Roger Buch, Professor, #CatalanTalk 16
You can find this interview in 7 languages on http://www.catalantalk.com
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Welcome to #CatalanTalk #16. Today we’ll talk with @Rogerbuch, Professor of Poli Sci at Ramon Llull U here in Barcelona #CatalanTalkEN
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Follow the English edition of #CatalanTalk with #CatalanTalkEN. Or change EN to ES, CA, FR, DE, IT, NL for translations.
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Compiled versions of interviews are published at http://www.vilaweb.cat/english as well as at http://www.catalantalk.com #CatalanTalkEN
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Feel free to join in with comments and questions—simply add #CatalanTalkEN to the end of your post.
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.@Rogerbuch has a PhD from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and is an expert in history and Catalan political parties #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch has written several books, including L’esquerra independentista avui [Today’s Pro-Independence Left] #CatalanTalkEN
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and L’herència del PSAN [PSAN’s legacy]. #CatalanTalkEN
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@lizcastro I’m curious to know how @Rogerbuch would define ‘language justice’ in the context of the future Catalan Republic #catalantalken
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.@Rogerbuch also wrote a chapter for my “What’s up with Catalonia?” on the CUP. http://www.cataloniapress.com/p/press-release-presentation.html … #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch‘s latest book is “Asfixiant la llengua” (Smothering the language), an account of the ruling PP’s policies… #CatalanTalkEN
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to undermine and marginalize the Catalan language in the Spanish State. #CatalanTalkEN
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Hello, @Rogerbuch, welcome to #CatalanTalkEN. Thanks so much for joining us. Why would the PP want to smother the Catalan language?
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Welcome also to @Xavipeace, @M_BrokenLeg, @jmreniu, @ORIOLET7, @allado Feel free to ask questions! #Catalantalken
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.@lizcastro The PP is a Spanish nationalist party “allergic” to plurality and difference. It sees Spain as only Castillian #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro It is taking advantage of its only opportunity to accumulate power to try to finish off normal use of Catalan #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch I think it’s hard for people outside the situation to understand how/why a language is perceived as a threat. #CatalanTalkEN
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.@CatalanTalkCA Quines diferències es poden establir en l’actitud del PP contra el català en els diferents territoris? #catalantalken
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.@lizcastro From the PP, Catalan is seen as an inferior, regional language. They can’t tolerate it at same level as Spanish #CatalanTalkEN
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@lizcastro .@lizcastro For them, Catalan is “co-official” always at an inferior level. #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch So, they’re just generally offended? But why do they feel it necessary to get rid of Catalan? Do they really? #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro What offends them isn’t the existence of Catalan, but the fact that its intention is to be a normal language… #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro … like Italian, French, or Swedish #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro For the PP, Catalan is only for informal or non-important use, especially in Balearics and Valencia #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch What are the PP’s basic strategies for marginalizing Catalan? #CatalanTalkEN
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@lizcastro Attacking the areas where the language is in the best shape, in schools and also media #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro Or trying to relate Catalan lang to problems/conflicts, especially where it has hardest time: Balearics/Valencia #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro They do it by taking advantage of absolute majority in Balearic/Valencia govts. All other parties are against. #CatalanTalkEN
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. @lizcastro In Catalonia, since the ideas of the PP are in the minority, they work through the courts. #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch What is the FAES, and how is it involved? #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro The FAES is a PP think tank and its president is the former president of the Spanish govt: José Maria Aznar #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro The FAES writes documents and proposes policies for the PP in all areas, including language #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro For years, FAES’s strategy has been to reduce devolved powers of autonomous communities, close autonomous TV #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro …and limit the presence of the Catalan language in general #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch How have the Catalans responded to these attacks? #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro They respond in various ways: often with irony KEEP CALM and SPEAK CATALAN #catalantalken
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.@lizcastro But sometimes patience has a limit and with issue of Catalan at school, people are beginning to lose patience #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro In Balearics and Valencia, the response has been stronger because the attacks have been much stronger #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro In the Balearics, teachers went on strike for a whole month, without pay, with support of the parents/community #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro In Catalonia, attacks on Catalan increase support for independence, obviously. People say, “Let’s leave already!” #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch @Xavipeace is curious to know how you’d define ‘language justice’ in the context of the future Catalan Republic #catalantalken
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(Welcome to @smujal @ErininToronto @josepaals @gemmalienas @BcnFox @redrhackam @pepfusterbm @supeep Feel free to join in! #CatalanTalkEN)
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And remember you can follow #CatalanTalkEN on http://www.vilaweb.cat/english
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#CatalanTalkEN is being simul-translated into #CatalanTalkCA and #CatalanTalkES (and later FR, DE, IT, NL) tks to @estherroig @rodolfgimeno
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.@lizcastro @Xavipeace @lizcastro In future Catalan Republic, Spanish courts won’t decide which languages are spoken #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro I believe majority will support Catalan as common preferred language, while respecting special status for Spanish #catalantalken
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.@lizcastro @Xavipeace Catalan will be requisite for all public offices and must enjoy special protection #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch The PP is the ruling, majority party in Spain but the only Catalan party never to govern. Why? #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch Never to govern in Catalan Parliament, I mean. #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro The PP in Catalonia has positioned itself outside of the mainstream, outside basic consensus. #catalantalken
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.@lizcastro It’s an extremist party and thus doesn’t have enough support #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro You have to remember that the PP, in contrast with other parties, never declared itself against Francoism #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro That is a big deal in Catalonia. #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro In Catalonia, the presence of and promotion of the Catalan language in school goes with idea of social cohesion… #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro …which is supported by the majority #catalantalken
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.@lizcastro The PP has been continually frustrated to see turnover in Catalan govts with them always in the opposition #CatalanTalkEN
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.@Rogerbuch As always, I have about 25 questions more
Thank you so much for talking to us! It’s been really interesting. #CatalanTalkEN -
.@Rogerbuch Do tell us, though, where we can find your new book “Asfixiant la llengua”! #CatalanTalkEN
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.@lizcastro thank you very much for the interview! https://www.facebook.com/asfixiantlallengua … #CatalanTalkEN
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