Language uses and cultural consumption in Catalan among young people in the Balearic Islands: A review of three data sources

Abstract

This paper reviews the relationship between the linguistic knowledge of Catalan and the actual use and cultural consumption in that language among people aged 15 to 29 years living in the Balearic Islands. The data come from three sources, comprising two previous studies (Baròmetre de la comunicació i la cultura 2010 and El consum cultural a les Illes Balears. Informe de resultats 2016) and the results of a survey (Enquesta d’usos lingüístics a les Illes Balears 2014. Anàlisi). In the discussion, the possible causes of a lack of correlation between linguistic knowledge and the actual use and cultural consumption are pointed out. These causes include the lack of cultural or leisure facilities in Catalan for young people as well as an inefficient dissemination of the existing ones. Lastly, some aspects that should be further studied are identified, such as non-linguistic factors that may affect language uses as well as the breadth of cultural options available in Catalan.

Keywords: young people, Balearic Islands, linguistic knowledge, language uses, cultural consumption.