As you may know, the official national language of Spain, spoken as mother tongue or first language by the most of the population, is “Spanish”, also referred to as “Castilian” when comparing it with any of the regional languages, dialects and variants which are used across the country. Among those, four regional languages are recognized as official in their respective regions together with Spanish: Catalan (català-catalán), Valencian (valencià/valenciano), the Basque language (euskera/vasco) and Galician (galego/gallego).

Recently, a new reform has been passed by the Spanish parliament, which allows senators to speak in their respective regional languages when debating in the parliament’s upper chamber.

This decision has re-awakened controversy that has existed for decades in Spain, over the use of the country’s minority languages and the role they should play in politics, education and society.

Together with the new measure, a new system of simultaneous interpreting has been required in the Chamber. 25 interpreters have been employed to interpret the speeches of those senators who want to speak Catalan, Galician, Valencian or Euskara into Castilian, and enable communication in this new “multilingual” Senate.

The subject has once again become a hot topic in Spanish politics and society.  Spaniards are now divided into the defenders of the reform, who consider it appropriate, arguing that it reflects the country’s regional linguistic diversity, enriches Spanish culture and represents a gesture of tolerance.

On the other hand, there are those who describe the law as being against common sense, since everybody in the Senate understands and is perfectly able to communicate in, and speak, the Spanish language, who consider the measure a huge waste of public money for a country at a time of economic crisis.

So, what’s your opinion on this matter? Give us your views! And if you need professional Spanish translation, then please get in touch!

ESTRELLA RUIZ