The Battle of Valencia

The Battle of Valencia is an identity conflict that confronted the Valencian society during the Spanish Transition to democracy (1975-1982), characterized by a high degree of conflict, and that caused a political and social fracture in the Valencian Country that still endures.

The conflict began during the autonomy process of the Valencian Country, in which the conservative parties sought to gain votes by promoting the fear of a "Catalan invasion" that pretended to suppress all that was part of the Valencian identity (between that was included the Valencian language). At first the progressive parties were strong and they established the Consell del País Valencià (Council of the Valencian Country) with José Luis Albiñana from the Partit Socialista del País Valencià (Socialist Party of the Valencian Country) as the President. A temporary flag for the country was established:

On October 6, 1979 in Valencia took place a mass demonstration against the new flag organized by conservative groups and other groups linked to the Franco’s dictatorship. Due to the blockade of the Consell, the Socialist councillors resign and the Unión de Centro Democrático (a centre party) takes control of the Consell. Here begins the Battle of Valencia.

The quatribarrada (flag of the Crown of Aragon) with the Coat of Arms in the middle was changed for the flag of the city of Valencia (with the blue stripe and the crown), the name of Valencian Community was adopted instead of Valencian Country and they gave to Valencian the category of language (without considering it a dialect of Catalan).

Since then the fear to a "Catalan invasion" continued and groups of blavers (groups who refuse to consider Valencian as a dialect of Catalan) began to use violence against political figures and intellectuals such as Joan Fuster, which was bombed at the door of his house. Fortunately he wasn’t damaged.

Today the blavers remain almost half of the population of the Valencian Country and thanks to them the People’s Party (conservative party) gets large majorities in the Corts Valencianes (regional parliament). The situation today is different but still exist posters as this one:

No mos fareu Catalans means "You won’t make us Catalan". The youth of today and much of the population of Valencia know that we have a language and a culture in common with Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. The theory that Valencian is an independent language from Catalan contradicts itself. In this image you can see the map of the regions where Catalan is spoken (Catalonia, Roussillon, Valencia, Balearic Islands, East Aragon, North East Murcia and Alghero [Sardinia]):

Language diversity

It seems that lately only a few languages have relevance, and above all, English is by far the most studied language in the world. Today I was thinking about what to talk and repently an idea came to my mind: Why not to talk about language diversity? It is an issue that we discussed in class referring to Gaeilge and the country I come from has a great linguistic diversity...

In Spain 8 different laguages are spoken: Spanish, Catalan (in Catalonia, the Valencian Country, eastern Aragon and the Balearic Islands), Basque (in northern Navarra and the Basque Country), Galician (in Galicia), Astur-Leonese (in Asturias and western Castilla-León), Aragonese (in northern Aragon), Occitan (in the Vall d’Aràn) and Portuguese (in some areas near to Portugal).

However, according to the Spanish constitution, only 4 languages are considered co-official languages in its respective autonomous regions (since Spanish is the official language throughout Spain): Catalan, Galician, Basque and... Valencian. Yes, the "Valencian language" is considered a co-official language in Spain. This is because the regional government of the Valencian Community has never recognized that Valencian is a dialect of Catalan laguage, although any linguist would affirm that without hesitation.

Maybe another day I will explain why the government of Valencia doesn't recognize Valencian as a dialect of Catalan, but it has to do with the constant attacks that the Spanish centralist governments hold against the endangered languages of the country.