Leonese language
| Leonese language | |
|---|---|
| Llingua Llïonesa | |
| Native to |  Spain Portugal |
| Region |  Kingdom of León[1] (Llión, Zamora and Salamanca) Spain, and northeast Portugal[2][3] |
Native speakers | 50,000[4] |
| Official status | |
Official language in | special protection status in Castile and Leon, Spain |
| Regulated by | none |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | roa |
| ISO 639-3 | roa |
Leonese (Llingua Llïonesa) is a language that developed from Vulgar Latin with contributions from the pre-Roman languages which were spoken in the territory of the Spanish provinces of León, Zamora, and Salamanca and in some villages in the District of Bragança, Portugal[5]. Close to Mirandese and Asturian or Bable, it belongs to Leonese or Astur-Leonese subgroup of Iberian languages. In fact, most authors speak of a Leonese language or historical dialect from Latin, and of Asturian and Mirandese as co-dialects of Leonese [6][7][8].
History
Leonese derives directly from language and took shape in the early Middle Ages. At that time, Leonese was the official language of the Leonese Kingdom and achieved a high codification grade [9]. Leonese developed a proper codification in the territories of the actual provinces of Llión, Zamora and Salamanca and in the Leonese territories in the actual Portugal, especially in the District of Braganza. So, the local laws called "Fueros" are mainly written in Leonese, and the documentation from the monasteries in this land is also in Leonese.
Middle Ages
The first written text in Leonese is the Nodicia de Kesos (959 or 974); other works in the language include Fueru de Llión, Fueru de Salamanca, Fueru Xulgu, Códice d'Alfonsu XI, ou Disputa d'Elena y María[10] or Llibru d'Alixandre[11].
Modern Era
The Modern Era signifies a new opportunity for Leonese to show that big writers could also use it for writing important pieces. Writers like Torres Naharro, Juan del Encina, Lucas Fernández or Torres Villarroel in the Modern Era cultivated Leonese, which however came on the verge of disappearance during the XIXth century.
19th and 20th centuries: International research
International philologues of the XIXth century, like Gessner, Hanssen, Staaff or Menéndez Pidal, in Europe and America, started to describe Leonese. Some writers like Caitano Bardón (Cuentos en Dialecto Leonés), Luis Maldonado or Aragón Escacena (Entre brumas) restarted the Leonese literature in the early XXth century.
Contemporary Leonese
There is a new generation of writers in Leonese, especially in urban areas, that are developing new creations. One of the best examples is "Cuentos del Sil", a Leonese language book promoted by Leonese language associations El Fueyu and El Toralín who had the support of Leonese Provincial Government. There are nine writers, from teenagers to old people, but most of them under their forties, that developed stories in Leonese. All the writers had a relationship with the lands where the Sil river runs.
The situation of Leonese as a minority language has driven Leonese to near extinction and is considered a seriously endangered language by the UNESCO [12]. There are some efforts to gain acceptance among the urban population, (the Leonese Council and other municipalities such as Zamora, Coyanza, Mansilla de las Mulas or La Bañeza made campaigns in and for teaching Leonese). Leonese language associations and some administrations are now promoting its knowledge and use, especially Llión City Council where it is widely used in their internet communications.
Internet presence
Internet was a new field for promoting and developing Leonese, where Leonese grammar is being fixed.[13] The main reason is that Leonese has seen more publications in Internet in the last year than books were edited. In this sense, Leonese has seen great progress in being permitted the creation of associations like puntuLLI, for requesting a Top Level Domain for the Leonese language and culture[14].
Education
At the end of the 1990s, several associations unofficially promoted Leonese language courses. In 2001, the Universidad de León (University of León) created a course for teachers of Leonese , and local and provincial governments developed Leonese language courses for adults. Nowadays, Leonese can be studied in the most important villages of Leon, Zamora and Salamanca provinces in El Fueyu Courses, after the signing of an agreement between the Leonese Provincial Government and this organization. Leonese Language Teachers and Monitors Association (Asociación de Profesores y Monitores de Llingua Llïonesa) was created in 2008 for the promotion of Leonese language activities.
Schools
Leonese language lessons started in 2008 with two schools, and are currently taught in sixteen schools in Llión city in 2008-2009, promoted by the Leonese Local Government's Department for Education. This Leonese language course is for pupils in their 5th and 6th year of Primary School (children 11 and 12 years old), where Leonese is taught along with Leonese culture.
