The Historical Evolution and Standardization of the Catalan Language

History of the Catalan Language: Origins and Evolution

Catalan has its origin in the Middle Ages, evolving from Vulgar Latin (7th–8th centuries). Early texts written in Catalan include:

• 9th–10th centuries: Romance words Latinized.
• 11th century: Romance phrases interspersed in Latin texts.
• 12th century: Documents written entirely in Catalan, such as the Homilies d'Organyà.

This period marks the beginning of speaking and writing in Old Catalan.

Medieval Consolidation and Expansion (13th–15th Centuries)

Linguistic Consolidation

The period of consolidation saw the start of Catalan medieval literature. While poetry was often written in Occitan, Catalan prose developed, focusing on philosophical and historiographical topics, establishing linguistic standards.

Territorial Expansion and Dialects

Following the Battle of Muret, the Crown of Aragon decided to pursue expansion to the south and across the Mediterranean. This expansion led to the establishment of major dialect blocks:

• Eastern Dialect Block: Mallorca, Ibiza, Minorca, and Alghero (Sardinia).
• Western Dialect Block: Valencia and Aragon, which were repopulated by Catalans.
• Murcia also had Catalan speakers, though many were Arabic speakers (Araboparlants).

The Golden Age (Plenitude)

The plenitude marked the golden age of Catalan literature. The language maintained a strong link with the Crown of Castile, influencing cultural and political affairs. This era saw the economic differentiation of languages in Catalonia. Catalans were recognized as such, though the language was often called Valencian in Valencia, leading to a double entry for the language within Spain.

Suppression and Resistance (18th–20th Centuries)

The Bourbon Reign and Nueva Planta Decrees

During the Bourbon Reign, the War of the Spanish Succession was fought partly on Catalan territory. Philip V established the Nueva Planta Decrees, which abolished proper institutions and laws, imposing Castilian rules and institutions. Spanish became the only official language, and Catalan legal enactments were banned. However, society resisted this imposition, and Catalan continued to be spoken in private, despite the lack of official recognition.

Catalan Society and the Road to Autonomy (Pre-1939)

Catalan society until 1939 saw significant political and cultural movements:

• Commonwealth of Catalonia (Mancomunitat): Led by the Regionalist League (Lliga Regionalista) and Prat de la Riba, driving technical, cultural, and linguistic modernization.
• Government of Catalonia (Generalitat): Established during the Second Republic (1931–1939) under leaders like Francesc Macià and Lluís Companys (ERC), boosting self-government, language, and culture.

This period saw great economic development until the Civil War, accompanied by intense migratory streams, leading to the rapid learning of Spanish. It was an era of social unrest and mass culture, necessitating the update of the language and the avoidance of diglossia (the coexistence of a high-status language and a low-status language).

Linguistic Standardization: The Work of Pompeu Fabra

The process of linguistic regulation was spearheaded by Pompeu Fabra, who proposed legislation based on solutions that reflected the various spoken dialects. Key steps included:

• The "Linguistic Campaign" in the magazine L'Avenç (Advancement).
• The establishment of the Language Department of the Catalan Studies Institute (IEC), recognized by the Commonwealth.
• The publication of Orthographic Rules, Catalan Grammar, and dictionaries of the Catalan language.

Normalization Efforts Before the Civil War

Until the end of 1939, the situation of diglossia was partially overcome. Popular literature gained reach, and cultured language appeared normally in education. In 1899, the Escut Blau (Blue Shield) for Catalan Teaching appeared, promoting education in Catalan.

The Franco Dictatorship and Post-War Period

Suppression Under Franco (1939)

The Franco regime immediately suppressed the Catalan language and culture, replacing them with Spanish.

Post-War Hardship and Desarrollismo

The immediate post-war years were marked by economic hardship and the strengthening of the Franco regime, leading to the most intense phase of linguistic persecution. The subsequent period of Desarrollismo (economic development) maintained the authoritarian Franco regime.

Crisis of the Dictatorship and Immigration

The crisis of the dictatorship, especially in Catalonia during its final years, saw attempts to regain autonomy, language rights, and culture. This period also brought a strong wave of immigration from Andalusia, Castile, and Extremadura. Franco's regime mistakenly believed that this immigration would establish Spanish as the dominant language permanently.