TOW #3 - How Catalan Survived

How Catalan Survived is a piece written by Irene Boada, a lecturer on Spanish and Catalan in the United Kingdom. It describes the rocky life of the Catalan language, and the obstacles it has overcome. It describes how Catalan survived through Francisco Franco's dictatorship, and how it now flourishes and unites a people today. When he was in power, Franco wanted a homogenous state, and having two different languages defeated this purpose. This line of thought led him to ban Catalan, unless it was used solely in the home. Their whole language was erased, yet it was kept thriving in family life, and people continue to speak it to this day. The author attributes this to people wanting to fight Franco's oppressive rule, and they felt they could do that by continuing the tradition of speaking Catalan.  The author also complains that Catalan is still widely ignored by universities in Spain, to the point that more Catalan is taught outside of the nation, and attributes this to Spanish prejudices against Catalans. She explains that the solidarity of having to keep one's language secret has kept Catalans in a tight knit community, to the point that many desire a new, separate nation. This text was directed to those that are not very well versed in the problems between Catalans and Spaniards, as it grants a very basic understanding of these issues to the reader. Perhaps most integral to the success of the piece is that the author established her ethos. She writes about a personal and emotional moment connecting to the Catalan language, and it seems to substantiate her points and research. Everything seems true due to this, so the almost pedantic tone of the piece is softened by knowing the emotions of the author. This makes me believe and understand the author, and makes the whole idea so much more important.