Valencia Graduated in philosophy and letters (Catalan philology section) at the University of Alicante, Verònica Cantó Doménech (Cocentaina, 1964) is the president of the Valencian Language Academy (AVL) from 2022. We are talking at a delicate moment for to the institution and for the Valencian because of the policy that the Popular Party and Vox have begun to apply since arriving at the Generalitat just over half a year ago.
The data indicate that the Valencian is approaching a linguistic emergency. Is it time to avoid it?
— The latest data, which are from 2021, tell us that in 2015 72.4% of the population understood it and that it has risen [al 75,8%]. It was spoken by 50.9% and now by 50.6%. Those who read and write it have also increased considerably [del 52,9% al 57,2% i del 34,8% al 40,8%]. This means that it is now known more than ever. The problem remains the usage. In 1995, 62% spoke Valencian and now 50.6%. At home, we have gone from 55% in 1985 to 50.5% in 1992, and to 23.1% in 2021. There is a break in family and intergenerational transmission. Is there a magic wand? No, what must be done is, above all, to use it. This is where we have the great battle.
How would you define the linguistic emergency and what margin is there to avoid it?
— Valencia’s retreat is taking place and this emergency would arrive at the moment there was a point of no return. To recover family transmission, the younger segments of the population and the reception of newcomers are very important. I think we have a very short margin. I would place a period of 5 to 7 years.
He speaks of a short period and of young people, but from next year Valencian will cease to be a vehicular language throughout the territory, and where it remains it will be to a lesser degree.
— The only concrete change is the elimination of the mandatory minimum of 25% in Spanish-speaking areas. But I have no record of what he wants to do [des del govern del PP i Vox].
Should the new model eliminate the exemption for Spanish-speaking areas and make it the vehicular language throughout the territory?
— In today’s reality, the exemption is already completely anachronistic. As for vehicularity, I will never give up that the Valencian can be vehicular throughout the territory.
What is the reason for the rejection of Valencian in certain parts of the territory, especially in the south?
— It has been encouraged by certain ideological positions and interests.
Who encouraged it?
— It is not up to me to assess who encouraged it and why.
In a context in which the Generalitat adopts measures that weaken the language, aIs this institutional prudence the best formula?
— The AVL speaks through its works and if dialogue and consensus presided over its creation, it is dialogue and consensus that continues to preside over its performance. And I don’t think that reviving the language conflict is good, because in a conflict situation Valencian never wins, Spanish wins, which is the strongest language. The AVL has never neglected its functions and has always said things very clearly. It has been said in the dictionary, in the opinions, in the reports… The AVL has to worry about the language. The AVL was created to remove the language from the partisan debate, and here we are.
A few months ago, the debate on the double Catalan-Valencian denomination was addressed. Unlike the Balearic Islands, is the single name of Catalan an option that should be ruled out?
— Our Statute of Autonomy calls the Valencian language, therefore, there is no room for discussion. However, in 2005 the Opinion on the Principles and Criteria for the Defense of the Valencian Denomination and Entity. And ten years ago the Valencian Normative Dictionary. In the opinion, it is said that there are two equally legal denominations to designate this language: Valencian, which is that of our Statute, and Catalan, which is that of the Statute of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. And what the document says is that when we cross administrative borders, not linguistic ones, the autonomous governments and the State must harmonize this onomastic duality so that an image of a fragmented language is not given. To the definitions of Valencian and Catalan [del diccionari], the AVL has been very clear. The language is the same and there are two denominations: Valencian and Catalan.
Why does the name of the language not generate conflict in the Balearic Islands but does in the Valencian Country?
— Because we are the result of a history and the Transition was not the same.
Why do many Valencians deny the unity of the language?
— I don’t have that perception. One of the problems has been creating an identity where there was no need, because we can hear the language regardless of the ideology we have. But if what you do is mix language conflict, identity conflict…, then you create an amalgam of conflicts that a non-specialist has no reason to discern.
The president of the Generalitat said that it was necessary to “recover the founding spirit of the AVL” and “revalencianize” its linguistic criteria. What does he answer?
— When the AVL came into question [pel conseller d’Educació], president Mazón cut off the controversy by saying that the entire Council recognized the linguistic authority of the AVL. When the president talked about revalencianizing, I also agree, but in the sense that the word is defined in our dictionary, which says it is to reintroduce Valencian where it has stopped being used.
Do they feel delegitimized because the Generalitat grants aid to institutions like the RACV and Lo Rat Penat, which deny the authority of the AVL and the unity of Catalan?
— The Valencian government can give nominative subsidies [per al funcionament] whoever deems it appropriate, now, the linguistic authority belongs to the AVL, and the law creating the AVL says that they cannot give subsidies to create language regulations. It should also be taken into account that they are two hundred-year-old organizations that have a very valuable archive, and if these subsidies are to make this heritage available to the general public, there is nothing to say.
Vox wants these two entities to be able to issue official Valencian degrees.
— For me it is unthinkable, because there cannot be two regulations. Intentionality is one thing and what can be done according to the law is another. It won’t happen.
Up to three town councils have vetoed magazines in Valencian saying they “promote the Catalan Countries”. How do you rate it?
— Any kind of censorship seems unfortunate to me and cultural and linguistic censorship, moreover, takes me back to a black and white era and makes me very sad. We live in a plural and diverse society, where terms like censorship have no place, and what’s more, they clash head-on with other terms like democracy, freedom and tolerance.
2024-01-20 21:38:09
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