Languages in Your country by Diana Palenzuela

Yesterday, we discussed about the different initiatives that should be conducted for the promotion of Euskera. As you know, during the Spanish dictatorship, Basque language was about to die, but thanks to the efforts made by many speakers who believed in their unique identity, it was possible for the language to survive and to gain an important status inside the Basque Country.STUDENTS: A. With the help of the Basque speakers you'll find in this group, you should try to discover some of the initiatives that have taken place during the last 4 decades. Those initiatives can be related to politics, education, society, culture, arts... or any other sphere that might be important for the promotion of a minority language. You can post public questions for the native speakers and I'm sure they will be able to help you.B. Please, try to summarize the information you get, you can also contrast it with ideas taken from other sources. By next Thursday, I'd like you to send me an email with your individual summaries and conclusions (try to include your own ideas).C. In exchange, I would like you to post some information about the status of foreign languages inside the US ,or any other country you are originally from. For instance, is there any other official language in the US? has any initiative been carried out for the promotion of foreign languages? Is there any school where you can be instructed in a foreign language? Do native speakers of other languages have the same opportunities? Is there any foreign symbol, tradition or culture that has become particularly significant in the US? etc...BASQUE SPEAKERS: please, you can start writing your ideas on this, I'm sure you have a lot to say. You can add videos or articles in English if you think that could be useful for the students.In case you have any doubt, do not hesitate to ask me.GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU!

diana_gstz — 2016-10-06 01:30:58 UTC

Basque Education

marcosvillanovasanchez — 2016-10-06 01:38:14 UTC

As far as I know, euskera has become compulsory in every public school. Nowadays most students get a whole education in Basque Language. The evolution of the educational system started in the 80s', when 3 different models were created: A- Spanish is the language of instruction but there was a subject of Basque language; B- Spanish and Basque are both languages of instruction, altough most of the subjects are taught in Euskera; D- Basque is the language of instruction but there is a subject on Spanish language. This system exists in the present, but A model has disappeared in almost every public school, being relegated to the private ones.

The Korrika running is an exhibition race held every two years in the Basque Country to celebrate and support the Basque language.The race is organised by the AEK, the association for education in Basque, and usually it is scheduled to last two weeks. The first Korrika was held in 1980, and each one follows a different course, though they always try to cover a large part of Euskal Herria, the historical territories of the Basque Country: Bizkaia, Araba, Gipuzkoa (the "official" version of the Basque Country), Nafarroa (Navarre) and also Lapurdi, Zuberoa and Benafarroa (the French Basque Country). The race proceeds continuously without even stopping at night. In order to raise money to promote the Basque language, each kilometre of the race is "sold" to a particular individual or company who will lead the race as it passes over the purchased kilometer, and as race leader will carry the original wooden baton from the first Korrika, adorned with the banner of the Basque Country, the Ikurriña.

iratxoartaza — 2016-10-06 02:07:46 UTC

diana_gstz — 2016-10-06 17:07:17 UTC

elizabethwood1 — 2016-10-12 01:38:22 UTC

Although most people in the US speak English as their native language, English is not the official language of the country. The federal government doesn't recognize any language as official for the whole country. Some individual states have declared English as the official language, but not all states have an official language.

Basque Music

ionleza006 — 2016-10-12 17:52:04 UTC

As other people is mentioning, in the Basque County we have 2 official languages, Basque and Spanish, but a lot of initiatives have taken place for the promotion of Basque as it almost disappeared during the dictatorship. After the dictatorship, new Basque music groups and styles appeared: Punk, Radical Rock... the aim of these groups was not only to become popular and commercial, but also to reclaim the identity and values of the Basque society. Indeed, the lyrics of many songs were related to the annoying political situation and opression suffered by Basque people under the control of Spanish government. The basque musical movement became very powerful and pushed younger generations to fight for their rights such as defining themselves as Basques and using their own language: Euskara.
I am posting video about how Rock Radical Vasco started, sorry that is only in Spanish

elizabethwood1 — 2016-10-14 20:46:38 UTC

Here's an interesting article about linguistic diversity in the city of Chicago.

Official Language in the US?

isokekhemet — 2016-10-25 15:39:11 UTC

An interesting article about the possibility of declaring an official language in the United States. There is no official language in the US<, but the most widely spoken languages are English, closely followed by Spanish.