Regional Nationalism in Spain

Language Use and Ethnic Identity in Galicia.

This book is about linguistic diversity and language revitalisation in Galicia, an autochthonous region of Spain. Taking historical and linguistic perspectives, it examines societal language use and institutional support to determine the role of the Galician language and loyalty and prestige factors in expressions of ethnic identity.

This highly accessible book examines linguistic diversity in Galicia, one of the devolved regions of Spain. Its principal hypotheses are: that the Galician language is an intrinsic characteristic of Galician ethnic identity: that policy and planning impact on the behavioural practices of language users, reflected in loyalty and prestige factors: that whilst a reversal in traditional perceptions and attitudes is resulting in a reaffirmation of Galician as the autochthonous language, its sociolinguistic relationship with Castilian has not been resolved: that Galicians have to negotiate multiple identities, subject to constant change and adjustment. Through its innovative and in-depth analysis of Galician linguistic, sociolinguistic, ethnic and cultural revival and revitalisation processes, it also serves to emphasise the wider relevance of such studies to the case of minoritised languages in general.