We have taken in hand the press release that says “Gora laudio” and we have reached Laudio. As we have read in the note, in the last ten years there has been more than doubling the real use of Euskera in the municipality: In 2001 it stood at 3.69% and in autumn 2011 it stood at 9%. Felix Muguruza is a technician in the Basque Area of the Town Hall of Llodio. He explained the data, which they gave with the Basque Day. “The Sociolinguistics Cluster was performing a street measurement in the village, with the service contracted by us, and we asked them to advance the results. We wanted to know the results to broadcast them on Euskera Day, even if it was an interim piece of data, but something. It was bad data, it was good, but we were looking forward to it. And they told us that use has doubled! Horrible! It was unusual. They also told us that the result had a small margin of error. The measurement was very reliable.” In particular, out of a total of 2,408 people, 981 interviews had been measured, which meant a very small possibility of worsening. Similar results were not expected in Laudio.

“By no means. Furthermore, if you take into account that there has been no such result in the area, much less so. In the Basque Country, on the contrary, the use has increased considerably. I don't even know what happened. A hundred years ago the Basque was lost in this area, all the Basques we are here are Euskaldunberris. Today, one third of the population is Euskaldun in Laudio, after great effort. People who have made that effort don't want to hide what they've learned, they want to teach it. Perhaps those who have received the Basque from heaven do not appreciate it, but after so many years of learning the Basque language, they can do no more than use it!”

One third of the population is Euskaldun in Laudio. Its use is not one-third, however. Everyone who has learned does not use it, contrary to what Muguruza said… “Yes, we already know what that is like. This is not the case anywhere. They also developed a mathematical model that studied knowledge and use, and the actual results are excellent. Those ten years ago were the ones that could be expected, even mathematically. Today’s results, very good.” Data is always data. “But it’s not only data, it’s also a reality: on the street, in the park, when you’re with children… you hear the Basque, quite a lot. I will tell you more, in the town next door, in Orozko, Euskaldun town, go to the plaza, you will hear less Euskera than in Laudio. Zubiaur is the center of Orozko. When people go there, they leave the language of caserío and start in Spanish. They are Euskaldunes, but they will speak Spanish to each other and to children. We have this kind of tents in our hands, but we are playing well.”

Agents for use

And who has worked for the use to occur? The use of Laudio ten years ago has multiplied by two in Laudio. It is not only the use of the Basque language, hence, according to Muguruza, the use of the Basque language: “The Basque is well valued here, that has a lot to do with it. Another thing: until now, the basis of its use was the Basque, the Basque, the Orthodox. Now go to the place where the children play, go to the park, or to the events we organize from this Basque Area, and there you will see the fathers and mothers who have nothing to do with the Basque, who are not Basque, but who speak in Basque. It's your feeling. And that is that, among other things, the father wants to convey to the child the best of himself and the Basque. I'm sure those parents weren't using Euskera much before they had children. But they've had children, and they want to give the best of themselves to the children, using Euskera. And I tell you, those parents are not militant Basque. But they are users.” What does this mean? What is the interpretation? “It is also the step towards standardisation. I think it will also reach other places: although they are not Basque, they are Basque users. So how many of us are the Basque people in Laudio? About two hundred? And if it squeezes a little, the Orthodox, about fifty.”

You said it a moment ago, you have made a great effort at Laudio… Who has made that effort? Ten years ago, the Basque Area of the City was created, which has gone from 3.69 uses to 9. “A lot of people have worked. Ten years ago the Euskera Area of the City Hall was created, and surely that would also influence, in the teaching, in the Basque Country… The City Hall has undoubtedly been an agent, but another one. In teaching, for example, we have not had a model A for years. People's perception of the Basque country is favorable. And take into account the great immigration we've had here, which came to us with industry. In Laudio there are many people from outside, but their sons and daughters have approached the Basque world. Or we have been able to attract them, too.” What is Euskera working on in Laudio, Euskera associations and so on? “Here is the Basque association Basalarrina, the Kirikiño association – which organizes children’s activities – the mountain association, the cycling association… Suppose, the mountain association. For twenty years he has been holding all the posters in Basque. And of course, when you walk up the street, in the bars and in the rest, always in Basque, you realize that sign as normal. Here the poster only in Spanish becomes a little weird.”

The Basque Area and the associations of Euskera have launched several campaigns to increase its use... In relation to this reflection by Muguruza: “Look, in our country, it seemed that being Basque was a punishment, a punishment, because there were difficulties and many paths of outrage. Now, I would say that in free time, for example, Euskaldunes have an offer that Castilian speakers do not have, and that inevitably helps. We organize several activities, but they are in Basque and, therefore, it is practical to be Basque, to speak in Basque. Well to watch a film, either to go to the mountain, or to participate in a guided tour.” A concrete experience below: “The association organizes trips to the mountain for young people and performs excursions throughout the Basque Country. Anyone who wants to participate has only one obligation: to do so in Basque. If you don't do it in Basque, you get the feeling that you're losing something beautiful. That is the commitment, the condition sine qua non. Nobody forces you to participate in anything, but if you want to participate you have to speak in Basque. In that we have succeeded: we have not used Euskera as a threat, we say ‘euskara geu gara’, we organize something wonderful, and we invite people to come, to enjoy it”. The allure of always dancing. “It’s about offering people, not asking for this and that. By doing attractive things, people will go up to our chariot.”

The use of the Basque Country has doubled in Laudio in the last ten years. Who has done the “prize”? Have the different associations working in the town, the educational centers, those working in the Basque country played a leading role? “The Town Hall of Llodio reported the data through an official statement by the mayor. The prize is from the town hall, the town hall. We have received messages of happiness from all places, but there are those who do not agree with that result, who say that more needs to be done... but they cannot always live under that pressure. However, the increase in its use has been made by society, is the result of its work, behind this result is the use of anonymous people, more than what the usual familiar faces do: Apart from the Basque Area, the associations of the Basque Country, the councillors, the mayors… there is merit”. Silent work and merit, according to Muguruza.