Language revitalization and the normalization of Basquea study of teacher perceptions and expectations in the Basque Country

Resumen

In the Basque Country, Northern Spain, Basque (Euskera) and Spanish are official languages. In recent decades, Basque language revitalization and the efforts to make this an unmarked language (normalization) have co-existed with the rapid increase in immigration from outside the Basque region, and most recently from outside Spain. Given the critical role of schools and teachers in the incorporation of newcomers, this study examines 201 teachers' and 96 education students' (pre-service teachers, university students who will be teachers. Informants were practicing teachers and future teachers.) perceptions of normalization and the new immigrants in the Basque Country. The issues addressed in this article are the following: (i) the rate of normalization (movement toward universal usage and high prestige across domains) of the Basque language; (ii) acquisition rates of Spanish and Basque languages by the children of new immigrants; and (iii) likely maintenance of the immigrant students' home language. Results indicate slow advancement toward normalization of the Basque language. Immigrant students are expected to obtain higher levels of fluency in Spanish and their home language than in the Basque language. Important differences in perceptions are found related to the linguistic profiles of the informants. Based on the findings, language policy recommendations are advanced. These recommendations might be applicable to the Basque region and wherever similar challenges and opportunities may be found.