VivirLatino

Too bad for any readers who come across this, because it will leave them terribly uninformed both about the incident in question and the linguistic reality of modern Spain and Catalonia. First, no one would ever, ever, ever, have any beef whatsoever with Eto'o for speaking Spanish. This is a blatant distortion of linguistic realities in Catalonia forwarded only by radically Spanish nationalist outlets. It's too bad this blog fell for it. The issue was simply his somewhat irked reaction to the use of Catalan by the reporter. He somewhat rudely told the interviewer to change languages to Spanish. In a self-proclaimed bi-lingual society with a long history of linguistic conflict, such requests require a certain grace and tact, which Eto'o entirely lacked on this particular occasion. This happens all the time in Catalonia--people are asked to stop speaking Catalan and speak Spanish instead--by visitors who don't understand Catalan or by long-time residents who are hostile to Catalan. There are absolutely no cases of anyone ever being told in a conversation, in public or in private, that they must stop speaking Spanish and start speaking Catalan. If you hear otherwise, I guarantee the story starts with "my cousin's friend's friend knew someone who was visiting Barcelona one time, and..." In effect, mythology. This is far from the treatment of Spanish speakers in the U.S. In fact, it is nearly the opposite. Catalan speakers' sensitivity to responses like Eto'o's, which could be interpreted as hostile to Catalan, bring back memories of the historical prohibition, stigmatization and repression of the Catalan language by Francisco Franco, the now-dead fascist Spanish nationalist dictator. Your readers might like to know that that great majority of Catalan speakers who defend its use in the face of overwhelming political and social pressure to give it up for Spanish, feel strong compassion for Spanish speakers in the U.S. who face similar pressures and stigmatization of their mother language there. Let there be no mistake: Catalan in Catalonia and Spanish in the U.S. Southwest are the real brothers in arms. Not Spanish wherever it might be spoken, just because it is Spanish.

Thanks for your comments. I actually totally agree with you, DD. I've lived in Barcelona and spend a lot of time there each year. I consider it home, and that would not be the case if I, as a non-Catalan speaker, did not feel welcomed there by my Catalan friends and colleagues. My point is, however, due to the choice comments of a few politicians and public figures, foreigners such as myself get the feeling that not everyone is Catalunya is as tolerant, and that type of rhetoric marginalizes people who are enthusiastic and interested in Catalan culture, but happen to not speak the language. I can't speak for all of Catalunya, but I can say that my Catalan friends are embarrassed by this type of debate, as all it seems to do is isolate rather than unify.

I personally have not had the experience of anyone forcing me to speak Catalan, but a refusal to speak Spanish is quite common. In these instances, I merely speak Spanish (because I can't speak Catalan, not because I refuse to) and the other person speaks Catalan and we understand each other. It's all about mutual respect at the end of the day.

I also agree with you that Madrid-based media, politicians, and regular citizens have a sensationalized idea of Catalan cultural pride, and many a preconceived negative concept of Catalan people. Outside of Catalunya I've come across Spanish people who refuse to accept certain historical facts (like the suppression of the Catalan language during Franco's reign) or recognize that Catalunya has a right and an obligation to maintain its language and culture even in the context of Spain.

What is refreshing to me was to read today that Elvira Lindo's pregon was greeted with a positive response from Barcelona's citizens and that Lindo herself ended the speech with some very touching words in Catalan, affirming her love for the city and the culture it so proudly defends.

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/155326/0/elvira/lindo/pregon/