Relations in prisons are different. They have a number of constraints, but the main ones are that inmates don't want to be and can't avoid them. Communication situations, speech acts, records and keys that emerge in this extreme context are special and, consequently, one of the most evident traces is manifested in language. Numerous studies have been carried out from different areas of linguistics and the conclusion is that both in lexicon and in phraseology these languages produced behind the irons are a source of abundant innovation. Subsequently, these innovations go out into the street and become part of language, initially into colloquial languages, but in the end they are also accepted by academies.

The Basque country has not had that scope for him. There have been many Basques in prison, but it was not our area. The Basque Country had the ability to hide its own information and, although it has been persecuted, it has awakened the envy of other prisoners. His testimony was collected in the book Txori Urdinak by Zigor Olabarria at the hand of Santi Cobos.

However, the Basque language is not the language of the Port of Santa María, Alcala Meco, Picassent or Fleury Merogis, and the hundreds of prisoners who have been there have not only been away from family, friends and the people themselves, but also from the Basque. For five years, over forty teachers and teachers, through letters and sometimes taking the visit of their friends and friends, have tried to put the patch in a small hole. The initiative has been very successful, especially from the point of view of the relationships that emerged, but also from the academic results obtained by the students. Refined students.

I recently gave a talk in Zaballa prison about what we in Colombia contributed to the revitalization of languages, in Basque, of course. The 60 listeners there were Basques, among them two Colombians ears and Santi Cobos himself, son of León. Euskera has become a language of communication among many of the newly arrived prisoners. Euskera has been located in the city centre and has created various initiatives, such as bertsos, books and conversation classes. A good lesson for all, bring the Basque to the center.

I believe that relations between Basques are special. That led Santi, for example, to study Basque. In a context in which confrontations are common, hugs, gestures of care and collaboration in Euskera predominate, something that, although it is a disorder for some, is attractive for others. Applications to learn Basque are growing dramatically in Eukal Herria prisons.