Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. Elhuyarren itzultzaile automatikoaren logoa

The Spanish is bad, well, I don't know...

As my parents didn't know, I didn't pick up the Basque at home. But because in the history of our family the Basque Country did not want to lose another link, they took me to the ikastola, and with a lot of passion they tried to sow the seed of the language in my interior. What happens is that I didn't have contact with the Basque Country until I started working at the ikastola at the age of three, but yet surprisingly, I learned it very well, as the ancient masters have told me. Apparently, I already had the Basque identity in my bowels, so much so that I have the impression that it worked as the necessary compost for the Basque to collapse in me, helping words naturally along the way to my language.

I am grateful, of course. And not only because I had offered the Basque language, but also because they gave me the political keys to interpret the reality of the language, to which I am grateful, to a large extent, for the motivation that a child needs to choose the Basque language in the absolute supremacy of Castilian, in the sense of the minimum political conscience that gives meaning to the effort that must be made so that the Spanish inertia does not lead him.

"In view of the ideological involution we have suffered, it is a privilege for me to have received such a crude but rigorous account of the reality of Euskal Herria"

Yes, I am one of the times when children were told in their mouths that ours is a dominated people, the conflict in Euskal Herria (and language), which was situated in the context of an oppressed people. And not bad, because if I had been born beyond the age of 50, the discourse that would have been transmitted to me about the sociopolitical context of the Basque Country was very different, and certainly very different the conclusion.

I would not have said, for example, that ours is a dominated people, but a plural society. And by denying structural political domination, of course, it would not have been possible to explain the existence here of the Spanish and French language, nor to recognize that, considering that these languages are here imposed, the presence of these languages is a threat to the survival of the Basque Country here. Today, if it were not for imbalances to be avoided, for some it would be celestial multilingualism with the same magic as linguistic oppression, colonization and assimilation has become the coexistence between different sensibilities. Desirable characteristics of plural and modern societies that must be promoted and promoted to believe that we live in the worlds of Yupi.

Well, in view of the ideological involution we have suffered, it is a privilege for me to have received such a crude but rigorous account of the reality of Euskal Herria, which has come to me from the ttipi. At least in my case, the lesson is that the motivation that the Basque country has matured so firmly is based on the fact that it was not Spanish, that only the Spaniards should do so in Spanish, and that Spanish was not good here, since it was established with the aim of eradicating the Basque country.

From what I usually see in my talks on free education, the disaster and absurdity that this political tibidity has generated in Basque adults when it comes to influencing the linguistic habits of young people is evident.

Because, look, we want them to do it in Basque – and not in Spanish – but we want to reduce the use of Castilian without limits; because languages are not bad by themselves, but it hurts to listen to the children in Spanish or French; and we do not explain to them the reason for that pain, because that would be a policy, and children must be left out of politics, but without political reasons, what arguments could be against Spanish and French? But no, no, we are not against, all languages are enriching, also the Castilian languages here, but with the Basque language as the preferred language among all...

And then the question. How could we do that?

Well, do you forgive? ? Miracles in Lourdes.


You are interested in the channel: Euskara
2024-09-13 | ARGIA
Result of the insistence: road signs in Basque
The citizen is asking for signs to be put in Basque. The Government responds that this is not required by law. The Observatory replies that, although the law does not oblige, it is not forbidden to place in Basque. The Government maintains its position. However, the population... [+]

Mintzalasai proposes "good linguistic parentheses" in Basque
From 16 to 22 September the festival organized with the aim of promoting the use of the Basque Country will be held. It is the thirteenth edition of a festival held in the cities of Baiona, Angelu and Biarritz.

Are we about to do that?

As you will recall, last spring members of the Platform Aulas de la Experiencia Euskaraz Ere Bai gave a message that citizenship can also carry out in Basque the courses organized by the Experience Class of the University of the Basque Country.

The message was addressed to the... [+]


Body sounds
"It's very dangerous to think that anyone can teach sign language."
For Aitor Bedialauneta (Ondarroa, Bizkaia, 1991) it is “essential” that they be heard and respected to work in network. The president of the Basque Federation of Associations of Deaf Persons, Euskal Gorrak, referred to the importance of preserving the quality of sign... [+]

Maddi Kintana
“It seems that the colloquial language, in the South and in the North, cannot be separated from Spanish and French”
Maddi Kintana presented in June her Final Master's Work in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux and the Iker research centre. With the title The Youth Language in BAM and its environment, has analyzed the language of young people between 18 and 24 years of age from... [+]

2024-09-11 | Maialen Arteaga
For complex responses

In these periods hyper accelerate and in these fluids the blunt responses offer us handles. It is easy in times of crisis to grasp such a premise and raise the flag. You need quick answers to understand everything that happens around you, which often leads us to look for the... [+]


2024-09-11 | ARGIA
The Baiona court condemns Gorka Torre for acts in favour of the Basque Country
The judge denied him the declaration in Basque and decided not to participate in the trial held against him. Faced with dozens of Euskaltzales who have come to the room to show their support, Tor has called for disobedience. In total, he has been sentenced to pay EUR 3,268 for... [+]

Happy New Year

It is not Christmas, however, there will soon be decorations in the big shops to announce it, or at least they say so. In the shop window “Zorionak! Claims like “Gabon ederra passes!” will be exposed everywhere. However, congratulations can be many: the lottery, bringing a... [+]


2024-09-10 | UEU
Aiora Eizmendi Otaegi
"Children learn Hitan by practicing with their peers"
Aiora Eizmendi Otaegi (Errezil, 1997) held the Higher Cycle of Administration and Finance and years later attended the Primary Education Degree at the UPV/EHU. In the journal Uztaro has published the study "Children and the Hitano of a Respiratory Space: Initiation and the Look of... [+]

Start by stepping on the Basque!

On May 17, five Euskaltzales of Ipar and Hego Euskal Herria performed an action coinciding with the call made by the students of the Bernat Etxepare lyceum to mobilize in favor of the Basque. On the wall of the Baiona Subprefecture, a message was sent to the authorities of the... [+]


Eguneraketa berriak daude