Standard Basque and Its Dialects

The origins of Basque dialects, a highly disputed area of research in Basque studies, are examined. The author, the foremost expert on Basque dialects, traces their emergence to medieval times, using: a) the profusion of features common to all dialects: b) the large number of innovations common to all dialects; and c) the fact that the only truly divergent dialects are the western and Souletin ones. In contrast, the three central dialects differ in far fewer and less important respects. The main contribution of Standard Basque and Its Dialects to the scholarly debate about the formation of Basque is that it identifies the nuclei from which the current dialects almost certainly emerged. The book explains the points of view that Basque speakers have upheld concerning their dialects, the formation of provincial standards starting in the eighteenth century, and the launch of Standard Basque in the second half of the twentieth century. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of illustrations Introduction 1. Basque’s survival Geographic shrinkage The social marginalisation of Basque Changes in the structure of Basque The dialectal diversification of Basque Factors that explain the survival of Basque Some reflections on the future Notes References 2. Origin of the dialects The pre-Roman origin of the dialects The testimony of the language Reasons for supporting the dialects’ medieval origin Dialectal division in medieval times Conclusions Notes References 3. Centres of innovation Iruña-Pamplona Vitoria-Gasteiz Central Bizkaia Zuberoa and Lower Navarre Beterri Conclusions Notes References 4. Basque ideas about the dialects and attitudes towards them The dialects up until 1745 The administrative fragmentation of the Basque Country The change of discourse with Larramendi The intervention by partisans of classic Lapurdian Speakers’ perception of the distance between the dialects Some reflections on the future Notes References 5. Literary dialects The influence of Larramendi The Bizkaian standard dialect Linguistic experiments in Bizkaia Some reflections on the future Notes References 6. The standardisation of Basque The period before the twentieth century Euskara batua, standard Basque Standardisation: What has been achieved so far, and reflections for the future Notes References Glossary Index The origins of Basque dialects, a highly disputed area of research in Basque studies, are examined. 0The author, the foremost expert on Basque dialects, traces their emergence to medieval times, using: a) the profusion of features common to all dialects: b) the large number of innovations common to all dialects; and c) the fact that the only truly divergent dialects are the western and Souletin ones. In contrast, the three central dialects differ in far fewer and less important respects. The main contribution of Standard Basque and Its Dialects to the scholarly debate about the formation of Basque is that it identifies the nuclei from which the current dialects almost certainly emerged. The book explains the points of view that Basque speakers have upheld concerning their dialects, the formation of provincial standards starting in the eighteenth century, and the launch of Standard Basque in the second half of the twentieth century