Verònica Cantó Doménech: "We have seven years to prevent Valencian from entering an emergency situation"

ValenciaGraduate in Philosophy and Letters (Catalan Philology section) from the University of Alicante, Verònica Cantó Doménech (Cocentaina, 1964) has been the president of the Valencian Language Academy (AVL) since 2022. We speak with her at a delicate moment for the institution and for Valencian due to the policy that the Popular Party and Vox have begun to implement since their arrival at the Generalitat just over six months ago.

The data suggests that Valencian is approaching linguistic emergency. Is there still time to avoid it?

— The latest data, which are from 2021, tell us that in 2015 72.4% of the population understood it and that it has risen [to 75.8%]. 50.9% spoke it and now 50.6%. Those who read and write it have also increased considerably [from 52.9% to 57.2% and from 34.8% to 40.8%]. This means that it is now known more than ever. The problem remains its use. In 1995, 62% spoke Valencian and now 50.6%. At home, we have gone from 55% in 1985 to 50.5% in 1992, and to 23.1% in 2021. There is an interruption of family and intergenerational transmission. Is there a magic wand? No, what must be done is, above all, to use it. This is where we have the great battle.

How would you define linguistic emergency and what room is there to avoid it?

— There is a decline in Valencian and this emergency would arrive when there is a point of no return. To recover family transmission, the younger segments of the population and the reception of newcomers are very important. I think we have a very short margin. I would place a period of 5 to 7 years.

It speaks of a short period and of young people, but from next year Valencian will cease to be a vehicular language throughout the territory, and where it is maintained it will be to a lesser degree.

— The only concrete point is the elimination of the obligation of the minimum of 25% in Spanish-speaking areas. But I have no knowledge of what is intended [by the PP and Vox government].

Should the new model eliminate the exception for Spanish-speaking areas and make the language vehicular throughout the territory?

— In the current reality, the exemption is already totally anachronistic. Regarding vehicle use, I will never give up on Valencian being able to be used as a vehicle throughout the territory.

What is the reason for the rejection of Valencian in certain parts of the territory, especially in the south?

— It has been fostered by certain ideological positions and interests.

Who has promoted it?

— It is not up to me to judge who has promoted it and why.

In a context where the Generalitat adopts measures that weaken the language, isthis institutional prudence the best formula?

— The AVL speaks through its works and if dialogue and consensus presided over its creation, it is dialogue and consensus that continue to preside over its actions. And I don't think reviving the language conflict is good, because in a conflict situation Valencian never wins, Castilian wins, which is the stronger language. The AVL has never neglected its functions and has always stated things very clearly. It has stated them in the dictionary, in its opinions, in its reports... The AVL must concern itself with the language. The AVL was created to remove the language from partisan debate, and that's what we're doing.

A few months ago, the debate about the Catalan-Valencian double designation was addressed. Unlike the Balearic Islands, is the single designation of Catalan an option that must be discarded?

— Our Statute of Autonomy calls the language Valencian, therefore, there is no room for discussion. However, in 2005 the Opinion on the Principles and Criteria for the Defense of the Name and Entity of Valencian was approved. And ten years ago the Valencian Normative Dictionary was approved. In the opinion, it is stated that there are two equally legal denominations to designate this language: Valencian, which is that of our Statute, and Catalan, which is that of the Statute of Catalonia and that of the Balearic Islands. And what the document says is that when we cross the administrative, but not linguistic, borders, the autonomous governments and the State must harmonize this onomastic duality so that an image of a fragmented language is not given. In the definitions of Valencian and Catalan [from the dictionary], the AVL has been very clear. The language is the same and there are two denominations: Valencian and Catalan.

Why does the name of the language not generate conflict in the Balearic Islands, but it does in the Valencian Country?

— Because we are the fruit of a history and the Transition was not the same.

Why do many Valencians deny the unity of the language?

— I don't have that perception. One of the problems has been to create an identity where it wasn't necessary, because we can feel the language regardless of our ideology. But if what you do is mix linguistic conflict, identity conflict..., then you create an amalgam of conflicts that a non-specialist doesn't have to discern.

The President of the Generalitat said that it was necessary to "recover the foundational spirit of the AVL" and "re-Valencianize" its linguistic criteria. What do you answer him?

— When the AVL was questioned [by the Minister of Education], President Mazón cut short the controversy by saying that the entire Council recognized the linguistic authority of the AVL. When the president spoke of re-Valencianizing, I also join in, but in the sense that our dictionary defines the word, which says it is to reintroduce Valencian where it has ceased to be used.

Do they feel delegitimized because the Generalitat grants aid to institutions such as RACV and Lo Rat Penat, which deny the authority of the AVL and the unity of Catalan?

— The Valencian government can grant direct subsidies [for operation] to whomever it deems appropriate, however, the linguistic authority rests with the AVL, and the AVL's founding law states that they cannot grant subsidies to create linguistic regulations. It should also be noted that they are two centennial entities that possess a very valuable archive, and if these subsidies are to make that heritage available to the general public, there is nothing to object to.

Vox wants these two entities to be able to issue official Valencian language degrees.

— For me it is unthinkable, because there cannot be two regulations. One thing is intentionality and another is what can be done according to the law. It will not happen.

Up to three city councils have banned magazines in Valencianalleging that they "promote Catalan Countries". How do you assess this?

— Any type of censorship seems regrettable to me and cultural and linguistic censorship, moreover, takes me back to a black and white era and causes me great sadness. We live in a plural and diverse society, where terms like censorship have no place, and moreover, they clash head-on with other terms like democracy, freedom, and tolerance.