Catalan is a Romance
language spoken by roughly 6.5 million people spread over Spain, France, and
the principality of Andorra.1 The majority of Catalan speakers are
Spanish citizens living in the eastern and northeastern part of the country in
the autonomous communities of Catalonia and Valencia, as well as in the
Balearic Islands of Majorca, Minorca, and Ibiza. In France a small population
of Catalan speakers can be found in the southern Roussillon region.
According to the
Encyclopedia Britannica, spoken Catalan is divided into two main dialect
groups: "Occidental, subdivided into West Catalan and Valencian; and
Oriental, subdivided into East Catalan, Balearic, and Roussillonnais."2
However, these dialects do not differ enough to keep their different speakers
from understanding one another. The Catalan writing system has been developed
in a way to make it neutral to both of these main dialects.
For demographic
information on the Catalan-speaking regions of Spain and France, please see the
following links:
Spain:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalonia
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_language
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencia
France:
1
"Catalan (català)" Omniglot: A Guide to Writing Systems
http://www.omniglot.com/writing/catalan.htm
[Accessed November 17, 2004]
[Accessed November 17, 2004]
2
"Catalan language" Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia
Britannica Premium Service
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9020752
[Accessed November 16, 2004]
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9020752
[Accessed November 16, 2004]
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