I do not know whether described as interesting, fascinating or directly from the Kolda Zuazo short essay, “On the origin of the dialects of Basque” (Berria). I understand that for a layman like me in the art thoughts inspired by his reading lack of rigour and depth caused experts and specialists. However, it reveals our story in a reading between the lines, I think that the text of Zuazo comes to corroborate and bolster other lines of inquiry on our people (through the sociolinguistics, history, anthropology ..) illuminate areas darkened interests, and eras.
The fragmentation of the kingdom of Navarre
For summarize, in the face of traditional theory explaining the origin of the dialects of Basque in relation to the ancient tribes Basque (várdulos, autrigones, Vascon…) or the various Episcopal diocese, Zuazo argues that the drift dialect has a much more recent past . It is situated in the Middle Ages and is likely to emerge in parallel to the formation of the Basque provinces. The cuts basic structure of the Basque, in fact, coincide with the political boundaries interposed: “One of separating the Basque provinces of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa of the Iparralde and Navarre, and another that separates the Basque Iparralde to that of Hegoalde. Perhaps the fragmentation of the Kingdom of Navarre is on the basis of both facts… “
The first evidence is concerned, therefore, the importance of political organization in the evolution of all kinds of circumstances and societal characteristics. Similarly, the consequences of wars. The political structure and the decisions of who detente power company created to your specifications. We knew so diffuse, but often seem to forget the evidence.
The loss of independence Basque forged in the kingdom of Navarre, had a profound impact on our collective reality. Right from the outset, from the first territorial losses from the fall in the regions of La Rioja or current Vascongadas.
Conversely, as a deduction obvious, we should assess how important was the existence of the State itself, basque, in our reality as a people (in conservation and power of Basque, in the culture works and is projected in the Basque community that endures through the centuries ..), and the effect of which has come with all the nuances you want to do this, so that we can exist as a reality collective differentiated.
Iruñea and Gasteiz
A second surprise of the test Zuazo, established from analysis of the emergence of hotbeds of dialects, is that if one of the core fundamental innovation is Iruñea obviously, the most important city in the Basque population in history, the second great nucleus or focus is Gasteiz, Basque influential another city, central and dynamic.
In fact, if Iruñea derives from the centrality of Basque in their dialects territorially larger (gipuzkera, nafarrera, lapurtera…), the origin of a dialect as powerful as the current Biscayan stands at Vitoria-Gasteiz: “The area action Gasteiz appears to extend beyond his province, Bizkaia, Deba Valley, La Rioja, and with less force, the counties of Urola and Goierri Gipuzkoa… “
This pattern explains the introduction of the different dialects, their reciprocal influences, his dynamism in some areas and stagnation in others.
As pointed out in the beginning, this language version is fascinating, real dynamics. Faced with an interpretation that provides dialects as realities Waterproof, archaic, for old (and obscure) internal forces, tribes or similar, here we discover a close political and social action. Inteligible. Nítida. Generated by people in their daily activities, under conditions that created the political framework (historical), which is located.
As Berger and Luckman would say, is the creation of social reality, in this case on an issue as intrinsic and fundamental to human nature as language, which in turn creates us, makes us and we use as a tool for transforming the world. Moreover, compared to the version sabiniana the country, which goes back to a language of villages and caves, it appears that the nuclei, the bowls that have shaped the Basque have been cities, the policy (of aggression on many occasions, domination, incidentally) and the social and economic activity.
There entrevemos the importance of political processes. In radiograph dialects Basques highlights routes, traffic flows, economy, cuts the borders, management of a territory under occupation and war. Also reconstitution of the social fabric (survival, life is regenerated), in its most active nodes, most influential. Who would say, in view of the sad situation of Basque in Iruñea (with the Mayor Barcina) or Gasteiz (where he never spoke Basque, in the words of so many enemies of this land), that these two cities have been at the core generator of the current wealth – Is residual existential? – the Basque dialects!
This reading is inferred, also, how much we need the restoration of political sovereignty, freedom (economic, administrative, educational…), independence, in short, and territorial integrity, without borders, for reconstituirnos, to live free and develop ourselves collectively, as a society, as distinct culture. The wounds of history, as seen in the radiograph dialects, are deep, and remain for centuries, while disguising its origin and we erase the memory.
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