Xosé Antón González Riaño explains that "the literary tradition and prestige of Asturian did not have the same strength as Catalan or Galician." He also attributes this to "the renunciation of Asturian identity in favor of Spanish national identity by the right or internationalism by the left during the Transition," although this later changed and adopted Asturianism. On the other hand, Inaciu Galán asserts that the dictatorship came to power "without an organized linguistic conscience," "harm was done in schools with linguistic repression, which hurt self-esteem, and incorporated self-hatred." This meant that even during the statutory republican process of the 1930s, official status was not considered, and the use of the language declined, especially from the 1980s onwards.
The last attempt to save the Asturian language
The process to become an official language is back on track with a remarkable obstacle course.
BarcelonaThis has been Asturian Literature Week, a key time of year to vindicate Asturian, a language in danger according to UNESCO's classification. It does not have recognized official status and is not even a language of compulsory teaching in schools, as it is a voluntary subject. But the battle for its official status has returned to the forefront this term, and this Saturday there will be a demonstration with that objective and also with the objective of making Galician-Asturian—or Eonaviego—official in the western part of Asturias. For the first time, this issue will be voted on in the Asturian parliament—although currently not three-fifths of deputies are in favor—after the last legislature missed the opportunity to achieve thisAlthough there was initially a majority, a twist of events ultimately meant that the vote wasn't held: the PP was against it and Vox was especially aggressive, while Foro Asturias changed its mind at the last minute and also joined the rejection of official status. Adrián Barbón emphasizes in ARA that official status "is a priority" and that "it has never been voted on," making the vote "historic." They add that they are clear that "official status is inevitable; if not this term, the one that comes to law." The government already formally defended it in the regional chamber in April, where experts appeared and the project process began.
"Without official status, you have it, but you don't use it." Thus, 62% of people able to speak the language, according to the latest macro-demographic study from 2017, switch to Castilian in more formal settings or outside of strict privacy. Televisión de Galicia," he emphasizes. But there are unflattering elements: preferred oral usage ranges between 20% and 40% depending on the interlocutor; and family usage is limited to 34% of the population, while 20% use both at home. But self-hatred is decreasing: only self-hatred is decreasing: only self-hatred is decreasing: Spanish.
The linguistic challenge.
In large cities, around a quarter of people have advanced knowledge of the language, according to a 2023 study by the AJA (Association of Galician Asturians). González points out, however, that "linguistic substitution is an evident fact" and is even more pronounced in cases where the language is not officially recognized, although "schooling mitigates it somewhat." However, he sees that "there is a movement of linguistic loyalty among young Asturians and some parents." Likewise, activist Inaciu Galán, of Iniciativa polo Asturianu (Asturian Initiative), states that he is "optimistic" about the future of official status because society "mostly" supports it, but it is necessary "for the right to join in." Therefore, he believes that a change of heart by the PP is key, and hence his emphasis on the Galician example and his invitation to ALA conferences to General Secretaries of Language Policy of Galicia or former officials from this government.
"Transmission is difficult among younger generations, especially in urban areas," which calls for action with "courageous" policies, González points out. In a context of substitution, what is happening is that "rural Asturias is disappearing, and so is life in Asturian, which was transmitted in a rural context," he adds. He also maintains that "if official status was not achieved last term, it was by chance" and that, although "the scenario is different due to polarization at the state level," he is confident that it will emerge: "There is an Asturian social network in favor, while the radical opposition is around 20%, but they are powerful sectors,
The journey
González recalls that in the late 1990s, the PP proposed a reform of the Statute to make Asturian official, but that it was the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), which "took an Asturianist turn in 2017 with Barbón." Since then, it has been the PP that has opposed official status. In 1984, the language entered the classroom, and in 1998, the Linguistic Normalization Law was passed to guarantee citizens' rights of use with the government, the right to study it, and official toponymy in their own language.
With the law in hand, Galán points out that citizens have the right to use the language with regional and local governments, official documents can be issued in Asturian—bilingual and with legal weight for Spanish—and that it can be used normally in Parliament. However, he denounces "cases of linguistic discrimination, from problems with naming a child to the obituary at the funeral home."
