L'oposició als drets lingüístics a Espanya amb la construcció de llenguatge: la deslegitimació discursiva del basc als debats en línia

AutorKarolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Páginas118-140
REVISTA DE LLENGUA I DRET #76
JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND LAW
COUNTERING LINGUISTIC RIGHTS IN SPAIN THROUGH LANGUAGE MAKING: THE
DISCURSIVE DELEGITIMIZATION OF BASQUE IN ONLINE DEBATES
Karolin Breda*
Philipp Krämer**
Abstract
This article investigates discourses on the Basque language in Spain with a particular focus on delegitimizing positions
    


the use of Basque in local administration and on the position of Basque in regional education during the COVID-19
pandemic. Drawing on the concepts of delegitimization and language making, the paper shows how the rejection of



Keywords

L’OPOSICIÓ ALS DRETS LINGÜÍSTICS A ESPANYA AMB LA CONSTRUCCIÓ DE
LLENGUATGE: LA DESLEGITIMACIÓ DISCURSIVA DEL BASC ALS DEBATS EN LÍNIA
Resum
En aquest article s’investiguen els discursos sobre la llengua basca a Espanya i es para atenció a les postures
        
mecanismes argumentatius en contra d’augmentar la promoció del basc. L’anàlisi parteix d’una base empírica: una
mostra de comentaris de debats en línia, en webs de notícies on s’informa de legislació recent relativa a l’ús del basc
a l’Administració local i de la posició del basc en l’ensenyament dins la comunitat autònoma durant la pandèmia de
la COVID-19. A partir dels conceptes de deslegitimació i construcció de llenguatge, l’article mostra com el rebuig a
millorar els drets lingüístics dels parlants de la llengua minoritzada va lligat a la coconstrucció del basc i el castellà:
la política lingüística autonòmica es presenta com la imposició d’una llengua suposadament irrellevant davant la
llengua nacional indiscutible, com a part d’una presumpta agenda nacionalista que serveix els interessos d’una elit

Paraules clau: drets lingüístics; construcció de la llengua; deslegitimació; llengües regionals i minoritàries; ideologies
lingüístiques; Espanya; Euskadi; País Basc.

in Frankfurt (Oder). 
∗∗ Philipp Krämer, researcher at Freie Universität Berlin. He was acting professor of comparative linguistics at Europa-Universität
Viadrina from 2019 to 2021. 
Article received: 31.05.2021. Blind reviews: 03.06.2021 and 30.06.2021. Final version accepted: 10.09.2021
Recommended citation: Breda, Karolin & Krämer, Philipp. (2021). Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making:
. Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, 76, 118-140.
https://doi.org/10.2436/rld.i76.2021.3671
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 119
Sumari
1 Introduction
2 Regional languages in Spain: linguistic rights and language ideologies
3 Language making and the delegitimization of linguistic rights



6.1 Imposition and supposed discrimination against Castilian-speakers

6.3 Victimhood, totalitarianism and two-sided nationalism
6.4 Conjectured political and economic motives
7 Conclusion
References
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 120
1 Introduction

 
position of Castilian as the national language.1 




The paper draws on the notion of language making as processes in which linguistic entities are constituted


the Basque language is constructed emanates to a great
raison d’être as that






 
a focus on linguistic rights and ideologies connected with them. We will then introduce the concepts of
language making and delegitimization with a focus on the importance of language ideologies and linguistic



is an imposition leading to discrimination against Castilian; second, the idea that Basque as a minoritized



of delegitimizing discourses for the implementation of linguistic rights.
2 Regional languages in Spain: linguistic rights and language ideologies

normalización) and corpus (normativización) planning processes that
llengües pròpies2
well as to the resulting advancement of these languages into all domains of language use in their respective

measures to increase its capital in all its forms and is met with resistance from other people or groups who
status quo

language policies (Arzoz, 2007).


 


    
Moraes Modesto for his technical support with the collection and annotation of our data.
2 The term llengua pròpia 

Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 121
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

 Thus, regional languages such as

 
regions3
the Constitution – Spain-wide duty to know Castilian vs. the right to use the regional languages in designated
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speaking areas are fragmented across several political entities, without a common legislation that could
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 in the BAC   the
 
normalizatzeko oinarrizkoa). 





all citizens.5

Action Plan for the Promotion of Euskera (Euskara Sustatzeko Ekintza Plana [ESEP]) in



6 These measures



Government, 2019). Despite this success, Basque remains a minority language in terms of its demographic



policies that made Basque a minoritized language in the historical Basque provinces.7
    



 

          


Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 122


in order to guarantee the parents’ linguistic freedom to choose the main language for their children (Urrutia



 
- Model A
- Model B
- Model D8









9



Batzordea) launched the initiative Euskera 21

of the use





2008a, p. 180).

















Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 123



This right, however, does not have universal character, since speakers of the minoritized language cannot

in favor of the regional languages as a potential threat to their own linguistic privileges, these organizations
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
2015, pp. 291-292).

of linguistic immersion, according to the Spanish organization, which according to the Spanish organization
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
3 Language making and the delegitimization of linguistic rights
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



metalinguistic discourse
 

language making (henceforth, LM). The term










their ideas compete with and sometimes even contradict each other. LM is a process of discursive negotiation

 


case of Basque, for instance, new speakers (euskaldun berriak) and traditional speakers (euskaldun zaharrak)


self-perceptions see also Breda, forthc.).
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 124
loci of metalinguistic discourse, online discussions are a promising source of data to tap














the creation of euskera batua as a common structural norm or when linguistic rights are granted on a legal




see also Pujolar, 2001).


