Concise Course of Basque - Introduction
The Basque language or euskara is one of the oldest European languages. It is not only spoken in Spain but also in France. The Basque language has a large number of dialects. You can find them in every Basque province.
Because of education and communication there is also a unified language called euskara batua (unified Basque).
The drawing up of this unified language was not an easy matter in view of the many dialects (of which Guipuzkoa was the dominant one). Therefore, a commission for euskara was established. After many and sometimes heated discussions, the unified language was drawn up. However, at this moment the language is not yet full accepted. The reason is that euskara batua has only been valid since the 1960s.
The Basque language was promoted through Basque newspapers such as Egin orEgunkaria, via radio stations (Euskal irratia, Euskal gaztea, ...) and through the creation of a Basque television station (ETB1).
Nowadays Basque is very well spread. Proof of this is the more and more widespread word ikastolak (school where only Basque is being used).
A (concise) course is a very good way to make the language more known with people in other parts of the world.
I myself do not speak Basque, but it is an interesting language to know more about.
I hope you will enjoy your journey through the basics of the Basque language.
Agur eta ongi ikastea.
- To the course -