Asturleonese language: Difference between revisions

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Much effort has been made since 1974 <!-- Foundation of the Conceyu Bable by three young Asturianista university professors: Xuan Xosé Sánchez Vicente, Xosé Lluis García Arias and Lluis Xabel Álvarez -->to protect and promote Asturian.<ref>Bauske 1995</ref> In 1994 there were 100,000 first language speakers, and 450,000 second language speakers able to speak or understand Asturian.<ref>Llera Ramo 1994</ref> However, the situation of Asturian is critical, with a large decline in the number of speakers in the last 100 years.
Much effort has been made since 1974 <!-- Foundation of the Conceyu Bable by three young Asturianista university professors: Xuan Xosé Sánchez Vicente, Xosé Lluis García Arias and Lluis Xabel Álvarez -->to protect and promote Asturian.<ref>Bauske 1995</ref> In 1981 Asturian or Bable, as the language is officialy named <ref>http://www.asturias.es/Asturias/DOCUMENTOS%20EN%20PDF/PDF%20DE%20SITUACIONES/Estatuto.pdf</ref>, was recognized as a subject of speficic protection by the local government. In 1994 there were 100,000 first language speakers, and 450,000 second language speakers able to speak or understand Asturian.<ref>Llera Ramo 1994</ref> However, the situation of Asturian is critical, with a large decline in the number of speakers in the last 100 years.
At the end of the 20th century, the [[Academia de la Llingua Asturiana]] made efforts to provide the language with most of the tools needed by a language to ensure its survival: a [[grammar]], a [[dictionary]], and [[periodicals]]. A new generation of Asturian writers both in Asturias and in León have also championed the language. These developments give the Asturian / Leonese language a greater hope of survival.<!-- However, the Real Instituto de Estudios Asturianos (R.I.D.E.A.), founded in 1945 under the Franco dictatorship, has consistently portrayed Asturian as a linguistic curiosity. In the I Concurso de Estudios Asturianos (http://tematico.princast.es/cultura/ridea/Congreso/Presentacion.htm) in May 2006, any submissions in Asturiano were automatically rejected. -->
At the end of the 20th century, the [[Academia de la Llingua Asturiana]] made efforts to provide the language with most of the tools needed by a language to ensure its survival: a [[grammar]], a [[dictionary]], and [[periodicals]]. A new generation of Asturian writers both in Asturias and in León have also championed the language. These developments give the Asturian / Leonese language a greater hope of survival.<!-- However, the Real Instituto de Estudios Asturianos (R.I.D.E.A.), founded in 1945 under the Franco dictatorship, has consistently portrayed Asturian as a linguistic curiosity. In the I Concurso de Estudios Asturianos (http://tematico.princast.es/cultura/ridea/Congreso/Presentacion.htm) in May 2006, any submissions in Asturiano were automatically rejected. -->



Revision as of 14:28, 8 July 2009

Astur-Leonese
Asturllionés: asturianu, llionés, mirandês
RegionSpain (the autonomous communities of Asturias, Extremadura, Castile and León and Cantabria).
Native speakers
300,000-450,000[1]
Latin
Official status
Regulated byAcademy of the Asturian Language (Asturian), Institute of Mirandese Language (Mirandese)
Language codes
ISO 639-2ast (asturian), mwl (mirandese)
ISO 639-3ast (asturian), mwl (mirandese)

Astur-Leonese is a dialect continuum included in the West Iberian branch of the Romance languages. The languages of the linguistic group are assigned different names: Asturian, asturianu, or Bable, in the Spanish province of Asturias; Leonese language, llïonés. llionés, in the provinces of León, Zamora and Salamanca; and Mirandese in Miranda do Douro (Portugal). Astur-Leonese dialects (mixed with Spanish) are also spoken in Extremadura (where it is called Extremaduran, estremeñu) and Cantabria (where it is called Cantabrian, or Montañés). It is disputed whether these speech forms are a dialect of the Spanish Language, a variety of Astur-Leonese or independent languages in their own right.

Leonese language (as a denomiation fot the whole linguistic group) was once considered an informal dialect (basilect) of Spanish, but, in 1906, Ramón Menéndez Pidal showed it was the result of Latin evolution in the Kingdom of León,[2] and now it is considered a separate language.[3] In Portugal, the related Mirandese language is officially recognized.

