dimarts, 8 de novembre del 2011

Reason 31: The only way to get all products labelled in Catalan



How many years have passed since the restoration of democracy. I remember in those times people spoke another type of Catalan. I remember that the first Catalan TV channel TV3 had to 'create' an artificial language, as so many years of linguistic oppression had brought a tremendous lack of vocabulary, since by law everthing had to be in foreign language (French in North Catalonia in Spanish in South Catalonia). Watching Catalan TV series was like watching to a utopian, non-existent and surprising Catalonia, in which you could see a robber speaking Catalan, where you could hear people talk about products in Catalan for the first time. Gradually the situation has changed, but not much. In Southern Catalonia (the Spanish side), one of the most serious causes of this deficiency of vocabulary are the 500 laws that require the labelling of products in Spanish language or the use of Spanish language in business and on the other hand, the almost total lack of resources or desire to get products tagged in Catalan.

What a relieve it was for me, in 1992, to move to a country where there are no such linguistic deficiencies, and what makes me sad seeing how Catalonia, after 20 years in Amsterdam, has hardly improved, it gets one step forward and two backwards.

I was very happy to discover businesses like supermarket chain Bon Preu, where the fancy brands of the chain are in Catalan, but if you want to buy any ‘A’ brand you practically won’t find any in Catalan at all.

If my conclusion, long ago, was already that only a Catalan state can get this situation to normality, now it is being enforced by a new EU law. The EU is looking to take a new measure that will make even more difficult to label in Catalan, and will even turn tagging only in Catalan into an illegal activity. The EU wants to force EU member states to label their products in one of the languages that are official in Europe. In the case of Spain it is definitely not the Catalan language, as Madrid blocks the access of Catalan language to have an official status in Europe. (Http://www.elsingulardigital.cat/cat/notices/2011/07/l_etiquetatge_en_catala_en_perill_70738.php)

As with the Catalan language at schools, the situation is precarious and uncertain as long as Catalonia is part of Spain (and France). The Catalan language, after 30 years of 'democracy' is still in a similar situation. Buy a car, medicine, shampoo, quince, cheese, condoms, or whatever you want. To find any product in Catalan is still a rare and surprising experience. This phenomenon is not only emotionally painful, is a constant weakening and impoverishment of our language; it is a constant free Spanish lesson for native and foreign citizens. Imagine a foreigner who wants to learn Catalan (and does not know Spanish). Going to the supermarket and all interested in how the products are called in Catalan. Well, what will she learn? pañuelos, lavavajillas, membrillo? Not a single Catalan word. No mocadors, rentavaixelles, codony.

Besides these inconveniences, Catalans still today have to snap to Spanish language when talking about certain products that in the public arena only exist in Spanish language as the Spanish law commands.

It is clear that without the protection of an own state Catalonia will never reach a normal labelling of products.
More information (in Catalan):

http://blogspersonals.ara.cat/elcatalasuma/2011/11/03/faktum-abstrakt-rationell/
http://blogspersonals.ara.cat/elcatalasuma/2011/10/06/etiquetatge-catala-llei-i-acompliment-ii-un-criteri-curios-en-l%e2%80%99aplicacio-de-les-lleis/
http://www.elsingulardigital.cat/cat/notices/2011/07/l_etiquetatge_en_catala_en_perill_70738.php

7 comentaris:

Trisha ha dit...

love it!

Anònim ha dit...

Buenas,
Soy de padre catalan y madre gallega, nacido y crecido en Suiza en viviendo en Montreal,Quebec (ironico no?).
Solo decirte que me encanta tu blog ya que conozco poco el tema pero como medio catalan y muy cule, me debo informame mas sobre Catalunya.
Tenemos una startup y pronto estaremos en Europa. Te aseguro que sera traducida en catalan, gallego i vasco.
Un abrazo and keep up the good work,
lucas

Miquel Marzabal Galano ha dit...

Hi Lucas!
As a world citizen that you are and coming from the countries and cultures you come from you must understand what I am talking about.
Thank you for your support.

You are living in Quebec right now. How is the situation of the French language and culture at the moment?
What is your opinion?

Best regards,
Miquel

Miquel Marzabal Galano ha dit...

Of course there is a main difference with Catalonia in favour of Quebec. Quebec is not the only place in the planet where the French language is spoken. Quebec has the support of a souvereign nation-state, France, which has a strong interest in keeping the Quebequois alive and kicking. You can imagine what the situation would be of Catalonia if there was a nation-state, member of the most influential states in Western Europe with 50 million Catalan speakers behind. Nothing to compare.
But please, tell me.

Anònim ha dit...

as long as catalunia is a part of spain, this is pretty normal. As a kurd I sometimes feel for the catalans cause I understand our situation. but at the end catalunia is Spain.

Miquel Marzabal Galano ha dit...

Thank you for your comment.
Yes, the Spanish part is "Spain", but it also is Catalonia, which is a country with an own parliament and own laws.
The problem is that the language law is not being implemented.
But, what's your point? Are you saying I should just conform with injustice, ocupation and accept submission? Why? no proper independent state ever achieved to be a great independent state by accepting ocupation and opression. And I am not intending to do that.

Arnau Estanyol ha dit...

Congrats for your work. It's a pleasure find out so many people like you working for the freedom of Catalonia and its dignity.