The impact of EULP: a critical analysis
Every five years, the Survey of Linguistic Uses of the Population (EULP) becomes a time of tension for the Catalan language, which, unfortunately, is reflected in alarming data. The figures for regular speakers are collapsing, and press headlines often exaggerate the situation, prioritizing the emotional impact on true reality.
Worrying data: the reality of speakers
The presentation of the EULP 2023 at the Palau de la Generalitat uncovered a disturbing reality: between 2018 and 2023, Catalan has lost 94,000 regular speakers, from 2,305,135 to 2,211,092. This fall is not only numerical; It is a reflection of a deeper problem that affects Catalan society.
Survey Methodology: An approach to the figures
The survey was conducted with a sample of 8,682 people, with answers both digital and telephone, and with a small percentage of face -to -face polls. Despite the wide effort to collect data, the representativeness of the answers may be affected by the lack of general interest in the subject.
A confusing hope: The interest in learning Catalan
One of the highlights of the survey is the revealing given that two million people express the desire to learn or improve their Catalan. This figure has been celebrated as a sign of immigrant integration, but a deeper analysis leads us to question the true motivation of this desire.
Breakdown of interests: Who wants to learn Catalan?
Within this group, 903,800 are born abroad, 232,800 are from other regions of the State, and 899,500 are already Catalans. It is important to reflect on the real motivations of these people and if their interest will translate into a real incorporation of the language into their lives.
The downward trend: a retrospective look
Since 2018, the number of people who want to learn Catalan has decreased by 242,000. The data reflects a worrying reality: As the number of immigrants has grown, the interest in learning the language seems to have decreased in other demographic groups.
The context of immigration and learning
Among the immigrants who have arrived in Catalonia, only 25% express the desire to learn Catalan. This indicates that a large percentage does not consider it necessary to master the language, which raises doubts about the effectiveness of current policies to foster the use of Catalan.
Proposals for the future: We need more than courses
In response to EULP data, the Government has announced a course creation plan for 30,000 people who need to prove their knowledge of Catalan. However, it is essential that the solutions go beyond formal teaching and address the deep causes of the decrease in speakers.
The challenge of an effective language policy
To recover the presence of Catalan, an ambitious language policy is needed that involves complex measures and challenging resistors. Only in this way can the downward trend be reversed and guaranteeing a viable future for the language.
The state of Catalan forces us to reflect on its survival in an increasingly diverse and changing world. Without decisive actions, the future of the Catalan language will be committed, and we will be watching how, every five years, the situation is getting worse.
