN PRIMARY EDUCATION(2001/02) TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS IN STATE EDUCATION 30,325 Number of pupils taught Asturian in state educational establishments 14,238 TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS IN PRIVATE EDUCATION 14,591 Number of pupils taught Asturian in private educational establishments ----- TOTAL NUMBER OF PUPILS 44,916

33. Secondary Education • Asturian as optional subject • Not been successfully introduced because of administrative issues • Lack of materials at right level STUDENTS IN SECONDARY EDUCATION(2001/02) TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN STATE EDUCATION 27,018 Number of students studying Asturian in state educational establishments 936 TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN PRIVATE EDUCATION 13,978 Number of students studying Asturian in private educational establishments 144 TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS 40,996

34. Vocational/Higher/Adult Education • Vocational • Asturian not subject until 2002/03 • Higher • University of Oveido • Asturian can be used, but rarely • Its use is increasing and becoming more accepted • 60 places per year for Asturian philology • Adult • No real official organisation, but Asturian-language classes do exist

35. 1. Your first language is: - Asturian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.9% - Castilian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.8% - Both: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8% - A mixture: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.7% - Other: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5% - Don’t know: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0% 2. You find it easier to speak: - In Castilian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.7% - In Asturian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.3% - In both: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.8% - It depends: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2% - Don’t know: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0% 3. Which language do you use at home? - More Asturian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.6% - More Castilian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.4% - No distinction: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.8% - Don’t know: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2% Estudio sociolingüístico para Asturias

36. Usage/Attitudes/Prestige • Minority language due to low socio-economic status • Spoken by the rural, old, lower class and less educated • Stigma, inferiority • Classic diglossic situation • Asturian: informal, intimate • Spanish: formal, official • Inorganic/disorganised bilingualism

37. Change/ Future? • Complex, contradictory attitudes • Young/politically minded more favourable • Pro-asturian political organisations and movements • Asturian literature revival • Linked to ethnic identity • Political measures insufficient, met by resistance • Not recognised as official language

38. “ Bilingualism is clearly the linguistic future desired and imagined by the great majority of Asturians, expressing it with great pragmatism and moderation (...) It demands a great regional consensus at the institutional level and from people of influences and leaders of public opinion on the linguistic standardisation to reinforce the already important linguistic identity of Asturians (...) Majority opinion is in favour of equality of treatment in relation to the other languages of the Iberian peninsular. Standardisation and joint official status are the measures by which Asturians stamp their aspirations for linguistic justice.” Llera Ramo 1994

39. Conclusion (Bable/Asturian) • Romance language 10th century • Literary tradition • Suppression under Franco • Mutually intelligible to Castillian • Some differences in morphology and lexis • Few educational and institutional provisions • Diglossic situation • Contradictory attitudes • Promising future

40. Bibliography • Turell, (2001) Multilingualism in Spain, (Clevedon: Multilingual matters) • TEXTO VIGENTE DEL ESTATUTO DE AUTONOMÍA DEL PRINCIPADO DE ASTURIAS (1981) http://www.asturias.es/Asturias/DOCUMENTOS%20EN%20PDF/PDF%20DE%20SITUACIONES/Estatuto.pdf • LEY 1/1998, DE 23 DE MARZO, DE USO Y PROMOCION DEL BABLE/ASTURIANO. http://boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?coleccion=iberlex&id=1998/10126 • Academia de la Llingua Asturiana, (2001) Gramática de la Llingua Asturianahttp://www.academiadelallingua.com/diccionariu/gramatica_llingua.pdf • Mercator, (2002) The Asturian language in education in Spainhttp://www1.fa.knaw.nl/mercator/regionale_dossiers/PDFs/asturian_in_spain.pdf

41. Bibliography - Aragonese Alvar, M. (1996) Manual de dialectologia Hispanica, Barcelona : Editorial Ariel, Conte, A. (1977) El aragones:Identidad y problematica de una lengua www.consello.org Minahan, James, ed. (2002), Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups Around the World, Westport: Greenwood Press www.aragontelevision.es Creciendo en Aragonese (2007) http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nNuEqakinRs www.charrando.com. www.fablans.org www.aragon.es