Adult people
In the course 2008-2009 107 persons are studying Leonese in the Municipality of Llión. There are five levels for adults in the official courses organized by the Department for Leonese Culture of the Leonese City Council [15].
Legal status
Official status
Leonese had official status, along with English, in the XXIX World Armwrestling Championship that was celebrated in Llión in 2009[16]
The I Festival Internacional Reinu de Llión[17] had its name in Leonese language, and was, with Spanish and English, the official language of the event.
International
The Linguasphere code for Leonese is 51-AAA-cc.
Autonomic
Leonese language was recognised as a seriously endangered language by UNESCO in 2006. The legal reference to this language is in the Autonomy Statute of Castile and Leon[18].
"Leonese language will be a subject of specific protection by the institutions, due to its particular value in the Community's linguistic patrimony. Its protection, use and promotion will be subject of regulamentation".
Provincial
The Province of León government supports the knowledge of this language through courses, by celebrating "Leonese Language Days" and by sponsoring literary efforts in Leonese, such as "Cuentos del Sil", where nine writers from teen-agers to people in their eighties develop several stories in Leonese.
Local
Leonese Local Government uses Leonese langage in its Official Web Site. Leonese language is also present in some of its bureaus like Education, Leonese Culture and New Technologies, and organizes courses for adults; in 2007 they organized the Leonese Language Day. Activities as "I Ciclu de Conferencias Reinu de Llión", "I Xornadas Cultura Llïonesa y Deporte", "II Xornadas de Cultura Llïonesa y Deporte", "Reinu de Llión: Descubri un país", "I Campionatu de Bandas de Gaitas del País Llïonés, "I Ciclu de Jazz Feichu en Llión", "Escultura nel Patiu'l Palaciu or "II Ciclu de Conferencias Reinu de Llión" were officially advertised in Leonese language the activities[19].
Phonology
Leonese language has a system with 5 vowels in a stressed position, represented a,e,i,o,u and three (two archiphonemes /I/, /U/ and one phoneme /a/) in non-stressed position, represented with e,u,a at the end of word[20]
Grammar
Leonese and Romance languages
Leonese language has evolved from Latin language|Latin, keeping some linguistic structures different from other Romance languages. The mostly of Leonese vocabulary came from Latin. Other languages, like the Celtic languages and Germanic languages had an influence on Leonese, too.
- Nouns
Leonese language has two genders (masculine and feminine) and two numbers (singular and plural)
The main desinences are "u" for masculine singular and "os" for masculine plural.
For the feminine, the desinences are "a" for the singular and "as" for the plural.
- Adjectives
Leonese language has two genders (masculine and feminine) and two numbers (singular and plural)
The main desinences are "u" for masculine singular and "os" for masculine plural.
For the feminine, the desinences are "a" for the singular and "as" for the plural.
For both are "e" for singluar and "es" for the plural.
Adjectives have a concordance in gender and number with the name.
- Verbs
Infinitives
There are three conjugations in Leonese language vebs, depending on the desinence of the infinitives:
- Verbs whose infinitive finishes in -are
- Verbs whose infinitive finishes in -ere
- Verbs whose infinitive finishes in -ire
Gerunds
There are two divisions in Leonese language gerunds depending on the desinence:
- Verbs whose infinitive finishes in -andu
- Verbs whose infinitive finishes in -endu
Participes
There are three kinds of participes in Leonese language:
- First conjugation: finishes in "-áu"
- Second conjugation: finishes in "-iéu"
- Third conjugation: finishes in "íu"
- Possesives
Posesives in Leonese language, like in other Romance languages, must have the article before the possesive. These are:
- One possesor
- (el) mieu, tou, sou
- (la) mia, tua, sua
- (los)mieus, tous, sous
- (las) mias, tuas, suas
- More than one possesor
- (el) nuesu, vuesu, sou
- (la) nuesa, vuesa, sua
- (los) nuesos, vuesos, sous
- (las) nuesas, vuesas, suas
- Cult groups
- Leonese language kept the initial "f-" from Latin, like Portuguese, Catalan, French or Venetian.
- Latin groups "pl-/kl-/fl-" evolved into Leonese "ch", like in Portuguese.
