JLFS

I am not talking about when they speak amongst themselves, they will choose what language they like.
I was referring to the people who will not use Castellano even when speaking to a non local language speaker, which is what the poster on this forum are concered with, they are not bothered what the people speak in ther own home, they are concerend about how it will affect them directly. These people who claim to only speak the local language, if they have been through the education system, then they are making a statment, because the will be able to speak the national language, unless they are a certian age.

And to be honest if the are not prepared to met a spanish speaker half way and try communicate in the easiest way for them, then they are not really very nice people.

My family would never expect someone from Madrid or Germany to speak and understand Galego, even if they do amonst themselves, and the only ones that I know who would insist on speaking Galego, are the more radical Galleguistas.

the more radical see speaking anything but Gallego as "selling out", where as the not so radical see it as simple good manners, to speak the language most likely to be common to both parties.


So I think that you are splitting hairs.

So I will repeat it again, I am talking about the "will not speak Castellano" brigade, right?

but......whaterver........

whitelinen

I have lived and worked on the outskirts of Valencia for 10 years and its my experience that there are but a few enclaves where Valenciano is used but that is all.

Why Javier still uses it is beyond me but its a long way from the city.

My bills and government correspondence all come in Spanish, the newspapers and magazines are all in Spanish, I think that of all the TV and radio stations available here are only one is in Valenciano (Nou) but not sure if that is all of the time. I dont recall ever seeing any literature in the banks in anything but Spanish. Court system is in Spanish.

Kids have a one hour lesson per week to learn Valenciano in the schools where I live.

An incomer to Valencia only needs Spanish.

JLFS

Well, do these young ladies not watch telly, buy magazines, listen to spanish pop music,suft the internet, ever see other non Valencian speaking people, and to honest if they cant speak the official language of Spain, when living here, then how come the likes of Lynnxas kids can manage, after being here a relatively short time?

I find it incredible that the process of using Castellano is so long winded for them, not to put too fine a point on it, have they been assessed by a specialist?

Because this is not the normal behaviour for local language learners, if it were then parents in certain regions would be up in arms about the standard of eductation at their local level.

lynnxa

who is Javier?

you are right about an incoming adult not needing to worry about learning valenciano

however.............

when my kids were in International school several years ago there was a meeting for the parents at which we were told that there was a new law which stated that all schools (including internatonal schools) in the valencian community had to teach a minimum of four hours a week - only non-spanish nationals were exempt

I'd be very surprised if that has changed to allow only 1 hour a week

HBG

I lived and worked in Denia for a couple of years and found that a small group of local politicians and business people met regularly and with some secrecy, when they would only converse in Valenciano to keep out outsiders.

A similar group in Valencia city probably passed the law to make Valenciano a compulsory subject at school.

Those people might not exist in any great numbers, but they are powerful within the Valencian Community. Anyone applying for building licences would be well advised to make the application on paper in Castellano, but speak Valenciano when meeting up with those important people in power. A brown envelope would also be helpful.

lynnxa

Valenciano is the language used for all 'public' meetings at my kids schools - daft really when so very many of the parents can't speak it (includng spanish parents from outside the area) so everything then has to be repeated in castellano

all paperwork I get from the instituto is only in valenciano - but that might be because my dd is in the valenciano line, the castellano line might get theirs in castellano, or more likely both


a few years ago I was the only Brit on the AMPA committee at the primary school - they were desperately trying to get parents of all nationalities involved, but of course everything was discussed in Spanish

one mother tried to persuade the committee to discuss everything in valenciano - that was the first time I had a major row in Spanish - I got SO angry - then realised everything had gone quiet & thought I'd gone too far

the other mother was outvoted - all of us to 1 against her proposal..................she stormed out & blanks me in the street to this day.............

whitelinen

Ooops Freudian slip should have written Xabia.

All kids I know are Spanish and in state schools and have compulsory 1 hour Valenciano per week.

lynnxa

or even Jávea

I really am surprised - they get more than an hour a week for English in our local state schools!!

are you sure they don't do music, plástica, PE, RE, C. Medi & so on in Valenciano?

that's what happens here - in fact I didn't think you could even get the C Medi books in Castellano!

Rosemary

My point was that they think and speak Valenciano as thier first language, Castellano as their second language and English as their third language. Assessed by a specialist....what on earth do you mean by that? No do not bother to answer as you are so totally off the track.

Rosemary

goaty

Go to a rural area in galica and ask them to speak castellano, they will oblige for a minute then revert back to galego/castrapo without realising it. This is mainly the middle-aged to older generation Nothing to do with manners and there is a huge difference between rural and city areas.

paintermujer

My daughter has per week 4 lessons of valenciano, 4 lessons of castellano and 3 lessons of english.

Her C medi book is in valenciano and music too.

As Ive said before valenciano is the language everyone speaks around here.Most things are written that way too but with some castellano too at times.I like the written form for school-col.legi.

paintermujer

Sorry plastica is in valenciano too.

I bet theyre even taught castellano in valenciano.

lynnxa

lol!!!

the only things my dd1 doesn't do in valenciano are castellano & german

she's dropping german next year - has decided english should be easier.............

JLFS

Are you seriously trying to tell me, 2 young Spanish women, who have been through the Spanish education system, still have to translate from Valenciano in their own mind, to Castellano and sometimes find it hard going.

Well, I am fluent in English and I suppose I stopped translating in my head after about 2 years at the most, if that. And believe me I am no genius.

So if you are saying that, it doesnt give any hope to any British who are trying to learn the language, so yes I would say they have some sort of mental block, because the least any parent can expect is that their children can spaek the official language of the country they were born in, without having to do mental gymnastics, translating Valenciano to Castellano, that should be as natural as walking then breaking into a run, done without thought or effort.

If they are unable to do that at this stage in their lives......well......

whitelinen

From my observations I think that it is clear that the enclaves where Valenciano is still used are working class areas and is a left over from Franco times when non- Franco supporters communicated in Valenciano in private.

Descendants from the Franco supporting class tend to be better off and better educated and tend not to live in these enclaves.