From initial language to identification language in Catalonia: Who adopts Catalan and who moves away from it

Abstract

This paper looks at the linguistic uses and the principal characteristics of the two groups in which changes occur on moving from the initial language to the identification language (advance of Catalan and regression of Catalan). It also compares these linguistic uses with those of two other groups: the Catalan-speaking homolinguals (who have Catalan as both their initial language and identification language) and the Spanish-speaking homolinguals. A set of hypotheses are established, which are confirmed in their great majority albeit with certain nuances.

Keywords: advance of Catalan, regression of Catalan, linguistic uses, initial language, identification language, initial language of the couple, family geographical origin.