- Latin group "-li-" gives "y" in Leonese.
- Leonese language kept the final "e" of the Latin infinitives, like Italian.
- Leonese language kept /-mb-/ latin group.
- Leonese language palatalize latin /l-/ like Catalan.
- Leonese language sometimes palatalize latin /n-/.
- Latin group -sc- makes in Leonese language "x".
- Apostrophe
Leonese language uses apostrophe with some prepositions like "en", "de", or "pa" (n', d', p') when afeter comes a vowel (sometimes just an "a" like "pa").
Comparative tables
| Leonese | Portuguese | Catalan | Galician | Romanian | French | Italian | Venetian | Spanish | Piedmontese | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| facere | fazer | fer | facer | face | faire | fare | far | hacer | fé | facere | make |
| fiyu | filho | fill | fillo | fiul | fils | figlio | fio(l) | hijo | fieul | filius | son |
| fame | fome | gana | fame | foamea | faim | fame | fame | hambre | fam | famis | hunger |
| cochu | porco | porc | porco/cocho | porc | cochon | maiale | porse(l)o | cerdo | crin | sus | pig |
| vieyu | velho | vell | vello | vechi | vieux | vecchio | vecio | viejo | vecc | vetus | old |
| chovere | chover | ploure | chover | ploaie | pleuvoir | piovere | piòvar | llover | pieuve | pluere | rain |
Activities for promoting Leonese language
Leonese Language Day
Leonese Language Day (Día de la Llingua Llïonesa, in Leonese), is a celebration for promoting the Leonese language and the advances in its field and was the result of a protocol signed between Leonese Provincial Government and the Cultural Association for Leonese Language El Fueyu [21].
Leonese Language Day started on June 10, 2006 and was organised by the Asociación Cultural de la Llingua Llïonesa El Fueyu with the collaboration of other linguistic and cultural organizations and the support of the Provincial and Local governments of León with a recital where personalities from the cultural, universaitary, associative and political world of Llión recited peoems and stories in Leonese language.
Since 2007, it is officially organised by the Llión City Council with the collaboration of Leonese language associations. Activities developed on this day mix traditional Leonese music with the exhibition of new works about Leonese, mainly books and films, and representation of theater plays, poetry recitals and conferences. Also, 2008 edition, gave an important role to the new technologies.
In 2009 edition, the Government of León gave their official diploms to the students of Leonese language, the schools that taught Leonese and the adult people that attended the courses of "Llingua Llïonesa". It counted with 300 hundred people.[22]
International Mother Language Day
On february 21st,International Mother Language Day, a common press comunicate was made by the most important Leonese language associations: Asociación puntuLLI, Asociación Cultural de la Llingua Llïonesa El Fueyu, Asociación Berciana en Defensa de la Llingua Llïonesa El Toralín, Asociación de la Llingua Llïonesa La Barda de Salamanca, Mesa Divulgativa Llïonesa de Salamanca y Asociación de Profesores y Monitores de Llingua Llïonesa, in which they supported the development of Leonese, particulary in public administration.[23]
Top Level Domain for Leonese language
PuntuLLI Association develops the fight for reaching a Top Level Domain for the Leonese language and culture. There are more than 800 signers and 44 organisations collaborating with it. In addition to the Leon City Council, which uses Leonese in its web site, so other associations, organisations or enterprises use the language in their web sites too.
Leonese is present on the Internet in many on-line dictionaries, some of them, like Logos Dictionary can be consulted in hundreds of languages.
