What is normalizing the Basque Country?
On more than one occasion I have heard that in the last year the concept of normalisation is not the right one to reflect our purpose on the Basque country.
The concept of linguistic normalization created by Lluis Aracil has been used on numerous occasions by the movement for the Basque Country. An example of this is the Basic Law for the Standardization of the Use of the Basque Country approved by the Basque Parliament in 1982 and the Strategic Plan for Linguistic Normalization promoted in the Basque World Conference in 1997.
However, I do not think we have given you enough thought to clarify its meaning or, rather, to clarify what we understand by that. To make a little light in my head, I have resorted to the contents of the Sociolinguistics Manual, and from there I have removed the citations that will be received here by some authors.
What is linguistic standardization? Battitu Coyos gathers the process by which the minority language emerges from that situation and extends to all social areas and functions. Along the same lines, according to Sánchez Carrión Txepetxe, the objective of normalization is to achieve the full development of the language, that is, to be able to fulfill all the functions of the time.
It is true that other terms have also been used, such as the revitalization of the Basque country (EBPN, 1999), the promotion of the Basque country (ESEP, 2013) and linguistic equality (DFG, 2015). The question is whether these concepts have equivalent meaning to normalization or, where appropriate, what is the intention that each term sets as an objective. What is the socio-linguistic and political-legal level to which we aspire, whatever term is used?
Imanol Larrea and Paul Bilbao have opportunities for a minority language. It would be a minimum socio-linguistic objective for the Basque Country to assume all areas of use. Medium objective: to add to the level prior to the Euskaldunization of the population that does not know Euskera. Maximum objective: to integrate the previous two and the rentals (immigrants with another language) in our community of speakers. And then there are the three options that they mention about the political-legal framework. Minimum: that people who wish to do so should be able to use minority language in all areas; that is, to guarantee linguistic rights. Media: add to the above that the minority language is the official language of all organizations. Maxim: turn minority language into a single official language.
Calling to normalize or calling something else, what do we want to achieve for the Basque Country, placing us between utopia and realism? We need to reflect and reflect.
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ARGIAk ez du zertan bat etorri artikuluen edukiarekin. Idatzien gehienezko luzera 4.500 karakterekoa da (espazioak barne). Idazkera aldetik gutxieneko zuzentasun bat beharrezkoa da: batetik, ARGIAk ezin du hartu zuzenketa sakona egiteko lanik; bestetik, egitekotan edukia nahi gabe aldatzeko arriskua dago. ARGIAk azaleko zuzenketak edo moldaketak egingo dizkie artikuluei, behar izanez gero.
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