In the study you use the term “new speaker” and have published the negative burden of “euskaldun berri”.

Yes, among the new speakers there is great diversity, and for everyone the word “euskaldun berri” is not worth it. In addition, we have realised that behind the labels there is a question of legitimacy. For example, if you live in Lekeitio and it is the Castilian family that uses Euskera every day, you will feel legitimized to put the Basque label on your own. On the other hand, Euskaldunberris are considered those who have a low level of competence, those who think in Spanish, those who use little Euskera... those who have a discourse of what they lack. An Euskaltegi professor told us that in the Euskaltegi they have long ceased to use this term, they are all Euskaldunes. It makes sense; each with its abilities, in its own way, is Euskaldun, because it is able to speak in Basque.

For some, it's often a very frustrating process, right?

Some new speakers punish themselves a lot. Many of those who speak in Basque on a daily basis say, “I still have a lot to learn.” Since you are not an old Basque, you always have to learn more.

It will be different to live in a very Basque context or in Spanish.

The learning process of adult life is usually shorter in Euskaldunes, as the environment helps. The opposite is true in the Castilian speaking peoples. If the whole learning process has been done in the Basque Country, it will end when you finish. You have no areas to use the Basque Country, and you can have a continuous cycle of setbacks and advances; enroll in the Basque Country and move on; leave and resign… This situation creates great frustration.

Do the tests also influence this concern?

If the activity of Euskaltegis is oriented to the examination, it risks not giving sufficient importance to the use of Euskera. The debate on the change in the format of the examination is now on the table, and we have to take a clear turn. In our case, a lot of importance has been attached to equity, and I think that along that road, we've lost a lot of speakers, because they think they're not able to do so well.

Has the efforts of the new speakers been sufficiently recognized in society?

Campaigns are being conducted, but I think we need to create a strong discourse to value those speakers and bombard society with that speech. In addition, it is necessary to create possibilities of mass use; if you do not have space to use the Basque language, the discourses do not serve at all.

Influence ideology and create spaces…

In my opinion, we need a second, powerful phase of standardisation, to be done massively. In the educational field, for example, a big bet was made on model D, but that's where it's left. Doing a lot of children's leisure activities in Spanish is a drama. I think we have to make a bet so that children really can live in Basque outside school. In Professional Training it would also be important for the mentors of the practices to commit to the practice in Euskera; the Basque can be a way to start to integrate into the workshop. We have to see where the situation needs to be reversed and we need comprehensive planning, in which we have to make a big investment.

Furthermore, in language policy it will be important to take account of local realities. For example, a particular concern has now arisen over the decline of Euskera in the respiratory areas. It is a logical responsibility, but we cannot close the door to trends in other environments. The person who does not use Euskera for the inhabitants of a respiratory zone is not Euskaldun. We are saying the opposite; even if you use little, sit down Euskaldun, as from that feeling you will be able to start using more. It is important that, even if the Basque does not do well, the speakers are legitimized. What for some is a loss, for others is a gain. Linguistic policy must be adapted to the realities of the different peoples and regions.

As for the young, you affirm that the study created new types of speakers: those who have euskaldunized in the model of immersion or those who have the unified Basque in the mother tongue.

We will have to change our imagination; in Barakaldo there is also Euskaldunzaharras. For these young people, perhaps the dialect is not important, since there are no special variants in their village, but the language of the street. It is very important to work on informal language, and to do so we have to work on extracurricular activities. If the young people see that Euskera serves them to count the French Revolution, but feel limited among their friends, then Euskera will be lost.

We have also come to the conclusion that the main reason not to speak in Basque is the lack of habit. Changing habits requires a proactive attitude that is not sufficiently promoted. Moreover, the young people have shown in the research the discourse of imposition; some young people who have learned Euskera in the immersion model have felt that the Basque has been imposed on them because they are from Castilian "parasitic" families. We have to walk very carefully.

What motivational tools can be effective?

Consume Basque culture, for example; listen to radio in Basque, watch television in Basque, watch a theater play in Basque… Thus, little by little a link is created with the community. This also requires variety. Gorka Salces, in his thesis on the media in Euskera, stresses, among other things, that Gaztea is a very important radio, because through it many young people not linked to the Basque language listen to Euskera. Sometimes we have a tendency to think that the Basque culture must be clean, cultured, of a level… that must also exist, but normalisation will also be accompanied by an easy and telecable culture.

Young people have to have the opportunity to do fun and meaningful things in Basque, but that is why we have to create those opportunities. You cannot say “Euskera has to be attractive” and not promote activities to achieve it.

Are we talking enough about this issue?

We have now begun to work on the topic of emotions in the socio-linguistic and sociological spheres. Knowing how we feel will give us many keys. In the study, we've also noticed that people appreciate having a space to talk about these issues; you can find out that others feel like you, or that there are other ways to feel. To work on empathy, it is necessary to talk about the issue.