Sample text
Leonese:
"La comunidá cultural y llinguística llïonesa amuesa un esporpolle curiosu nos cabeiros años. L'emburrie a la creyación, espublización y usu del de la llingua llïonesa al traviés de las TICs, ha cuntare cun un espaciu propiu bien nidiu, cun una marca que nos identifique na comunidá internauta cumu lu que somos, cumu llïoneses. N'esi sen ñaz puntuLLI, un espaciu común pa que tolas asociaciones, coleutivos, istituciones y particulares encalcen la propuesta de creyar un domiñu propiu pa la nuesa cultura y el nuesu idioma: el .LLI"[24]
English:
"Over the last few years, there has been an important development in the Leonese cultural and linguistic community . The drive behind the creation, publication and use of Leonese through the EITs calls for its own well defined niche with a label that would define us in the Internet as Leonese people. The result is puntuLLI, a common niche through which all associations, groups, institutions and private individuals may channel the proposal to create a domain for our culture and language: the .LLI"[25]
See also
- Mirandese language
- Asociación de Profesores y Monitores de Llingua Llïonesa
- Leonese Language Day
- Cuentos del Sil
References
- ^ Royal Spanish Decret of November 30th, 1833
- ^ Menéndez Pidal, R. El Dialecto Leonés. Madrid. 1906
- ^ Cruz, Luísa Segura da, João SARAMAGO e Gabriela VITORINO: “Os dialectos leoneses em território português: coesão e diversidade”. En: “Variação Linguística no Espaço, no Tempo e na Sociedade”. Associação Portuguesa de Linguística/Edições Colibri, p. 281-293. Lisboa. 1994.
- ^ II Estudiu Sociolingüísticu de Lleón
- ^ Ceolin, R. "Um enclave leonês na paisagem unitária da língua portuguesa", Ianua, Revista Philologica Románica, nº 3, p. 62-83. 2002
- ^ Marcos, Ángel/Serra, Pedro (1999): Historia de la literatura portuguesa. Salamanca: Luso-Española. Pag. 9
- ^ Menéndez Pidal, Ramón (1906): El dialecto leonés
- ^ Krüger, Fritz (2006): Estudio fonético-histórico de los dialectos españoles occidentales. Zamora: CSIC/Diputación de Zamora. Pag. 13
- ^ Morala, R. (2004): Norma y usos gráficos en la documentacion leonesa. In: Aemilianese I, S. 405-429.
- ^ Menéndez Pidal, R.: "Elena y María. (Disputa del Clérigo y el Caballero). Poesía leonesa inédita del siglo XIII". RFE 1, pp. 52-96. 1914
- ^ Menéndez Pidal, R. "El Dialecto Leonés". Madrid. 1906
- ^ UNESCO Red Book on Endangered Languages: Europe
- ^ Pardo, Abel. "El Llïonés y las TICs". Mikroglottika Yearbook 2008. Págs 109-122. Peter Lang. Frankfurt am Main. 2008
- ^ http://www.puntuLLI.org Top Level Domain for Leonese language
- ^ </ Leonese language courses from the Official Web Site of the Leon City Council
- ^ [1]
- ^ It was supported by The Council of León, the Spanish Government, the Spanish Net of Paradores, the Spanish Academy of Television and so others.
- ^ New Autonomy Stature for Castilla an León, Art. 5/2.
- ^ www.aytoleon.es
- ^ Pardo, Abel: Linguistica contrastiva italiano-leonese. Mikroglottika.2008
- ^ Official new of the signement of the Protocol between the Leonese Provincial Government and Leonese Language Association for developing the Leonese Language Day
- ^ http://leonoticias.com/frontend/leonoticias/El-Dia-De-La-llingua-Ll%EFonesa-vn32242-vst216 IV Leonese Language Day new
- ^ International Mother Language Day Press Communicate
- ^ [2] Asociación puntuLLI: Top Level Domain for Leonese
- ^ [3] Asociación puntuLLI: Top Level Domain for Leonese
Sources
- Menéndez Pidal, R.: "El dialecto Leonés". Revista de Archivos, Bibliotecas y Museos, 14. 1906.
- Pardo, Abel. "El Llïonés y las TICs". Mikroglottika Yearbook 2008. Págs 109-122. Peter Lang. Frankfurt am Main. 2008.
- Linguasphere Register. 1999/2000 Edition. pp. 392. 1999.
- López-Morales, H.: “Elementos leoneses en la lengua del teatro pastoril de los siglos XV y XVI”. Actas del II Congreso Internacional de Hispanistas. Instituto Español de la Universidad de Nimega. Holanda. 1967.
- Sánchez, Raúl. "La elaboración y aceptación de una norma lingüística en pequeñas comunidades dialectalmente divididas: el caso del Leonés y del frisio del norte". Mikroglottika Year Book 2008. Págs. 145-154. Peter Lang. Frankfurt am Main. 2008.
- Staff, E. : "Étude sur l'ancien dialecte léonnais d'après les chartes du XIIIÈ siècle", Uppsala. 1907.
External links
