Basque Language and Culture

Economic, linguistic, political and social concerns are the issues of Spain's Basque people.

Specifically, the Basque people aspire to cultural survival within a country whose people they do and do not resemble. They feel that the revenues and taxes which were generated and imposed during the years of Spain's control by General Francisco Franco y Bahamonde (1892-1975) were not used to their advancement or benefit. They had to fight to keep their language alive during those years since the national government considered languages other than Spanish - such as Basque and Catalan - the "language of dogs". They know that administrative and elected officials tend to favor and represent non-Basque interests since the four Basque-speaking provinces are a minority in the population of the Iberian peninsula and its islands. They want to make sure that their society which is strong on family and small-scale enterprises endures despite the general tendency - in Spain and elsewhere in the world - towards industrialization, modernization and standardization.

Spain and France

Answer

As for where they came from, their origins are somewhat mysterious. The Basque language (Euskara) is an extremely complex language which has no close relatives anywhere else in the world (it is therefore not related at all to Spanish). It is surmised that perhaps they are descendants of the original Neolithic inhabitants of Europe, perhaps one of many groups forced into small pockets around Europe by later peoples (who spoke early Indo-European languages). Euskara is the last remaining native non-Indo-European language (Etruscan was also non-Indo-European). Finno-Ugric (eg Finnish, Hungarian) and Turkic languages came to be spoken in Europe via immigration and invasion and are the main non-Indo-European languages besides Basque found in Europe.

France and Spain are the countries from which the Basque people wanted their freedom.

Specifically, the Basque live predominantly in seven provinces which straddle both sides of southwest France's border with northwest Spain. They may share such economic activities as farming, fishing, small-scale business, and tourism with their French and Spanish neighbors. But they speak a language which is not at all related to French and Spanish. They therefore worry about losing their cultural and linguistic identities in two countries with little else in common other than geography and religion.

France and Spain are the locations of the Basque provinces.

Specifically, the seven Basque provinces are found on the northwestern and southwestern sides of the border between France and Spain. Three provinces are located in southwestern France: Lapurdi/Labourd, Nafarroa Beherea/Basse-Navarre, and Zuberoa/Soule. Four provinces can be found in northwestern Spain: Araba/

By land the most ancient times and by a combination of overland and water routes in less ancient times are the ways that the Basque people got from northern Spain to Ireland.

Specifically, the Basque and the Irish are genetically linked through the maternal H and paternal r1b lines. They have a common ancestor who may have spoken ancient Basque or an ancient Basque's linguistic ancestor. The ancestor of today's Basque and Irish peoples traveled from what we know as northern and western Spain to what is now the Emerald Isle no later than 8,000 to 17,000 years ago.

About 1,200 people may have been killed during the Basque conflict.

Specifically, the total depends upon the scope and timeline which are accepted as part of defining the when and where of what "Basque conflict" means. The counting of casualties generally occurs as of 1959, when Euskadi Ta Askatasuna ("Basque Homeland and Freedom") concluded that armed responses were necessary to preserve and protect Basque culture in northwestern Spain and southwestern France. People in the Basque Country and Catalunya supported the chances for a more citizen-friendly government during the Civil War of 1936-1939. Their distinct cultures and languages were particularly at risk once Francisco Franco y Bahamonde's (1892-1975) forces assumed control of Spain, 1939-1975.

Geography, history, language, law, politico-economics and society are reasons why the Basque people feel separate from Portugal and Spain.

Specifically, the Basque people claim a small part of the Iberian peninsula, of which Spain claims the lion's claim and Portugal part of the Atlantic coastline. Coastlines, hills and mountains constitute natural separations between the four Basque-speaking provinces of northern Iberia and the rest of the peninsula. A history of interacting with Spaniards on land and sea and of the Portuguese by sea is interspersed with extended, preferred periods of interacting predominantly with fellow Basques.

Geographical isolation and historical integrity are reinforced by language, law, politico-economics and society. The Basque people do not share Portugal's and Spain's membership in the Latin-descended Romance family of languages. They speak a language which thus far is not shown to be related to any other of the world's language.

The Basque language displays indications of a unique world-view in structure and vocabulary even though it is not hostile to loan words, especially from English, French, Latin and Spanish. That world-view also finds expression in Basque law, politico-economics and society. For example, Basque culture is not enamored of rigidly organizing regions into centralized socio-politico-economic entities or of uniquely regarding the eldest son as the heir apparent: it is not uncommon for a daughter or younger son to aspire to the responsibilities, status and wealth which may so easily and so often go unquestionably to the eldest son.

It is unknown when or even if the Basque people discovered Ireland.

Specifically, the Celts of Ireland and the Basque of southwestern France and northwestern Spain exhibit genetic similarities regarding the Y-chromosome. The Celts may have originated in Eurasia, where the ancient Tokharian language is most related to Celtic languages and where the Tarim River Basin mummies preserve Celt-like fairness of skin and lightness of hair. The Basques also may have originated in Eurasia, where some scholars link their language -- unlike any other in the world -- to languages such as Georgian in the Caucasus.

It is known that the Celts ultimately settled in Ireland. It also is known that Ireland previously was settled by other peoples. But it thus far is unknown who the original discoverers of the Emerald Isle were.

Eguberria is one Basque equivalent of the English word "Christmas."

Specifically, the word is formed from the combination of two words. The noun egun means "day." The adjective berriatranslates as "new."

The pronunciation will be "EY-goo-BER-rya" in Guipuzcoan Basque.

Businessmen, descendants of immigrants, diplomats, spouses, students and teachers are who the Basques are in Italy.

Specifically, the Basques are not considered an ancient people of insular or peninsular Italy. They inhabit coastal, hilly and mountainous areas of southwest France and northwest Spain. As a people who like mountain- and sea-related activities, they historically may count among Italians whose ancestors emigrated from France and Spain for maritime and montane endeavors elsewhere. Nowadays, they may number among those who temporarily move to Italy for study and/or work or those who permanently relocate through such family ties as marriage.

"Star" is an English equivalent of the Basque word Izarra.

Specifically, the word functions as a noun. Basque is a language with case endings so the appearance of the word changes according to its placement and use within a phrase or sentence. The pronunciation will be "ee-SAR-ra" in Guipuzcoan Basque.