MIQUEL writes: Gerry, I don't know if you are serious about this
question: differences between Catalan and Spanish are
uncountable. Catalan phonetics, morphology and syntax were
well defined and standardized a long time ago. We have, as
Piotr already said, classical literature from the XV
century, and old texts from X-XI centuries.
I don't know what makes a non tonal language more
melodious than others.
Gerry: Actually I am serious since I don't know anything about Spain
and its linguistics (or internal politics). Am I correct in assuming
that Catalans see NO reason for an affiliation with Spain? What about
Catalan economics, religion, educational system, health system etc. Is
there no reason by which to remain as part of Spain?
I see that you have no idea about the political
situation in Spain: the State is divided into 18 autonomous
regions. Some have a special status, being amongst them the
Basque Country (Euskal Herria, in Basque) and Catalonia
(Catalunya, in Catalan).
Gerry here: I know a little bit about the Basque and nothing about
Catalonia. Why is it that both Basque and Catalonia have special status
in Spain?
Catalan language is not considered
more vulgar any longer. It used to be this way in the XVIII
cent. and during Franco's dictature, Catalan was persecuted
and its use was prohibited (I am not being partial at this
point, Piotr). In Balearic Islands Catalan is suffering a
regression, and so does in Valencia. The fact is that the
autonomous government of Valencia, following political
reasons, has literally invented an origin for Valencian, in
which it has nothing to do with Catalan.
I don't really understand the question about
dialects in Madrid: it is a city!!
Gerry: Your above comment is most interesting! Yes, Madrid is a city,
and a very lovely one at that, I might add. And am I correct in
assuming that the geographic areas you speak about are more rural than
urban? Possibly they are. And what happens in rural areas is that the
folks there always think they're "just as good as the rest of the folks,
especially those in the city". I know that's true here in the US so I'm
assuming it might also be true in Spain.
About dialects in Spain, we should divide them as
following:
o North-East: Navarro-Aragonés (which should be
considered as a separate language, but it lacks
of literature and of standarization) (aka Fabla).
Gerry: But if a "language" has no separate literature and no
standardization, then why do you think it needs to be considered a
separate language?
o North: Astur-Leonés (somehow transitional
separate language that is living a rebirth, with a
modern grammar and dictionaries, school teaching,
etc.) (aka Bable).
o South-West: Extremeño (a transitional dialect
between southern Spanish dialects and Portuguese)
(aka Estremeñu).
o South: Andaluz (with several subdialects).
o South-East: Murciano (transitional dialect between
Andaluz and La Mancha dialects).
o South-Center: Castilian or Manchego dialects (from
Castilla La Mancha, like Don Quijote. One of them
is the dialect spoken in Madrid).
Gerry: WOW! So many different dialects. Does each dialectical group
wish autonomy? At the rate this decentralization is going on, shortly
every individual in every family will want separate autonomy and
separate privileges etc.
As seen, Spanish has no historical boundaries with
French: Catalan, Navarro-Aragonés and Basque are settled in
the southern face of the Pyrenees.
Gerry: I'm sure you have the internet available in Spain. Can't this
new technology attempt to rectify this immense problem. Seems to me
that when people begin "chatting" they should find more similarities
than differences. But then, who am I to know not living in Spain.
I will tell you, as my own personal opinion, that I
do not feel myself Spanish. I have grown in Catalan, been
tought in Catalan, I think in Catalan and I live in
Catalonia. So why should I consider myself Spanish??
Gerry: I know exactly how you feel. I live in California now but I
have absolutely nothing in common with these folks. We are different
socially, politically, economically, religiously, educationally etc.
However, I do relate to the United States and to Massachusetts in
particular. And I'd much rather be living back east. Now, from what
you've told me, you like living right where you are. So can't you
consider yourself BOTH Catalan and Spanish? I know you like being
Catalan, why is it you don't wish to be Spanish?
Always curious,
Gerry
--
Gerald Reinhart
Independent Scholar
(650) 321-7378
waluk@...
http://www.alekseevmanuscript.com