Languages Spain

the languages of spain (simplified)

spain openly multilingual, , constitution establishes nation protect spaniards , peoples of spain in exercise of human rights, cultures , traditions, languages , institutions.

spanish (español)—officially recognised in constitution castilian (castellano)—is official language of entire country, , right , duty of every spaniard know language. constitution establishes other spanish languages —that is, other languages of spain—will official in respective autonomous communities in accordance statutes, organic regional legislations, , richness of distinct linguistic modalities of spain represents patrimony object of special respect , protection.

the other official languages of spain, co-official spanish are:

basque (euskara) in basque country , navarre;
catalan (català) in catalonia, balearic islands , in valencian community, distinct modality of language officially known valencian (valencià); and
galician (galego) in galicia

as percentage of general population, basque spoken 2%, catalan (or valencian) 17%, , galician 7% of spaniards.

in riojan monastery of san millán de suso there found first written records of both basque , spanish languages (glosas emilianenses).

in catalonia, aranese (aranés), local variety of occitan language, has been declared co-official along catalan , spanish since 2006. occitan spoken in comarca of val d aran 6,700 people. other romance minority languages, though not official, have special recognition, such astur-leonese group (asturian – asturianu, called bable – in asturias , leonese – llionés – in castile , león) , aragonese (aragonés) in aragon.

in north african spanish autonomous city of melilla, riff berber spoken significant part of population. in tourist areas of mediterranean coast , islands, english , german spoken tourists, foreign residents, , tourism workers.