 

, we will focus on these negative occurrences. It is important to




aspect of LM as drawing on mechanisms of delegitimization as the direct opposite of legitimization:










  

used when a group perceives another group as different and devalued, and feels fear of it and/or contempt





outgroup, including, for instance, the denial or reduction of rights. Van Leeuwen (2007) proposes a framework

Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 125


- rationalization: reference to the goals, uses and effects of practices and activities, or reference

moral tales which reward protagonists forengaging in




      
institutionalized normative orders. Delegitimizing an entire language, then, means encroaching on its speakers’





of political participation via virtual platforms creates more opportunities for (de)legitimization as it makes



discursive level into the characteristics of what is supposed to constitute the core idea of the Basque language.
 Basque



does not prevent them from feeding into a discourse that has a delegitimizing effect.




concept of the Castilian language


also in connection with migration, social or economic change.
4 Case study: debates about the promotion of Basque
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
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 126
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



 
10






5 Data and methodology



 






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
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 127
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
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



Publication date Source Code Number of
comments
Number of
delegitimizing
comments
19 Sep 19 El Mundo D_ELM_20190919 627 140
 ABC D_ABC_20191119 96 32
  D_ELE_20191119 40 12
 El Correo D_COR_20191120 151 41
01 Dec 19 El Mundo D_ELM_20191201 127 25
03 Dec 19 El Correo D_COR_20191203 2 1
 ABC D_ABC_20200122 22 4
06 Sep 20 Diario Vasco P_DV_20200906 27 17
02 Dec 20  P_ELE_20201202 130 20
Total 1222 292
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              

Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 128





















delegitimize Basque and its functional or social norms as part of a process of LM.
6 Analysis: elements of delegitimizing metalinguistic discourse in the language making of
Basque

four most prominent discursive patterns of delegitimization targeting Basque and its promotion in the BAC,




6.1 Imposition and supposed discrimination against Castilian-speakers





     
ELM_20191201).

The motive of imposition is connected to various supposed reasons and consequences. Some argue that an



que perseguir (P_DV_20200906).


Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 129




discourse: the idea of an imposed language.

view that the promotion of the regional language constitutes an act of discrimination against Castilian-speakers.







Constitution.
Es anticonstitucional (D_ABC_20191119).
   
(D_ABC_20200122).

introduced legislation as a coercion to acquire or use Basque:

 
 

 
Constitution as a means to defend Castilian against the supposed imposition of Basque. As a matter of fact,


citizens are met.
 




local administration. The concept of Basque in LM rests on the narrative of an alleged threat that it poses to

of what constitutes the Basque language.









Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 130
 
(D_ABC_20191119).








  




languages resonates in this statement.13



of Castilian as what Del Valle (2007) termed lengua de encuentro:



   
ABC_20191119).



ELM_20190919).

 


 (hispanofonía

or lengua común

p. 474) and that its apparent naturalness often serves as an argument to underpin allegations of imposition.

refer to the death of Euskera. 


promocionar una lengua que por su natural tiende a desaparecer me parece tirar el dinero (D_ELM_20190919).
 
        
2020, pp. 152-162; 2019).
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 131
     
ELM_20191201).



14 as a


euskera batua
 
 
ELM_20191201).



euskara batua 




discussion of purist tendencies among Basque speakers, see Lantto 2015; 2018). In the following comment,
batua
as a delegitimizing argument against the genuineness of the language:



erasure
 










Castilian is constructed through its value as lengua culta 






14       

Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 132








 

(P_ELE_20201202).



for educational purposes because15




degree of accommodation and concession from part of the monolingual Castilian-speakers.






6.3 Victimhood, totalitarianism and two-sided nationalism


downright denial of the linguistic and social consequences of the Franco era.

medidas similares a las legisladas contra el euskera’ porque va a eso, al victimismo (D_ELM_20191201).












ahistorical narrative in which Basque itself is an instrument of oppression against Castilian. While supporters

Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 133

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  
instrumento de la manipulación nacionalista (D_ABC_20191119).
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
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
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

Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 134
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 
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



 

conceptual scope.

goal collides with the desire to preserve the dominance of Castilian in all of Spain. In this scenario, the model
of Spain is supposed to take precedence on historic grounds:










a legitimization for the dominance of Castilian from the long continuance of its prominent position in the


6.4 Conjectured political and economic motives


promotion of Basque in general:

  



 
  

(P_DV_20200906).

 


Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 135
 
 
etc.) (D_ELM_20190919).



is now turned against them in a tautological argument. Economized discourses of this kind can feed into


Euskera... Un claro ejemplo de imposición, odio e instrumentalizacion al servicio de intereses oscuros (D_
COR_20191120).




for instance in Creole-speaking postcolonial societies (Krämer, 2017, p. 129). Both on a political level, as






7 Conclusion
In the previous sections we have discussed a selection of discursive elements which are used to delegitimize

structure of this paper, we rather have to imagine it as a network of argumentative patterns and ideological topoi


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

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




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



Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 136
raison d’être of the language itself. In the aspects
legitimacy and legality 



the conception of the language itself in a process of discursive negotiation: in Language Making.
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
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
Contemporary Majority
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International Journal of the
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
Language Policy, 19(4), 505–525.
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
Designing for Virtual Communities
in the Service of Learning
  Language
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
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
La revue nouvelle, 75(6), 43–48.
The Wall
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Caribbean Studies 45(1-2) 107–142.
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 https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110708479
Karolin Breda, Philipp Krämer
Countering linguistic rights in Spain through language making: the discursive delegitimization of Basque in online debates
Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 138
International
Journal of the Sociology of Language

Handbook of Pragmatics Highlights

Multicultural Citizenship
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Revista de Llengua i Dret, Journal of Language and Law, núm. 76, 2021 139
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https://www.elindependiente.com/
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The Elements 
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