History

The language developed from Vulgar Latin with contributions from the pre-Roman languages, which were spoken in the territory of the Astures, an ancient tribe of the Iberian peninsula. Castilian Spanish came to the area later, in the 14th century, when the central administration sent emissaries and functionaries to occupy political and ecclesiastical offices.

In the Middle Ages, Leonese Language was the official language of the Kingdom of León.

Status

Asturian

Much effort has been made since 1974 to protect and promote Asturian.[4] In 1981 Asturian or Bable, as the language is officialy named [5], was recognized as a subject of speficic protection by the local government. In 1994 there were 100,000 first language speakers, and 450,000 second language speakers able to speak or understand Asturian.[6] However, the situation of Asturian is critical, with a large decline in the number of speakers in the last 100 years. At the end of the 20th century, the Academia de la Llingua Asturiana made efforts to provide the language with most of the tools needed by a language to ensure its survival: a grammar, a dictionary, and periodicals. A new generation of Asturian writers both in Asturias and in León have also championed the language. These developments give the Asturian / Leonese language a greater hope of survival.

Leonese

In the late 90s several associations unofficially promoted Leonese Language courses. In 2001 the Universidad de León (University of León) created a course for Leonese Teachers, and Local and Provincial Governments developed Leonese Language Courses for adults. Nowadays Leonese can be studied in the most important villages of León, Zamora and Salamanca provinces.

The situation of Leonese as a minority language has driven Leonese to an apparent dead end, and it is considered as a Seriously Endangered Language by UNESCO. There are some efforts to gain acceptance among the urban population (the Leonese Council has made campaigns for young people in the Leonese language). Some reports claim that it will be dead in two generations.

In spite of all the difficulties, the number of young people learning and using it (mainly as a written language) has substantially increased in recent years. Leonese City Council uses Leonese language in its own website and there are Leonese language courses for adult people. Leonese language is taught in sixteen leonese schools.

Leonese language is officially recognised in the Statute of Autonomy of Castile and León.

Mirandese

Portugal has taken a further step in protecting Mirandese, which is closely related to Asturian and specially to Leonese language, and it can be studied. Mirandese was officially recognised by the Portuguese Republic.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www10.gencat.net/pres_casa_llengues/AppJava/frontend/llengues_detall.jsp?id=43&idioma=5
  2. ^ Menéndez Pidal 1906:128-141
  3. ^ Ethnologue report for Spain. Leonese language is officially recognised by the Autonomous Coummunity of Castile and Leon (2006). In Asturias it is protected under the Autonomous Statute legislation, and is an optional language at schools, being widely studied Euromosaic report, Lexikon der romanitischen Linguistik 6.I:652-708
  4. ^ Bauske 1995
  5. ^ http://www.asturias.es/Asturias/DOCUMENTOS%20EN%20PDF/PDF%20DE%20SITUACIONES/Estatuto.pdf
  6. ^ Llera Ramo 1994
  • Template:Languageicon Template:Es Bauske, Bernd (1995) Sprachplannung des Asturianischen. Die Normierung und Normalisierung einer romanischen Kleinsprache in Spannungsfeld von Linguistik, Literatur und Politic. Berlin, Köster (There's also a Spanish translation: (1998) Planificación lingüística del asturiano. Xixón, Vtp ISBN 84-89880-20-4)
  • Template:Languageicon Template:Es Lexikon der Romanitischen Linguistik, Bd. 6.I: Aragonesisch/Navarresisch, Spanisch, Asturianisch/Leonesisch. Tübingen, Max Niemeyer, ISBN 3-484-50250-9.
  • Template:Es Llera Ramo, F. (1994) Los Asturianos y la Lengua Asturiana: Estudio Sociolingüístico para Asturias-1991. Oviedo: Consejería de Educación y Cultura del Principado de Asturias ISBN 84-7847-297-5.
  • Template:Es Menéndez Pidal, R (1906): "El Dialecto Leonés", Revista de Archivos, Bibliotecas y Museos 2-3:128-172, 4-5:294-311 (There's a modern reimpression: (2006) El Dialecto Leonés. León, El Buho Viajero ISBN 84-933781-6-X)
  • Wurm, Stephen A. (ed) (2001) Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger of Disappearing. Unesco ISBN 92-3-103798-6.

External links