Linguistic belonging: the case of the Balearic Islands

Abstract

This paper discusses the complexity marking the degree of acceptance of the identity, name and unitary model of the Catalan language as determined according to the data obtained from various statistical sources covering the last thirty years. It also deals with the influence of governmental actions on this complexity and the causes explaining why, after more than a century of recurrent debate, the opinions, stances and reasonings are the same as in the beginning. Lastly, a comparison is made between the situation in the Balearic Islands and that found in other places, with an analysis of the connections between the respective linguistic opinions and the partisan use to which they are put.

Keywords: Catalan, Balearic Islands, linguistic secessionism, linguistic prejudice, dialect, linguistic and cultural belonging, language awareness.