Catalan Studies, Études catalans, Estudios Catalanes: Catalan in Aragon.
1996
Organic Law 5/1996, Reforming the Statute of Autonomy of Aragon, in Article 7, states that:
Las lenguas y modalidades lingüísticas propias de Aragón disfrutarán de protección. Se garantizará su enseñanza y el derecho de los hablantes en la forma que establezca una Ley de las Cortes de Aragón para las zonas de utilización predominante de aquellas.
Aragon’s own languages and linguistic varieties shall enjoy protection. Their teaching, and the right of speakers, will be guaranteed iunder the terms laid down in an Act of the Parliament of Aragon, for the areas where their use is predominant.
2005
On 21 September 2005 the Council of Europe issued its Report – ECRML (2005) 4 – in the initial monitoring cycle, on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Spain. It included the Recommendation orf the Committee of Ministers.
The Committee of Ministers recommended “that the authorities of Spain take account of all the observations of the Committee of Experts and, as a matter of priority … “6. strengthen the protection of Aragonese (“Fabla”) and Catalan in Aragon, inclduding establishing an appropriate legal framework” (page 167).
The Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs made the following remark in paragraph R (page 165): “The government of the Autonomous Community of Aragon has already carried out the necessary prior studies for the forthcoming regulation in a single Act of the different languages spoken in its territory. The great difference between Catalan, a socially well-established language with a solid literary tradition, and Aragonese Fabla, with a very limited number of speakers and limited standardisation and literary use, undoubtedly explain why this bill has not yet been passed.“
2007
1. Las lenguas y modalidades lingüísticas propias de Aragón constituyen una de las manifestaciones más destacadas del patrimonio histórico y cultural aragonés y un valor social de respeto, convivencia y entendimiento.
2. Una ley de Cortes de Aragón establecerá las zonas de uso predominante de las lenguas y modalidades propias de Aragón, regulará el régimen jurídico, los derechos de utilización de los hablantes de esos territorios, promoverá la protección, recuperación, enseñanza, promoción y difusión del patrimonio lingüístico de Aragón, y favorecerá, en las zonas de utilización predominante, el uso de las lenguas propias en las relaciones de los ciudadanos con las Administraciones Públicas aragonesas.
3. Nadie podrá ser discriminado por razón de la lengua.»
1. Aragon’s own languages and linguistic varieties are one of the most outstanding manifestations of Aragon’s historica and cultural heritage and a social value of respect, coexistence and understanding.
2. An Act of the Parliament of Aragon will lay down the areas of predominant use of Aragon’s own languages and linguistic varieties, will regulate their legal status, the right of the speakers to use them in these areas, will promote the protection, recovery, teachging, promotion and dissemination of Aragon’s linguistic heritage, and will encourage, in the areas where their use is predominant, the use of Aragon’s own language in citizens’ dealing with Aragon’s public authorities.
3. No-one shall be discriminated against on the grounds of language.
2008
On December 11 2008 the Council of Europe issued its Report in the 2nd monitoring cycle – ECRML (2008) 5 – on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Spain. It included the Recommendation orf the Committee of Ministers
The Committee of Experts stated, in paragraph P (page 141) that “Regarding Aragonese and Catalan in Aragon, the language law has still not yet been adopted. The lack of a legal framework and of practical measures hampers the promotion and protection of Aragonese and Catalan in Aragon. The Committee of Experts notes however, that efforts are being carried out in the field of education.“
The Committee of Ministers recommended “that the authorities of Spain take account of all the observations of the Committee of Experts and, as a matter of priority … … “5. take steps to adopt a specific legal framework for protecting Aragonese and Catalan in Aragon”… (page 151).
2009
Law 10/2009, of 22 December, on the Use, Protection and Promotion of Aragon’s Own Languages. Among other things, it lays down the following:
2. Nadie podrá ser discriminado por razón de la lengua.
3. Los poderes públicos aragoneses garantizarán el ejercicio de estos derechos, a fin de que sean efectivos y reales.
Section 2.-The languages of Aragon.
1. Castilian is the official language of Aragon. All Aragonese have the duty to know and the right to use it.
2. The Aragonese and Catalan languages themselves are the autonomous community’s own, original and historical languages.
3. As such, their protection and teaching, and the right of speakers to use them in areas where their use is historically predominant, especially in relation to public authorities, shall be ensured and encouraged.
4. The procedure for declaring the municipalities in the areas of the predominant historical use of these languages is laid down in Article 9 of this Act, in accordance with sociolinguistic and historical criteria.
Section 3.-Designation of linguistic varieties.
The local councils iin the areas of the predominant historical use of the languages of Aragon may, by the adoption of an agreement by the affirmative vote of a majority in the plenary, propose to the High Council for Languages of Aragon the name of their own linguistic variety, based on historical, philological and sociolinguistic reasons.
Section 4.-Language rights.
1. The following language rights are accorded to citizens of Aragon in the terms laid down in this Act:
a) To learn Aragon’s own languages.
b) To use Aragon’s own languages orally and in writing, both in private relations and in dealings with the public authorities.
c) To be taught Aragon’s own languages.
d) To receive, in Aragon’s own languages, publications and radio, television and other media programmes.
e) To use Aragon’s own languages in economic and social life.
2. No-one shall be discriminated against on the grounds of language.
3. The Aragonese government shall guarantee the exercise of these rights, so that they are effective and real.
2011
Partido Popular election manifesto, “Centrados en ti. El cambio necesario en Aragón“. Paragraph 498 (Page 99):
Derogaremos la Ley de Lenguas, comenzando al mismo tiempo una política activa para la preservación y divulgación de nuestras modalidades ligüísticas (sic).
We shall repeal the Language Act, starting at the same time an active policy for the preservation and dissemination of our linguistic varieties.
2012 (18 June)
Draft bill on Languages: (Agència catalana de Notícies)
El govern d’Aragó ha presentat l’esborrany de l’avantprojecte de llei d’ús, protecció i promoció de les llengües pròpies de la comunitat, amb què vol derogar tots els aspectes de l’actual Llei de llengües que segons el PP “imposen” la normalització de l’aragonès i el català en aquesta comunitat. L’esborrany deixa de banda la denominació de català i parla d'”aragonès oriental” per referir-se a la llengua parlada a la Franja de Ponent i fixa l’aprenentatge d’aquesta llengua com a “voluntari”. Amb aquest canvi legislatiu, el govern d’Aragó vol evitar que la regulació de les llengües de la comunitat es faci a través d’organismes de fora d’Aragó. També preveu la creació d’una única acadèmia de la llengua.
The government of Aragon has presented the draft Bill on the use, protection and promotion of the community’s own languages, with which it wants to repeal all aspects of the current Languages Act which, according to the PP, “impose” the normalization of Aragonese and Catalan in this community. The draft leaves out the name of Catalan and speaks of “Eastern Aragonese” to refer to the language spoken in the “Franja de ponent”, and lays down that the learning of the language will be “voluntary.” With this legislative change, the government of Aragon wants to avoid the language being regulated by bodies outside Aragon. It also foresees the creation of a single language academy.
2012 (20 June)
Declaration on the draft Bill by the Institute of Catalan Studies (in Catalan).