Basque Language and Culture

No, Basque is not part of the Celtic language group.

Specifically, the Celtic language group fits in with the Indo-European language family. Basque thus far is not known to be related to any other world language. It therefore occupies its own isolate language family.

Independence, integrity, and intelligence are what is important about the Basque people.

Specifically, the Basque people defend their unique culture and language despite rulers who sought to do otherwise from central Spain. They maintain their loyalty to the historical precedents and political structures by which they can perpetuate their identity and protect future generations. They take their activities seriously, be it business, farming, fishing, herding, manufacturing, or tourism.

Perhaps what epitomizes the Basque people is Juan Domingo Sebasti

Kaixo! is a Basque equivalent of the English word "Hello!"

Specifically, the word functions as a greeting. It is one of several greetings with which the visitor to Euzkadi ("The Basque Country") may be met. The pronunciation will be "keye-SHO" by those who speak Guipuzcoan Basque.

Language is what predominantly makes the Basque people unique.

Specifically, the language can be found on both sides of the border between northern Spain and southern France. But it is unrelated to any of the other regional languages and in fact to any other world language. The southwestern part of Euzkadi ("The Basque Country") may show linguistic influences from Spanish even though knowledge of French and Spanish will not help those who seek comprehension or mastery of Euskara ("Basque").

Yes, the Basque language can be difficult to learn.

Specifically, there are seven main provinces where Basque is spoken: three in southwestern France and four in northwestern Spain. Each province has its own form of Basque. There also is an evolving standard Basque (Batua, "unified") which may overlap with one dialect and not with another and which may respect - or not - other attempted standards.

But all Basque adheres to some rules which many language speakers and students are unaccustomed to meeting. One of the most daunting challenges can be incorporating all the influxes, prefixes and suffixes which go in the middle, at the beginning and at the end of words. Another can be moving through the multitude of cases in which a noun can be declined. Still another can be sorting through the many moods in which a verb can be conjugated.

On the other hand, Basque includes loan words from English, French and Spanish. It is easy to pronounce. Its speakers live in areas where the language can be heard and practiced while appreciating beautiful scenery and finding interesting places to go, people to meet and things to do.

Unknown are the origins of the Basque language.

Specifically, experts and scholars give Euskara ("Basque language") its own linguistic category as a language isolate since it is not known to be related to any other language in the world. Some scholars nevertheless hypothesize that the language may be related to the extinct Aquitanian or Iberian languages spoken anciently on either side of the modern France-Spain border. Other hypotheses - which were more current in the late 20th century than in the early 21st -- include linguistic origins within Eurasia's Caucasus.

Aquitanian is the language from which Basque derives, according to some scholars.

Specifically, Aquitanian also can be called proto-Basque. It was spoken in the areas where Basque continues to be spoken nowadays, along both sides of the France-Spain border. Its closest linguistic neighbors spoke Celtic and Iberian languages.

Dairy products, meat, seafood, and vegetablescharacterize the Basque cuisine.

Specifically, the Basque people traditionally engage in farming, fishing, and herding. They have access to fertile lands and to fish-rich ocean waters. They also raise livestock, among which sheep are favored and from which therefore lamb dishes are treasured.

Zorionak! is a Basque equivalent of the English phrase "Happy Holidays!"

Specifically, the word functions as a noun. It may mean "Happy Holidays" during Christmas-New Year's celebrations. But it also translates as "Best wishes," "Congratulations," and even "Happy birthday."

Whatever the context or meaning, the pronunciation remains "so-RYO-nak" in Guipuzcoan Basque.

Euskaldunak is the name of the Basque people.

Specifically, the word is a noun in its plural form. The ending, pluralizing letter -k specifies that more than one Basque (Euskalduna) is involved. The pronunciation will be "EY-oo-SKAL-doo-NAK" by those who speak Guipuzcoan Basque.

France and Spain are the places in Europe where the Basque culture can be found.

Specifically, the Basque people engage in economic activities which are typical of the region: crafts, farming, fishing, herding, manufacturing, and tourism. But they exhibit distinct cultural differences which are epitomized in their language. The Basque language remains unrelated to any other language in the world even though scholars have suggested links with languages such as Georgian within Eurasia's Caucasus.

Isolate, Eskimo-Aleut, and Indo-European are the language families to which Basque, Inuktitut and Welsh respectively belong.

Specifically, Basque appears to be unrelated to any other known language. Inuktitut belongs to the Eskaleutian family of languages of nothernmost Eurasia and North America. Welsh is one of the Celtic languages which still fluorish in the United Kingdom.

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the name of a city where the Basque language is spoken.

Specifically, the city in question carries the Basque name Gasteiz and the Spanish name Vitoria. It is located in the southern portion of the Basque Country, on the southwestern side of the Spain-France border. It serves as the capital city of the province of Araba/Álava, which is known for agriculture, industry and tourism.

Those who support complete independence of Euzkadi("The Basque Country") from France and Spain have been called Basque extremists.

Specifically, Euzkadi consists of three provinces which are found on the northwestern side of border between southwestern France and northwestern Spain as well as of four provinces which are found on the southwestern side. The four provinces which make up the Southern Basque Country have autonomous status within Spain by the 1978 Constitution. Some Basque people would like the provinces to be joined in a country which has complete independence from the region's other two countries.