Catalan Countries: Difference between revisions
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The Catalan Countries are split into several states: [[Spain]], [[France]], [[Andorra]] and possibly [[Italy]]. They include approximately the following territories: | The Catalan Countries are split into several states: [[Spain]], [[France]], [[Andorra]] and possibly [[Italy]]. They include approximately the following territories: | ||
* [[Northern Catalonia]], that is, approximately, the department of the [[Pyrénées-Orientales]], in southern [[France]], around [[Perpignan]]. | * [[Northern Catalonia]] (''Catalunya Nord''), that is, approximately, the department of the [[Pyrénées-Orientales]], in southern [[France]], around [[Perpignan]]. | ||
* [[Andorra]], a sovereign state. | * [[Andorra]] (''Andorra''), a sovereign state. | ||
* The [[Western Strip]] (''Franja de Ponent'') in the east of the autonomous community of [[Aragon]], in [[Spain]]. | * The [[Western Strip]] (''Franja de Ponent'') in the east of the autonomous community of [[Aragon]], in [[Spain]]. | ||
* [[Catalonia (autonomous community)|Catalonia]] in the narrow sense, | * [[Catalonia (autonomous community)|Catalonia]] (''Catalunya'') in the narrow sense, an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around [[Barcelona]]. | ||
* The [[Valencian | * The [[Valencian Country]] (''País Valencià''), an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around the [[city of València]]. | ||
* The [[Balearic Islands]], an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around [[Palma]]. | * The [[Balearic Islands]] (''Illes Balears''), an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around [[Palma]]. | ||
* The [[Carche]], a small area in the autonomous community of [[Murcia (autonomous community)|Murcia]], in eastern Spain. | * The [[Carche]] (''Carxe''), a small area in the autonomous community of [[Murcia (autonomous community)|Murcia]], in eastern Spain. | ||
* [[Alghero]], a city and a Catalan linguistic enclave on the island of [[Sardinia]], in [[Italy]]. | * Possibly [[Alghero]] (''l'Alguer''), a city and a Catalan linguistic enclave on the island of [[Sardinia]], in [[Italy]]. | ||
The exact definition of the Catalan Countries varies according to the criteria followed: | The exact definition of the Catalan Countries varies according to the criteria followed: | ||
Revision as of 15:39, 14 September 2011
This article is about the Catalan Countries. For other uses of the term Catalonia, please see Catalonia (disambiguation).
The Catalan Countries[1] (in Catalan: Països Catalans, abbreviated to PPCC) are a cultural territory of southwestern Europe where Catalan is the native language and where Catalan culture is autochthonous. Some activists promote the name Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan) as a desirable synonym for 'Catalan Countries'[2] but this is not unanimously accepted, since 'Catalonia' is also the name of a region within the Catalan Countries.
The Catalan Countries are split into several states: Spain, France, Andorra and possibly Italy. They include approximately the following territories:
- Northern Catalonia (Catalunya Nord), that is, approximately, the department of the Pyrénées-Orientales, in southern France, around Perpignan.
- Andorra (Andorra), a sovereign state.
- The Western Strip (Franja de Ponent) in the east of the autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain.
- Catalonia (Catalunya) in the narrow sense, an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around Barcelona.
- The Valencian Country (País Valencià), an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around the city of València.
- The Balearic Islands (Illes Balears), an autonomous community in eastern Spain, around Palma.
- The Carche (Carxe), a small area in the autonomous community of Murcia, in eastern Spain.
- Possibly Alghero (l'Alguer), a city and a Catalan linguistic enclave on the island of Sardinia, in Italy.
The exact definition of the Catalan Countries varies according to the criteria followed:
- According to a strict linguistic criterion, some non-Catalan-speaking areas should not be included in the Catalan Countries.[3] These are:
- two Occitan-speaking areas: the Fenouillèdes (in the Pyrénées-Orientales) and Aran Valley (in the official region of Catalonia),
- a Spanish-speaking area located in the west of the Valencian Community.
- However, according to an administrative criterion, some Catalan activists think that those Occitan- and Spanish-speaking areas should be seen as parts of the Catalan Countries, but not the enclave of Alghero which they consider too remote.[4]
The Catalan Countries have 12.8 million inhabitants according to the first criterion, but 13.5 million according to the second. Their area is approximately 70 000 km².
Notes
- ↑ The second capital letter in Catalan Countries reflects the native, original form, Països Catalans, which is considered as a proper name in the Catalan language (see Enciclopèdia Catalana). Standard English does not use a capital on common nouns such as country except when they are included in proper names.
- ↑ For instance, in Josep Guia's book: És molt senzill, digueu-li Catalunya (1985, Llibres del segle, Collection "Què us diré" 22).
- ↑ Such a view is supported, for instance, by Pol Sureda in the website El Talp.
- ↑ Such a view is supported by the Enciclopèdia Catalana.