The resumption of the propagation of Catalan language rules during Franco’s regime: the «Secció filològica» (1956-1960) by Mateu Piguillem in the Jovenívola newsletter by the Orfeó Català

Abstract

In this paper we analyse an episode from the contemporary history of Catalan: the resumption of the propagation of its language rules via the press during Franco’s regime. Mateu Piguillem i Casadejust was a pioneer in this field thanks to the “Secció filològica” he inserted within the pages of Jovenívola, the internal newsletter of the Orfeó Català that circulated, initially in cycles, between June 1955 and a date close to the events that occurred at the Palau on the 19th of May 1960. Through the documentation kept at the CEDOC and the data we have been able to recover from the press, we provide a biographical outline of Piguillem, archivist of the Palau de la Música Catalana, professor of Catalan registered in the Census of the republican Generalitat and linguistic promulgator. We also interpret, within its historical context, the significance of the underground magazine Jovenívola, whilst also highlighting the incredible spirit of resistance, loyalty to Catalonia and desire to dignify one’s own language of the texts included in the “Secció filològica”.

Keywords: Mateu Piguillem i Casadejust, Jovenívola, “Secció filològica”, Catalan language, dissemination of language rules, underground press, Francoism, Orfeó Català.